Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

Tony Fantasia - 6 years ago

I feel like saying that Instrumentals Rule but I'll resist the urge. I just love all music, except for electronica and hip hop.

SisterToSleepx - 6 years ago

This will always be the theme to Le Typewriter to me...no matter how much I listen to it. A perfect piece to accompany a perfectly thoughtful short film.

Ronald Vaughan - 6 years ago

Bass by? Jack Nitzsche himself?? Carole Kaye??? Anybody know?

John Smith - 6 years ago

Bill Pitman

Upson Pratt - 6 years ago

Wasn't Leon Russell in the Wrecking crew?

John Smith - 6 years ago

Yes

calleaeste junior - 6 years ago

Digging that French horn, baby.!

hobiegary - 6 years ago

No kidding! I thought that it was some finale from a western movie, showing the victors of a battle riding off into the sunset. This is a nice example of what french horns can perform.

DJ.SOQQUADRO CAOS - 7 years ago

Fantastic

Ronald Vaughan - 7 years ago

Talk about an AWESOME instrumental......WOW!!!

Mandy Mine - 7 years ago

Glen Campbell on the beautiful guitar.

John Smith - 6 years ago

I bought your Dad's "Railroad Man" album off of Amazon.com recently and play the record at least once a day.
I really enjoy it.

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

I love Carol. She has a vast knowledge of music history and is a great lady. I also never heard of 'The Wrecking Crew' until the the movie was being made. I enjoyed the movie but unfortunately it seems to be more about Tommy Tedesco and Hal Blaine. Of course I would've liked to have seen more about Billy Strange.
Dad was responsible for hundreds of the arrangements besides guitar playing. Arrangements are a category of music no one seems to talk about, that often made the song.
Can you imagine 'These Boots are made for Walking' without the idea for the baseline?

John Smith - 7 years ago

Jerry , I found the link where Carol Kaye flames the "Wrecking Crew" book by Kent Hartman.
It is on the Talkbass.com website.https://www.talkbass.com/threads/carol-kaye-review-of-the-wrecking-crew.913098/

John Smith - 7 years ago

Jerry, thanks for the great story. I remember before I bought the paperback on Amazon.com I read some reviews on the book and I especially remember one review where Carol Kaye broke nasty on Kent Hartman
and said the book was terrible and don't buy it. Now I can see why she was so hard on him. Again, thanks for the great story.

Mandy Mine - 7 years ago

Great story!

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

John Smith - There seems to be a lot of stories that aren't true. I was the son that was there at United Western Studios late December 1965. I was 10yrs old. I went with my dad and watched him mix a Nancy Sinatra song he had been working on.
I met Loren Green, the father from the TV show “Bonanza.”
It was one of my favorite westerns on TV, and starred Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, and Loren Green.
Although it was real exciting meeting Mr. Green, I was a little freaked out when I saw that he was bald. Up until that day had never realized that any men wore wigs. I'm sure after that there must been more than a few men who thought to themselves, why is this weird kid staring at my head?
As we were leaving and walking to the car a man screamed Billy.
It was Brian Wilson from the Beach boys. My dad had played guitar on their new album called “Pet Sounds” and he wanted to know if my dad could play a session while he was there. He wanted dad to try it a new way.
There I was sitting in on a recording session with the Beach boys as my dad played guitar on the song “Sloop John B.” This was a great day. After the session, they came out to show my dad and I a couple of their new cars.
In the parking lot were two of the coolest cars I've ever seen. A Brown Aston Martin DB5 and a red Jaguar XKE roadster. I don’t remember whose car was whose but that was the day I became a car nut.
I don't think dad even remembered that day until I reminded him. But it was a very special day to me!

John Smith - 7 years ago

Jerry, I checked out your Dad's Wikipedia article just now. I thought you might have been the son your Dad
took to a Brian Wilson recording session that I read about in the "Wrecking Crew" book by Kent Hartman.
The book says he took a 9 year old Billy Jr. when it was actually probably your brother Russell Glen.
You would have been around 5 years old give or take. Your Dad was such an incredibly talented musician and
I can listen to his playing all day long.

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

Mandy Mine i

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

John Smith Your right. I was thinking of "The Lonely Bull" for The Ventures.
Dad (Billy Strange) played lead on, Tuff Jack, Night Walker, The Last Race, and African Waltz for Jack Nitzsche. Sorry!

