Sixty years ago today… The Surfaris enjoyed their one and only hit with a hastily composed instrumental B-side called Wipe Out.

Like a surprising number of classic songs, it was originally composed – hurriedly, in the studio – as the B-side to another long forgotten song, a vocal number called Surfer Joe.

Wipe Out spent four months on the US chart, reaching No.2 – kept off the top by Stevie Wonder’s Fingertips – and No.5 in the UK.

That’s Ron Wilson on the drums, including that memorable drum break (adapted from one he performed in his high school marching band), and also on the vocals if you ever get to hear Surfer Joe.

The two guitarists twanging away are Jim Fuller on lead and Bob Berryhill on rhythm, with Pat Connolly making up the quartet on bass.

And let’s not forget their manager, Dale Smallin, who provides the manic voice cackling at the beginning after the whipcrack sound of a surf board snapping in two.

I have to confess I’ve never heard the 1987 remake – a collaboration between The Beach Boys and The Fat Boys, a trio of Brooklyn rappers.

It’s also been remade by The Ventures, The Residents and reached the UK charts again in 1994 when it was recorded by Animal for the seminal album Muppets Beach Party.