GREAT WHITE WATER.

Welcome

Welcome to “Great White Water,” a rowdy Shaker without identifiable musicians. This music will make you nod your head instantly. Let’s get on with it, then.

Twenty-five Word Song Review

Not the lovely crest of the wave, but the crashing, turbulent, growling finale. The danger and the thrill. Which is precisely where this song begins.

We Don’t Know Anything about The Song’s Musicians

Whoever they are, they played this song in 1963 or 1964 as part of the soundtrack for the 1964 beach movie, Surf Party, starring Bobby Vinton and Patricia Morrow.

A Bit More on Surf Party

Two bands—The Routers and The Astronauts—appear as themselves in the film. Some surf legends also appear, including Mickey Dora. Citing it as a ripoff of the earlier film, Beach Party, critics largely panned Surf Party and the male leads, but did credit the leading women as having done reputable work. The soundtrack was assembled by the legendary composer and arranger, Jimmie Haskell, who, along with William Donaldson “By” Dunham, was credited with writing several of the songs for Surf Party, including “Great White Water.”

That’s about It, Folks

Our tireless discography department can now rest. If you, Dear Reader, know more about this song, please leave us a comment. Enjoy! 

Sources of Information

45worlds (UK release)

45cat (Japan release)

AFI page for movie, Surf Party

Discogs entry for Great White Water

IMDb page for Surf Party soundtrack

Jimmie Haskell website

Thomas Lisanti book (2005) Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies

Wikipedia entry for Surf Party

resurrection week editorial schedule:

Notes (for Sonnet)

“Great White Water” (Shaker)
“Cozy’s Mambo” (R&B Shaker)

Marian McLaughlin & Heterodyne

Sonnet (for Clarice Lispector)