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Best surf songs of the 1960s

Singles paid the bills at the start of the decade and albums did by the end of it. Once a record could hold one idea across two sides, psychedelia and Southern soul both started writing for the longer form, from opposite ends of the country.

Songs from the surf albums of the 1960s, ordered by their own ratings rather than the record's.

  1. 2Little Deuce Coupe coverCherry Cherry CoupeThe Beach Boys · Little Deuce Coupe1 rating
  2. 3Stevie at the Beach coverBeach StompStevie Wonder · Stevie at the Beach1 rating
  3. 4Surfin’ ’Round the World coverSurfin' 'Round the World (Alternate Version)Bruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  4. 5Surfin’ ’Round the World coverThe Hamptons (Instrumental)Bruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  5. 6Surfin’ ’Round the World coverDown Under (Instrumental)Bruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  6. 7Surfin’ ’Round the World coverSurfin's Here to StayBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  7. 8Surfin’ ’Round the World coverMalibuBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  8. 9Surfin’ ’Round the World coverHot Pastrami, Mashed Potatoes, Come On to Rincon - Yeah!!!Bruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  9. 10Surfin’ ’Round the World coverSurf-A-NovaBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  10. 11Surfin’ ’Round the World coverVirginia BeachBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  11. 12Surfin’ ’Round the World coverThe HamptonsBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  12. 13Surfin’ ’Round the World coverJersey Channel Islands, Pt. 7Bruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  13. 14Surfin’ ’Round the World coverBiarritzBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  14. 15Surfin’ ’Round the World coverCapetownBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  15. 16Surfin’ ’Round the World coverDown UnderBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  16. 17Surfin’ ’Round the World coverMakaha At MidnightBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  17. 18Surfin’ ’Round the World coverSurfin' 'Round the WorldBruce Johnston · Surfin’ ’Round the World
  18. 19Surfer Girl coverBoogie WoodieThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  19. 20Surfer Girl coverYour Summer DreamThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  20. 21Surfer Girl coverOur Car ClubThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  21. 22Surfer Girl coverSurfer's RuleThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  22. 23Surfer Girl coverHawaiiThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  23. 24Surfer Girl coverIn My RoomThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  24. 25Surfer Girl coverLittle Deuce CoupeThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  25. 26Surfer Girl coverThe Rocking SurferThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  26. 27Surfer Girl coverSouth Bay SurferThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  27. 28Surfer Girl coverThe Surfer MoonThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  28. 29Surfer Girl coverCatch a WaveThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  29. 30Surfer Girl coverSurfer GirlThe Beach Boys · Surfer Girl
  30. 31Surfin' Safari coverThe ShiftThe Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  31. 32Surfin' Safari coverMoon DawgThe Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  32. 33Surfin' Safari coverCuckoo ClockThe Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  33. 34Surfin' Safari coverHeads You Win, Tails I LoseThe Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  34. 35Surfin' Safari coverSurfin'The Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  35. 36Surfin' Safari cover409The Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  36. 37Surfin' Safari coverLittle Girl (You're My Miss America)The Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  37. 38Surfin' Safari coverChug-a-LugThe Beach Boys · Surfin' Safari
  38. 39Surfin' USA coverFinders KeepersThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  39. 40Surfin' USA coverLet's Go Trippin'The Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  40. 41Surfin' USA coverSurf JamThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  41. 42Surfin' USA coverLanaThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  42. 43Surfin' USA coverHonky TonkThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  43. 44Surfin' USA coverNoble SurferThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  44. 45Surfin' USA coverLonely SeaThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  45. 46Surfin' USA coverStokedThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  46. 47Surfin' USA coverMisirlouThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  47. 48Surfin' USA coverFarmer's DaughterThe Beach Boys · Surfin' USA
  48. 49All Summer Long coverOur Favorite Recording SessionsThe Beach Boys · All Summer Long
  49. 50All Summer Long coverCarl's Big ChanceThe Beach Boys · All Summer Long

One great song, one bad album

Tracks carry their own ratings here, so a record you would never play front to back can still have a song worth defending.

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