The Surf Riders "Ten Tons Of Wet" 1969

The Cornells started life as the Tornados, an unfortunate choice given the larger recognition of the Joe Meek produced British band and the Hollywood band of Bustin' Surfboards fame. The band's sound is a kind of hybrid Challengers /and the Pacific Northwest sound, not really very surf oriented, and relatively dry. They sported the trad surf lineup of two guitars, bass, drums, and sax. They didn't really have a unique or readily identifiable sound. The covers are not creatively rearranged nor made their own. The few originals are the best tracks, and are the most surf oriented. To understand the sound, you only need look at the personnel...…Peter Lewis (future Moby Grape) played in this band. He worshipped Ricky Nelson, preferred Freddie King's R&B instros, jammed with Hail King & the Newports, hung with John Jones of Mike Adams & the Red Jackets, and sat in on Jan & Dean recording sessions at Gold Star with members of the Guilloteens. The band also included Bob Linkletter, son of Art Linkletter and future actor. Hollywood brats in bands, like Rob Reiner of the Leaves or Dino (Martin), Desi (Arnaz) and Billy, usually meant music that was not particularly from the soul of paying dues. In this case, Peter's golden spoon childhood in the hills above Belair was overshadowed by institutionalization and doses of some chemical fix-it for his thoughts as an adolescent, an experience that would certainly drive him to deeper seated emotional performances. Band influences were more towards Johnny and the Hurricanes and Duane Eddy. The First twelve tracks were issued on the original LP, followed by three vault finds. This album was issued on Garrex in the US, and in Canada on Condor as Ten Tons of Wet by the Surf Riders. Some of the tracks were renamed for reasons unknown, and most were remastered from original mono into a processed stereo effect for the Canadian release, giving it a more surf sound. Here's the A to B of it. - Phil Dirt

trax:
01 Agja Ole 02 Ten Tons Of Wet 03 Caravan 04 Miserlou 05 Night Train 06 Riding The Curl 07 Detour 08 Loop 09 Hash Board 10 Surf Time 11 The Long Ride In 12 Joe The Hype