"Wipe Out" is a surf music instrumental composed by Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson. Composed in the form of twelve-bar blues, the tune was first performed and recorded by the Surfaris, who became famous with the single in 1963.
The single was first issued on the independent label DFS in January 1963 and Princess in February, then picked up for national distribution on Dot in April. Dot reissued the single in April 1965. A second version by the Surfaris (with a different B-side) was released in 1966 on Decca and again in 1973 on MCA.
The title of the song is a colloquial surfing term of Southern California. Specifically, a "wipe out" is a fall from a surfboard, especially one that looks painful.
In 2020, the version of the song by the Surfaris was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Background Bob Berryhill, Pat Connolly, Jim Fuller and Ron Wilson wrote "Wipe Out" almost on the spot while at Pal Recording Studio in Cucamonga, California, in late 1962, when they realized they needed 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 the band's manager, Dale Smallin.
Single reception "Wipe Out" spent four months on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1963, reaching number 2, behind Little Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips". Meanwhile, the original A-side "Surfer Joe", sung by Ron Wilson, only attracted airplay in the wake of "Wipe Out"'s success, peaking at number 62 during its six-week run. "Wipe Out" returned to the Hot 100 in 1966, reaching number 16 on the Hot 100 (and number 63 for the year), peaking at number 9 on the Cash Box chart, selling approximately 700,000 copies in the U.S. The single spent a grand total of thirty weeks on the Hot 100. Wilson's energetic drum solo for "Wipe Out" helped the song become one of the best-remembered instrumental songs of the period.
Personnel Bob Berryhill – rhythm guitar Jim Fuller – lead guitar Pat Connolly – bass Ron Wilson – drums
Charts Chart (1963/1966)PeakpositionCanadian CHUM Chart (1963)11Canadian CHUM Chart (1966)2Canadian RPM Top Singles (1966)5German Singles Chart46UK Singles Chart5US Billboard Hot 1002US Cashbox Top 1005US Hot R&B Singles10
In popular culture Following the 2001 death of television personality Morton Downey Jr., news reports, obituaries and Downey's official website incorrectly credited him as the composer of "Wipe Out".
The song lends its title to the 1995 video game Wipeout.
The Fat Boys and the Beach Boys version
In mid-1987, the American hip-hop trio Fat Boys collaborated with the Beach Boys on a version of "Wipe Out", retitled "Wipeout!", that reached number 12 in the United States and number two in the United Kingdom.
Music video The Fat Boys load up a car with beach gear and then drive off. The Beach Boys are driving a Jeep Wrangler through the city, transforming the people's clothes into beachwear. Both bands go around the city in the direction of a beach, while they perform the song and draw the city inhabitants to the beach, where one of the Fat Boys tries to lift a heavy weight and is laughed at by some women. The Beach Boys play DJ in the street.
Track listings 7-inch single "Wipeout!" – 3:50 Fat Boys – "Crushin" – 3:40
12-inch maxi "Wipeout! (Wave I)" – 6:05 "Wipeout! (Wave II)" – 5:43 Fat Boys – "Crushin" (12-inch) – 5:38
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1987) Peakposition Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)20Italy Airplay (Music & Media)18
Year-end charts Chart (1987) Position UK Singles (OCC) 35
Certifications
Other cover versions The Ventures covered "Wipe Out" on their albums Let's Go (1963) and The Ventures on Stage (1965). In 1993, Animal from the Muppets covered the song for the album Muppet Beach Party. Released as a single in 1994, it reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart. A music video was created to promote the single and the album.
See also List of one-hit wonders in the United States
References