Song:Pipeline
Album:Surfin' Hits
Pipeline was one of the biggest instrumental surf music hits of the early 60s. It was also the only hit for The Chantays. Yes, they are a one hit wonder. The group were all students at Santa Ana High School in California and were inspired by the local group The Rhythm Rockers. Members were Bob Spickard and Brian Carman on guitar, Bob Welch on drums, Warren Waters on bass and Rob Marshall on piano. They were signed by manager Dale Smallins and he got them to record Pipeline in the back room of a surf shop. Pipeline was written by Carman and Spickard. It became popular locally and then the song broke nationally and reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1963. Of course it's a great song and has been covered by many artists and turned up in all kinds of film and TV shows. But the truth was The Chantays were limited and subsequent recordings fell flat. They only recorded two albums. You can get Pipeline on this Rhino various artists surf music comp. Believe it or not, The Chantays are still around. Spickard, Carman and Welch still perform and have recorded occasionally. The Chantays were honoured on Hollywood's Rock Walk in 1996. So Pipeline is a classic oldie even if The Chantays only had one good song in them. Here are The Chantays performing Pipeline on The Lawrence Welk Show May 1963.
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