The best surf songs of all time

Whether you're crossing sunny California in a Cadillac Cabriolet or tracking the waves in the South of France in a Volkswagen Westfalia, surf music is always part of the ultimate surf trip. 

The summer tunes remind you of your greatest moments chasing waves and inspire you to dream about what is yet to come.

Surf music was born in the 1960s. Over 60 years have passed, but the greatest surf songs are still cool, smooth, and enthusiastic.

Add them to your MP3 playlist and listen to them while driving with your friends and family by the seaside.

The Bel Airs are considered one of the most important surf music icons, and "Mr. Moto" is the perfect tune for a summer surfing day.

The catchy riffs will stick in the heads of even the youngest groms.

"Wipe Out," by The Surfaris, is another excellent listening experience, perfect for those seeking constant adrenaline.

The rhythm is driving, fun, and will have you in the water in no time.

"Pipeline" was a massive hit in the early 1960s. The Chantays had the feel and looks the surfing community loved and captured the essence of the famous wave in a great song.

The Trashmen merged two different songs by The Rivingtons to create the crazy "Surfin' Bird."

The tune reached number four on the Billboard chart in 1963 and lived a second life in 2010, reaching number three in the UK that year.

The California Sound

Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys were the ambassadors of surfing in the 1960s, and their music will last forever in the hearts of surfers.

"Surf's Up" and "Surfin' Safari" are only two outstanding songs on their long list of surf anthems that define the so-called California sound.

Dick Dale & His Del-Tones brought us a version of an oriental melody with "Miserlou," a solo instrumental guitar piece that quickly became a must-have surf tune.

More recently, in the 1990s, the song was featured in the movie "Pulp Fiction."

"California Dreamin'" was a huge surf hit in 1965. The Mamas & The Papas created a story about a man in a cold winter who dreams about the warm temperature of California.

The song's overall spirit inspires surfers, even more so when The Beach Boys re-recorded it.

In recent years, two songs have truly recreated the surf feeling of summertime.

"Surf Wax America," by the surf rockers Weezer, and "Let's Go Surfing" by The Drums send us all to the best place on Earth: the wave peak.

Listen to all the tunes or get the vinyl records and MP3s.

Surf Songs | The Ultimate Surf Music Playlist

1. "Mr. Moto" - The Belairs
2. "Wipe Out" - The Surfaris
3. "Pipeline" - The Chantays
4. "Surfin' Bird" - The Trashmen
5. "Surf's Up" - Brian Wilson
6. "Surfin' Safari" - The Beach Boys
7. "Miserlou" - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
8. "California Dreamin'" - The Mamas & The Papas
9. "Surf Wax America" - Weezer
10. "Let's Go Surfing" - The Drums
11. "Guitar Noir" - The Aqua Velvets
12. "Church Key" - Dick Dale and His Del-Tones
13. "Let's Go Trippin'" - The Beach Boys
14. "You And Your Heart" - Jack Johnson
15. "Surf City" - Jan & Dean
16. "Rumble at Waikiki" - Jon & The Nightriders
17. "My Beach" - Surf Punks
18. "Bombora" - The Atlantics
19. "Surfin' U.S.A." - The Beach Boys
20. "Hanging Five" - The Delltones
21. "Shoot The Curl" - The Honeys
22. "Surf Rider" - The Lively Ones
23. "Out of Limits" - The Marketts
24. "Gypsy Surfer" - The Phantom Surfers
25. "Apache" - The Shadows
26. "The Curl Rider" - Surf Raiders
27. "Walk, Don't Run" - The Ventures
28. "Summerland Road" - Tom Curren

Discover the best surf music bands of all time.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com