Mandy Mine - 7 years ago

I'm sorry Jerry, I got some wrong information then (from the WC) . Billy Strange was pure awesomeness!

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

It's Billy Strange on Danelectro....https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/17578/

Peter Gerstenzang - 7 years ago

John Entwistle was definitely listening

10. comment for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

funkyironman69 - 7 years ago

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Surfer

Joe Easter - 7 years ago

HE PLAYS THE PIANO ON .GIRLS,GIRLS GIRLS...ELVIS....WATCH THE MOVIE

Joe Easter - 7 years ago

NICK NAMED " SPECKS"....HAL BLAINE ON THE KIT..ALSO JACK COULD PLAY STEELE GUITAR

Tony Trust - 7 years ago

I used to really like this piece; it didn't get a lot of airplay. I remembered who he was when he showed up on the first Buffalo Springfield album, producing Neil Young's song, "Expecting to Fly." True Jack.

witchdoctorsluckyday akin - 7 years ago

Man this is a masterpiece!

Larry Ellis Reed - 7 years ago

Imagine this as the ideal underscore to some railfan video, especially such featuring high-horsepower diesels on the head end, plenty of drone footage (to capture the sweep and majesty of the scenery surrounding), as well as that final coda featuring a train racing off into the sunset....

(Especially so for the Canadian Pacific, which could feature split screens depicting Canadian and United States operations.)

Lew Mosh-Pit - 7 years ago

I heard it on Phil's show of shows. Love it. I bought it on iTunes

ed fast - 8 years ago

"yaaaaay!"...
-Bud Dickman

QueenVelveeta - 8 years ago

I just found out this is Phil Hendrie's exit music.

Super88 Steve - 8 years ago

My dad would play this on 45 when I was a kid. It never gets old.

20. comment for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

Anthony Jamroz - 8 years ago

MUSICAL MEMORIAL: PIANIST/MUSICAL ARRANGER/MUSICAL CONDUCTOR/SONGWRITER JACK NITZSCHE, BORN AS BERNARD ALFRED NITZSCHE, DIED ON THIS DAY, AUGUST 25, 2000, AT THE AGE OF 63. THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS OF A BRONCHIAL INFECTION/CARDIAC ARREST/HEART ATTACK/STROKE. HE WAS BORN ON APRIL 22, 1937. MAY BERNARD ALFRED NITZSCHE, AKA JACK NITZSCHE, REST IN HARMONY. FOR MORE INFO AND MEMORIALS, PLEASE JOIN MY GROUP AND VIEW MY YOUTUBE PAGE: TONY JAMS MUSICAL MEMORIALS 1950'S AND BEYOND. FACE BOOK PAGE: TONY JAMS MUSICAL MEORIALS. FREE FOR ALL TO JOIN AND ENJOY. THANK YOU.

Steven Wells - 8 years ago

Top 10 in Australia August 1963. Jack is one of the all-time greats.

John Rivera - 8 years ago

I can only imagine Phil Hendrie yelling at the end of his show yaaaay and clapping lol

ZK791 - 7 years ago

John Rivera or bud doing his yaaaaay!

Ricgard Smith - 8 years ago

spectors guy, great arranger

Will S. Yde - 8 years ago

Phil Hendrie is the reason I have come here to hear.

northofsouth - 8 years ago

This is magic!

Marsha Spiker - 8 years ago

I never tire of this one...it puts me in a good place;) And who, but The Wrecking Crew could have pulled it off!

Chris C - 8 years ago

wow. it fantastic.

MrMartybearass - 8 years ago

LUV this!!!

Gillis vg - 8 years ago

6-string Fender bass ?

John Smith - 7 years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Pitman

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

It's Billy Strange on Danelectro....https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/17578/

John Smith - 7 years ago

I think I read about this on Bill Pitman's Wikipedia article.

Rick Mahurin - 7 years ago

John Smith David Gates has a Facebook page, & he is alleged to be the guy who sat in on that session, although it's also been suggested that it might have been Carol Kaye from the Phil Spector camp. I may wander over to FB & ask. Everywhere I've seen as said it was DG & a Bass VI, but you could very well be right.

