Surfer's Paradise

"And the junk's all free at the 7-11,

catch a perfect wave it'll take you to heaven

Bring your girl, bring your guy, 

make it on down to Surfer's Paradise!"

Welcome to Obscure Music Monday #4!  As I continue to take a look back at songs from Christian artists that stay in heavy rotation on my I-pod but that you may not have heard before, today we dig really deep!  The song is called Surfer's Paradise, and it was featured on a 1998 compilation album called Surfonic Water Revival.  The album was a tribute to the great surf music of the the 1960's, honoring artists such as The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Dick Dale, The Safaris and many others. The album was put together by the great Terry Scott Taylor, who also wrote the majority of the songs. It was dedicated to the late Beach Boy, Carl Wilson.  Artists appearing on the project included Smalltown Poets, The Insyderz, Plumb, Chuck Girard, Skillet, Plankeye, Daniel Amos, Randy Stonehill and more.  But our obscure song for this week was done by the pop/rock band All Star United and the legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. I knew it would be my favorite track on the album before I ever heard it... 

If you don't know Phil Keaggy, you should.  He was a guitarist for the great blues/rock band Glass Harp in the late 60's and early 70's before converting to Christianity and focusing on the early years of what would become Contemporary Christian Music. How good of a guitarist is Phil Keaggy?  His 7 Dove Awards for best instrumental album aside, his name often comes up along with Clapton, Hendrix and others in discussions of the greatest guitar players EVER.  Ted Nugent once said, "I don't know what happened to that guy Phil Keaggy. He could have saved the world with his guitar."  Actually Ted, that was EXACTLY what Phil wanted to do- use his music to help people discover Jesus. Using Phil to play classic surf riffs and pairing him with the classic "beach party" sound of All Star United was brilliant, and the song just soars.  I was working in Kissimmee when Interlinc introduced me to the album, and I wound up buying numerous copies because youth kept stealing mine! The concept is simple- if you were a surfer who is also a Christ follower, then perhaps this is what your favorite beach in heaven might be like.  Perfect waves every day. There's no closing sign, and your tan never fades.  Surfing utopia. 

So today, take a little trip with me. Let's hit the beach. catch a wave, and remember that the God who created the oceans and the waves loves you and me.  Let's thank God for that- and for Phil Keaggy.  He's still out there trying to help save the world...

Because of Jesus,