"Surfing and music share an affinity. They both offer rhythmic appreciation. The fluidity of an accomplished surfer maneuvering his way across the face of a wave is equally matched by the fingers of an equally accomplished guitarist sliding down the neck of a guitar." - Stephen J. McParland from the liner notes of A Life In The Sun

Released today, A LIFE IN THE SUN – AUSTRALIAN SURFING FILM SOUNDTRACK MUSIC OF THE ‘60S & ‘70S, is new 2CD set thanks to the folks at Festival, that celebrates a hugely significant era in Australian film, culture and music.

‘A Life In The Sun’ contains the best and some of the rarest material from some of Australia’s greatest surfing films – some of it unheard since the films themselves were screened – by TAMAM SHUD (including 3 tracks never before released), THE SUNSETS (including the first time on cd for the recently discovered extended soundtrack versions of their four greatest tracks), TULLY, RICHARD CLAPTON, SVEN LIBAEK, G. WAYNE THOMAS, PYTHON LEE JACKSON (7 tracks never before released!), HANS POULSEN, BILLY GREEN (with MIKE BRADY doing his best Doug Parkinson on vocals), FINCH, PETER MARTIN (including two wonderful tracks with FINCH’S OWEN ORFORD on vocals), FROG HOLLOW, DOLPHIN RODEO and more.

It includes amidst its 49 tracks material the following films: SURFING ROUNDABOUT (1965), THE SURFING YEARS (1966), A LIFE IN THE SUN (1966), THE HOT GENERATION (1967), RIDE A WHITE HORSE (1968), THE WAY WE LIKE IT (1968), EVOLUTION (1969), OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN (1970), SEA OF JOY (1971), GETTING BACK TO NOTHING (1971), MORNING OF THE EARTH (1972), CRYSTAL VOYAGER (1973), DROUYN (1974), ROLLING HOME (1974) and HIGHWAY ONE (1977). Original soundtrack albums for these films, where they exist, are now in high demand by music collectors internationally and often exchange hands for hundreds of dollars.

Curated and annotated by Australia’s internationally recognised vintage surf music and culture expert STEPHEN J. MCPARLAND (author of classic Australian and Californian surf books like  ‘Waltzing the Plank’, ‘The California Sound’ and ‘In the Studio with Brian Wilson & The Beach Boys’), the collection takes its name from PAUL WITZIG’S classic 1966 surfing film ‘A LIFE IN THE SUN’, which is itself celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Also featuring a 28 page with McParland’s illuminating notes and some great eye candy, ‘A Life In The Sun – Australian Surfing Film Soundtrack Music of the ‘60s & ‘70s’ is a slice of history, a great way to kick off summer, and most importantly, a great listen.

TRACKLISTING:
CD1
SURFING ROUNDABOUT (1965)
1. Steve Little - Surfie Roundabout
THE SURFING YEARS (1966)
2. Python Lee Jackson - The Surfing Years Opening Theme
3. Python Lee Jackson - The Surfing Years Instrumental #1
4. Python Lee Jackson - Highway #1
5. Python Lee Jackson - Over 25
6. Python Lee Jackson - Easy Life
7. Python Lee Jackson - Wave Rave
A LIFE IN THE SUN (1966)
8. The Sunsets - Theme From A Life In The Sun
9. The Sunsets - Windansea
THE HOT GENERATION (1967)
10.The Sunsets - The Hot Generation (Soundtrack Version)
11. The Sunsets - This Is What It's All About (Soundtrack Version)
12. The Sunsets - Animal (Soundtrack Version)
13. The Sunsets - Uptight, Out Of Sight (Soundtrack Version)
RIDE A WHITE HORSE (1968)
14. Sven Libaek - To Ride A White Horse
15. Sven Libaek - In The Wave
THE WAY WE LIKE IT (1968)
16. Tamam Shud - Stand In The Sunlight (Soundtrack Version)
17. Tamam Shud - Pea  Green Child (Soundtrack Version)
EVOLUTION (1969)
18. Tamam Shud - A Song About Love (Soundtrack Version)
19. Tamam Shud - Evolution (Album Version)
20. Tamam Shud - Lady Sunshine (Album Version)
21. Tamam Shud - Mr. Strange (Album Version)
22. Tamam Shud - I'm No One (Album Version)
OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN (1970)
23. Frog Hollow - Theme From Over Under Sideways Down
24. Frog Hollow - Sungod
SEA OF JOY (1971)
25. Tully - Sea Of Joy (Part 1)
26. Tully - Thank You
 
CD2
SEA OF JOY (1971) cont.
1. Tully - Sea Of Joy (Part 2)
GETTING BACK TO NOTHING (1971)
2. Hans Poulsen – Getting Back to Nothing
3. Hans Poulsen – Surf’s Up
4. Billy Green (with Mike Brady – vocals) – Bells Beach Stomp
MORNING OF THE EARTH (1972)
5. G. Wayne Thomas - Morning Of The Earth
6. Tamam Shud - Sea The Swells
7. Peter Howe - I'm Alive
8. Terry Hannagan - I'll Be Alright
CRYSTAL VOYAGER (1973)
9. G. Wayne Thomas and the Crystal Voyager Band - Changes
10. G. Wayne Thomas and the Crystal Voyager Band - Morning Light
DROUYN (1974)
11. Peter Martin - 1 + 1
12. Peter Martin (with Owen Orford - vocals) - Good Day
13. Finch - Lady Truth
14. Peter Martin  - Drouyn Theme
15. Peter Martin (with Owen Orford – vocals) - Morning Comes The Sun
16. Finch - Tubes
17. Peter Martin - Searchin'
ROLLING HOME (1974)
18. Dolphin Rodeo - Rolling Home
19. Dolphin Rodeo - Melissa's Song
HIGHWAY ONE (1977)
20. Richard Clapton - Longshore Rider
21. Richard Clapton - Highway One No. 2
22. Richard Clapton - Capricorn Dancer
23. Bilgola Bop Band - Neighbours