John Smith - 7 years ago

I have the book " The Wrecking Crew" and if I remember correctly it is a DanElectro. I was sure it was a Fender Bass VI, but I remember saying to myself I got fooled on that account.

Rick Mahurin - 7 years ago

Gillis vg Yes, a Fender Bass VI

John Smith - 7 years ago

Bill Pitman

Peter Crowl - 8 years ago

Who played bass on this? Carol?

John Nixon - 8 years ago

+Gillis vg Danelectro

Jim Lefroy - 8 years ago

+Gillis vg In any case, a baritone guitar!

30. comment for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

JP Pestana - 9 years ago

Thanks!

Steve Fridell - 9 years ago

This song, so good, can picture surfing a long swell that goes on and on. Thanks!

ShootinItPodcast - 9 years ago

Phil Hendrie RULES!

AC Smith - 9 years ago

Listening to this in my AKGs.
Absolutely GREAT audio quality.
Thanks, Wayne.

Roberto Falconieri - 9 years ago

It really sounds like Danelectro Formadilyra

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

It's Billy Strange on Danelectro....https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/17578/

Nigel Sullivan - 9 years ago

wtf is going on with this album cover??

Hank Tilbury - 8 years ago

+サラヹンナイジル It's called "really bad art direction".

Michail Zagranichny - 9 years ago

+サラヹンナイジル
Conductor is sitting on a beach, fish and net are near him on a sand.

terry platt - 9 years ago

.A golden summer classic from the classic era of golden instrumentals! This is a masterpiece which still resonates all these years later. Stands up solidly alongside Pipeline, Telstar, Walk Don't Run, Wipe Out, Let's Go (Pony), The Cruel Sea, On The Rebound, Yakety Sax, A Walk In The Black Forest, Cast Your Fate To The Wind, Theme One (George Martin), Java, Memphis, Casino Royale (Herb Alpert), Tokyo Melody, Theme From A Summer Place, Time Is Tight, The Cat (Jimmy Smith), Wade In The Water, Hawaii Five-0, and dozens of equally worthy tracks by The Shadows, The Ventures and The Tornados. Whatever happened to the art of the instrumental?

Stephen J - 6 years ago

Wedding Cake Island - Midnight Oil and a good cover by the Atlantics. Worth a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3FQwovIJw0

Poppy Moppet - 7 years ago

Green Onions

Dan Stewart - 8 years ago

cool surf sounds!bringem back!!!

no1reallycaresabout2 - 9 years ago

+terry platt The art of the instrumental lost popularity, but it is still alive. Plus, Japan has a lot of instrumental rock bands dating back to The Ventures' tour there in 1962, such as Takeshi Terauchi & Blue Jeans, Yuzo Kayama & Launchers, Munetaka Inoue & Sharp Five.

Don Detmer - 9 years ago

+terry platt Terry, I like your way of thinking. Always loved instrumentals.

whodofthunkit ericrip - 9 years ago

Hi Terry read your frighteningly knowledgeable comments about the High Llamas Hawaii album and the B Boys catalogue ( which i love )and then you mentioned the passing of Chris rainbow that i knew nothing of, which left me feeling so sad ,i bought the7 inch single" All nigh"t when it came out i still consider it a defining example of what the POP! record should be(it really is a piece of 3 minute art) , keep the posts coming fella, knowledge is everything peace n' love

Highland804 - 9 years ago

Another Wrecking Crew Masterpiece. God, they were so good!

Ronald Vaughan - 7 years ago

You mean (as Carol Kaye would insist) "The Clique".

Noel Gallagher oasisnotizie - 9 years ago

He must have paid a lot of money to Noelie G. Advertising space LOL

Jeff Patton - 8 years ago

+Noel Gallagher oasisnotizie bellend

BillyPilgrim - 9 years ago

A dead guy? Nice try knobhead

Jerome998 - 9 years ago

Thank you Noel Gallagher :)

nealbfinn - 9 years ago

He did the music for "An Officer and a Gentleman"

ftsjr - 9 years ago

When I hear this tune, I think of scenes from the movie "Endless Summer." It fits perfectly.

ftsjr - 9 years ago

+Esperanza Quebec
I remember Village of the Giants. A pretty dumb flick, but I recall Nitzsche's "The Last Race" was the opening theme. Although this tune wasn't in Endless Summer, it easily could've been.

