Pipeline - The Chantays 1962

“Pipeline“, by California surf rock group The Chantays, in 1962 became an instant hit reaching the #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in and is considered one of the landmarks of the surf genre. The original title before release was dubbed “Liberty’s Whip“ and was in reference to the whip that a nasty character, named Liberty Valance, used in the 1962 movie “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance“. But, The Chantays being a instrumental surf rock group, decided it fit better to the Banzai Pipeline surf reef break in Hawaii in a movie they once saw. Its distinctive sound was due to an “upside down“ instrument technique that gave the music its unique haunting Chantays, from Santa Ana, California, have been honored for their contributions to music including induction into the R&R Hall of Fame, and their song “Pipeline“, is noted as one of the 500 Songs that Shaped Rock & Roll. It has been covered and recorded by a large number of other musicians as well.