The Lively Ones

In 1963, amid the crowded scene of instrumental surf outfits active across Southern California, the Lively Ones ranked among the strongest. Their output centered on aggressive, heavily reverberated Fender guitar lines that were occasionally accented by gritty saxophone solos. Fresh ideas were never their strength, as they cranked out roughly five albums inside a single year, most of them padded with covers or slightly altered versions of existing rock and R&B tunes. Local radio in the L.A. area embraced a pair of their 1963 singles, “Surf Rider” and “Rik-A-Tik,” yet the standout track remained “Goofy Foot,” whose rapid-fire riff pattern earned repeated appearances on later surf compilations. Their search for material stretched across unexpected sources, applying the surf formula to “Telstar,” “Exodus,” “Rawhide,” and Cole Porter’s “Night and Day.” Even well-worn standards received fresh, confident treatment in both arrangement and performance. A single best-of collection captures their essence, and listeners drawn to Dick Dale’s style will recognize the same polished, archetypal twang and refined surf-guitar tone.