Bustin' Surfboards

The Tornadoes, 1962. Solo by The Tornadoes.

Opens with the sound of waves before a clean, reverb-heavy melody takes over.

Bustin' Surfboards opens with the sound of crashing waves, setting the scene before the guitar takes over. The lead melody is clean and bright, soaked in reverb, and played with a relaxed, rolling feel that suits the beach imagery. The tune is simple and catchy, built on repetition and a steady groove rather than complex playing. It captures the atmosphere of early 1960s surf culture as well as any record of the era. Listen for the transition from the wave sounds into the first guitar phrase, and notice how the reverb gives the lead a splashy, echoing quality that makes the ocean feel close by throughout the tune.

Bustin' Surfboards by The Tornadoes is featured in our Surf (#15) list. The solo is played by The Tornadoes and the song was released in 1962.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Surf Guitar Songs — #15

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