The Belairs - Volcanic Action! (2023) [Hi-Res]

What did you do in high school? If you were one of the five members of The Belairs, you were busy helping to invent surf music. Their 1961 regional hit, “Mr. Moto,” laid the blueprint for countless aqua odes to follow. Featuring minor key guitar leads flowing to major and back to minor, a prominent sax and dogged drums, “Mr. Moto” was a clarion call to thousands of like-minded California kids. Bands sprung up, dance halls overflowed and a steady stream of surf records began to hit the airwaves and the shop racks. California became the epicenter for a new music genre and its hub was South Bay, Los Angeles, home of The Belairs.

The Belairs' reign was brief, from 1961-1963. An argument between guitarists Eddie Bertrand and Paul Johnson over whether to incorporate the then-new Fender reverb unit into their sound (Eddie was for it, Paul against) escalated and resulted in the group's break-up. Their tiny discography of three singles belied their massive impact. Bertrand formed Eddie and The Showmen, drummer Richard Delvy founded The Challengers and original Bel-Airs drummer, former Mousketeer Dick Dodd, joined The Standells, all groups destined to make national noise and carry the California sound forward.

Tracklist:
1.01 - The Belairs - Ramrod (2:09)
1.02 - The Belairs - Vampire (3:07)
1.03 - The Belairs - Peter Pistol (3:30)
1.04 - The Belairs - Let's Go Trippin' (2:22)
1.05 - The Belairs - Wild One (2:44)
1.06 - The Belairs - Panic Button (2:50)
1.07 - The Belairs - Yep (2:25)
1.08 - The Belairs - Bedlam (4:24)
1.09 - The Belairs - Chiflado (2:56)
1.10 - The Belairs - Bulldog (2:03)
1.11 - The Belairs - Movin’ & Groovin’ (2:18)
1.12 - The Belairs - Runaway (Alternate Take) (2:31)
1.13 - The Belairs - Ventures' Medley: Lullaby of the Leaves / Walk, Don't Run / Perfidia (3:10)
1.14 - The Belairs - Reveille Rock (2:34)
1.15 - The Belairs - Kamikazee (2:24)
1.16 - The Belairs - Three Blind Christmas Mice (3:09)
1.17 - The Belairs - Volcanic Action (Alternate Take) (2:34)
1.18 - The Belairs - Rampage (2:25)
1.19 - The Belairs - Squirt (2:18)