The Beach Boys
Surfin' Safari
Okay, let’s just get this one out of the way. The Beach Boys are universally regarded as the most influential surf group to emerge from the 1960s West Coast scene.
Signed by Capitol Records in July of 1962, Brian Wilson and Co. came out of the gates swinging on their debut album, writing and recording one of the greatest surf anthems of all time, the title track.
Although not without its misses (“County Fair,” “Ten Little Indians,” and “Chug-A-Lug” being among them), this LP showcases the band’s ability to meld traditional surf instrumentals with vocal pop, and the end result is groundbreaking.