Esperanza Quebec - 9 years ago

You think of a better movie than I do (LOL!) "Village of The Giants", for which Jack NIzsche did the music for, is the movie I think of. Oh well...

Richard Valentine - 10 years ago

You've found the secret formula to uploading HI-FI. Wonder what settings/format you used? Minimal artifacts if any

houseofhits1 - 10 years ago

Jack Nitzsche was a genius. Think of You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (which he arranged), Expecting To Fly by Buffalo Springfield (really just Neil Young), Neil's The Old Laughing Lady of his self titled debut album, A Man Needs A Maid from Harvest etc etc. All benefited hugely from Jack's prodigious skills.

David Govett - 10 years ago

Whatever happened to the instrumental?

David Govett - 10 years ago

Surfing symphony

Mike Mangan - 10 years ago

Classic Haunting Surf Melody by a true legend,Jack Nitzsche,this got tons of airplay in the pre Drake Boss era.

paul m - 10 years ago

fantastic, takes me back to my school days

Michael Dwyer - 10 years ago

Stunning...I miss Jack!

Kevin Gibbs - 10 years ago

If this was brought out in 1963 I was 21 that year. Loved it then and still do. Pity my local radio station does not play records like these.

50. comment for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

Dyno Don Ressler - 10 years ago

Thank you!

Ronald Clary - 10 years ago

One of my favorite instrumentals of all time. Thanks for sharing.

Rob Campbell - 10 years ago

It was Tedesco

Jerry Strange - 7 years ago

It's Billy Strange on Danelectro....https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/17578/

Jerry Strange - 8 years ago

It's Billy Strange!

Ed Bishop - 10 years ago

Yes, The Who's John Entwistle never forgot this one, heh...!

Great surf instro..and that might be either Billy Strange or Glen Campbell on guitar, unless I'm mistaken, although Tom Tedesco might be here too.

The mono mix is the keeper, though, as it runs a tad faster than the stereo mix and just kicks serious tail all around. But however you hear it, simply wonderful and definitive surf music.

Ed Bishop - 9 years ago

Thanks for the info. Amazing and unique sound. I like Jack's solo albums from this era, and of course what he did for Bob Lind, among others. This one simply has the magic.

Douglas Wright - 9 years ago

It's Bill Pittman and the instrument is a Danelectro six string bass.

Brian McRae - 10 years ago

mavericks at half moon bay ,calif.

Don Detmer - 10 years ago

Ah, the 60's were a great time.

northofsouth - 8 years ago

+Don Detmer Amen

Mark Boyd - 10 years ago

I had a dream he did arrangements for a lost Gene Clark lp. Sad when I woke up...

Saul Dagenham - 11 years ago

Perfect.

TheAksleepy - 11 years ago

Performed by the Wrecking Crew.

sooperheep - 11 years ago

OFF THE TOP!

Peter Gerstenzang - 11 years ago

Yes. And I'm here to tell you, if Jack only did "Expecting To Fly," he'd be a legend. Nice to go to a site, Wayne, where there isn't a bunch of hate speech and racism. Just music. What a freaking relief. Cheers.

Wayne Smith - 11 years ago

Obviously a huge amount of natural talent aided the arrangers course, thanks for the info.

Peter Gerstenzang - 11 years ago

Wayne: Did you know Jack learned arranging through the mail? Yes, a correspondence course. Isn't that amazing?

Colin Sanders - 11 years ago

Entered Cashbox August 3, 1963

Jarski J. - 11 years ago

Thanks, dude ! :)

ThePusherMan - 11 years ago

Thanks! This is great!

Tom Henneberry - 11 years ago

Thanks Wayne. This has always been one of my favorite surf instrumentals, and it sounds better today than ever. Jack's contribution to the surf canon.

MusicProf78 - 11 years ago

Thanks. Nice quality but not quite the hit single version, which was slightly sped-up (so pitched higher) and extended to 2:43.

johnwaynesfoot - 11 years ago

Discogs lists the guitarists on the album as BIll Pitman, Ray Pohlman, and Tommy Tedesco and the bassists as Dave Gates and Jimmy Bond. They may not all be on this particular track, though.

johnwaynesfoot - 11 years ago

Yes, it's from the album "The Lonely Surfer"...

