surfaris ( The ) - Wipe Out

First performance: 00/10/1965


Coverinfo

Bruce covered the song 3 times at full, and 4 times as a snippet:
 
 
2011-11-03 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, Pittsburgh, PA
In a repeat of last year, Bruce along with Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers perform at the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh. Down the road apiece was played in medley with Wipe Out.
 
1990-10-29 Petty Residence, San Fernando Valley, CA
Played at the Tom Petty’s House in 1990 with various Heartbreakers, Roger McGuinn, Jeff Lynne, and others.
 
 

1965-10-00 Reception Hall, Monmouth County, NJ 
One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill. The 27 song titles of this show plus two titles that are illegible have been culled from a surviving inventory/setlist document that was originally in the possession of a member of The Castiles. This list is believed to have emanated from a wedding reception the band performed in the autumn of 1965. With the exception of "Sidewalk" (co-written by Bruce) all of the songs are covers of other artist’s material, with the most recently released song at the time being Sonny & Cher’s "I Got You Babe" (July 1965). The setlist includes numerous 1964-1965 'British Invasion" hits by the Stones, Yardbirds, Kinks, Zombies and Beatles - a clear indication of the kind of music the band was playing at teen gigs. The high proportion of 1950s ballad material in this particular show (sung by George Theiss, not Bruce) is likely the result of it being a wedding, with manager Tex Vinyard making sure his boys also catered to the older relatives in attendance. These include the G-Clefs’ "I Understand", Acker Bilk’s "Stranger On The Shore", Don & Juan’s "What’s Your Name" and Anton Karas’ "The Third Man Theme". There is no circulating audio of any of this performance . Frank Marziotti has recalled the bride's choice of song was the jazz standard "Moonglow".
 
 
 
  • Snippets
during LIGHT OF DAY

1999-06-07 Estadio De La Comunidad De Madrid, Madrid, Spain
1999-06-02 Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy, Paris, France
1999-05-30 Parkbühne Wuhlheide, Berlin, Germany
 
during ROSALITA
 
"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" features an instrumental snippet of "Wipe Out" after Max's introduction. 
 

Songinfo

"Wipe Out" is an instrumental composed by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson. First performed and recorded by The Surfaris, who were elevated to international status with the release of the "Surfer Joe" and "Wipe Out" single in 1963. The song – both the Surfaris' version as well as cover versions – has been featured in over 20 films and television series since 1964. The term "wipe out" refers to a fall from a surfboard, especially one that looks painful. Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson wrote the song almost on the spot while at Pal Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California in late 1962, needing a suitable B-side for the intended "Surfer Joe" single. One of the band members suggested introducing the song with a cracking sound, imitating a breaking surfboard, followed by a manic voice babbling, "ha ha ha ha ha, wipe out". The voice was that of band's manager, Dale Smallin. "Wipe Out" is based on the 1959 song "Bongo Rock" by Preston Epps.
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

1963-07-00 - 68 SOUTH STREET, FREEHOLD, NJ
 
The surf music craze, which had been largely confined to California during the previous year, finally explodes nationally in the U.S.A. during the summer of 1963, with four huge-selling singles released (and all charting top five or better) in rapid succession: "Pipeline" (May 1963 - The Chantays), "Surfin' U.S.A." (June 1963 - The Beach Boys), "Surf City" (July 1963 - Jan and Dean) and "Wipe Out" (August 1963 - The Surfaris). Springsteen is heavily influenced by these four singles, particularly over the course of the next twelve months.
 
source: Brucebase 

Lyrics

INSTRUMENTAL