Zero to 180’s sprawling history trawl “Rare & Unreleased King” made passing reference to another surf-ploitation LP issued by King Records – 1963’s Surfin’ on Wave Nine – and even threatened to make that album the focus of a future history piece … whose time has come today.
Compared to Look Who’s Surfin’ Now (King LP previously celebrated here) Surfin’ on Wave Nine is a bit more of an organic affair, with only a modest amount of jiggery pokery involved.
Track Listing
A1 The Vice-Roys – “Seagreen“
A2 The Nu-Trons – “Malibu Mal“
A3 The Tramps – “Maharadja“
A4 The Nu-Trons – “Tension“
A5 The Vice-Roys – “The Fox“
A6 Mickey Baker – “Gone“
B1 Mickey Baker – “Zanzie“
B2 The Vice-Roys – “Moasin’“
B3 The Nu-Trons – “Wild Side“
B4 The Wobblers – “The Wobble“
B5 The Nu-Trons – “Ninth Wave Out“
B6 The Vice-Roys – “Buzz Bomb“
According to Ruppli’s 2-volume Kings recording sessionography, we can only be certain that two of these songs — “The Fox” and “Buzz Bomb” by The Vice-Roys — were recorded in Cincinnati.
The Vice-Roys would record their songs for King in three sessions: c. Nov/Dec 1961 (“Moasin'”); c. September, 1962 (“Seagreen”); and April, 1963 (“The Fox” & “Buzz Bomb”). Worth noting that King would issue a split single in 1963 with “Seagreen” by The Vice-Roys chosen as the flip side for “That Low Down Move” by Hank Ballard & the Midnighters. But, as Discogs notes, “Seagreen” actually began life as an A-side issued on Bethlehem with the title “Seagram’s” – ostensibly a salute to the whiskey brand. Both Sides Now Publications recounts the controversy:
In 1960, an instrumental rock band called the Viceroys brought Bethlehem an instrumental master they called “Seagrams,” apparently thinking the name of a hard liquor brand would be hip for teens. Bethlehem liked the tune and released it. Unfortunately, Seagrams Corporation didn’t think it was funny and threatened to sue for trademark infringement, and some stations refused to play a song with the name of a commercial product without being paid for advertising time. A sheepish notice in Billboard on March 23, 1960, said, “We Goofed!” and explained that “Seagrams” was now changed to “Seagreen.”
Worth noting that in that same March 23, 1960 edition of Billboard along with the official industry notice from King Records saying “We Goofed!” was this wink-wink news item:
Just Call This a Real Loaded Idea
SAN FRANCISCO— A novel record promotion originated by Bob Earl, San Francisco branch manager for King Records, has been picked up by the national record distributor and will be repeated in Cincinnati, Chicago and New York.
Bethlehem’s new recording of “Seagram,” sung by the Vice-roys, prompted Earl to include a half pint of Seagram’s VO whiskey and a package of Vice-roy cigarettes when delivery the disk, all wrapped up in gay “Mardi Gras” gift paper. Uniformed messenger delivery personnel called upon local deejays in the four top r & b and rock and roll stations in San Francisco and Oakland — KSAN, KEWB, KDIA and KYA.
The Nu-Trons would record two sessions for King — the first (“Tension” and “Wild Side”) in May, 1963 (possibly in Cincinnati — Ruppli is uncertain) and the second (“Malibu Mal” and “Ninth Wave Out” in June, 1963.
The Tramps‘s sole contribution “Maharadja” is the earliest contribution to this various artists compilation (August, 1961), but alas — the recording is leased from another label.
Mickey Baker‘s guitar instrumental classic “Zanzie” (previously celebrated here) was recorded – along with “Gone” – June, 1962 in Paris.
Without a doubt, the song most likely to grab your attention is “The Wobbler” which likely was recorded late (November?) in 1961 by The Wobblers:
“The Wobble”
The Wobblers (1961)
Listen to King Surf Albums on the Radio!
This Saturday – September 8, 2018 from 6-8 PM – there will be a King Surf Party! In 1963, King Records released several surf cash-in albums, Surfin’ on Wave Nine, Look Who Surfin’ Now, and *Freddie King Goes Surfin’, in response to the California craze [*Essentially, a reissue of the Let’s Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King LP but with crowd sounds dubbed in]. Join WAIF FM radio hosts, Rock-it Rick, Midwest Surf Guy, and Handsome Dan, as they play tracks from these King compilations on the legendary “Rockin’ & Surfin’ Show.” Those who live outside Cincinnati can tune in on the web – click on the link to WAIF 88.3 FM.