Jordan Kamnitzer - 11 years ago

I disagree, this is a surfing song because, despite the fact that this has a slow surfing rhythm. Yes, the "Lonely Surfer" could have been influenced from "Lonely Bull" by Herb Albert. Remember, not all surfing songs are happy, some are sad and lonely like this one.

SunLover WWU - 11 years ago

I can smell the COPPERTONE!

crichta - 11 years ago

Yes I love this. I think it is very much a surfing theme. I can see guys on long boards tackling huge barreling sets in Hawaii or somewhere like that. The other piece I always associate with surfing (and I am sure it was never intended) is Fleetwood Mac's Albatross. Thanks.

bagh/////277 - 11 years ago

Is this on some album or something? If so, what's the name of it? Maybe you or someone wrote it somewhere down below in comments, but I didn't find anything. This song is absolutely awesome and I'd love to get my hands on some record or album with this one.

cardboardmusic - 11 years ago

Sounds like Tortoise, amazing!

stp88661 - 11 years ago

This is beautiful, RIP Jack Nitzsche.....Thanks Wayne for providing great sound quality for this wistful instrumental.

Jennifur Sun - 11 years ago

do you know who is playing that Growly rhythum guitar and the bass on this song?

Wayne Smith - 11 years ago

Thank you for your subtle comment, since both people you mention have passed away all that's left is the music and your inability to engage lower case.

Luís Carlos Borges - 11 years ago

delicious. thanks for posting!

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

First I need to know how to make money off Phil Spector's film score, and I would also like to know what Phil Spector has to do with Jack Nitzsche's music ??

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

As I remarked previously, both Nitzsche and Snodgress are dead, I am here for the music.

noel martin - 12 years ago

I remember this song in the 60's right in the middle of the surfing song craze and it fitted in nicely ! I have never forgotten it !

Sonny Dryer - 12 years ago

Definitely a Surfing song...!!!!

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

Thanks for your comment, however I think a lot of Surf music fans would disagree with you.

David Govett - 12 years ago

Jack orchestrated some of the songs of Phil "Wall of Sound" Specter.

James Young - 12 years ago

cool vids man

nanlisa - 12 years ago

Until recently, I never even heard of this song.

Randy Stewart - 12 years ago

Thanks! You too!

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

My pleasure, I checked your channel, subscribed straight away, great stuff...

Randy Stewart - 12 years ago

Thanks for posting this!

winter sky - 12 years ago

The Caps locked key!

johnnystaccata - 12 years ago

Hey dude, your CAPS LOCK is on.

johnnystaccata - 12 years ago

Stoopit!

blondwiththewind - 12 years ago

as it should be. :-)

aleister crowley - 12 years ago

I love it. So evocative. Makes me think of all the beaches south of Long Beach -- Bolsa Chica, etc. I grew up in so cal, and I so miss the ocean, the summer days on the beach with my hair full of sand and tossed by the sea air and thickened by the saltwater...nice "real" tans in the old days...I'd love to get a bodyboard and relive those old summers for a few weeks...

Dave McKay - 12 years ago

okay song. there's better with the same feeling attached to it though.

Son Goku - 12 years ago

i can smell oil and hear the sound of an good old american muscle car :D dont know why but this reminds me of drivin down the highways

Adhesive Boi - 12 years ago

He looked like a nerd in the 80s. Today he looks like a pimp XD

Rich Griff - 12 years ago

Fantastic Tune. Lost in the many classics of the 60's but needs to be heard.

BlueWaveDragon - 12 years ago

When I was a kid in the 80's I listened to a casset tape with this and a bunch of other surf songs like I live for the Sun and Pipeline and Surfer Joe. Oh man I got the surfin bug I got a body board the other day with a slick belly and I'm ready to head to Cocoa but the waves are flat for the next couple days :(

100. comment for Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer

christian velez - 12 years ago

very beautiful i might say :) even if the guy looks like a nerd lol you can never judge a book by its cover... very nice.

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

@meriksx3 Looks like Mr Jung has left the building...

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

@XXNEALJUNGXX Thank you for your subtle comment, since both people you mention have passed away all that's left is the music and your inability to engage lower case.

Wayne Smith - 12 years ago

@XXNEALJUNGXX I am here for the music.