Class of 1967

J O H N   B U R R O U G H S   H I G H   S C H O O L, B U R B A N K, C A

"Movin' On" by The Riptides
Words and lyrics by Phil Kasper and Frank Belcher Baker 1969
recorded 2007 

"Time and Place"
special song written especially for our reunion
Words and lyrics by Phil Kasper
recorded 2007 

In 1968 Burroughs own "Riptides" recorded the music and theme song for this Surf History Classic produced by Dale Davis.
"Golden Breed"

The Riptides band member were
Bob Bennett - Keyboard and Lead Vocals
Phil Kasper - Vocals and Lead Guitar
Tommy Howell - Drums and vocals
Ron Record - Bass and vocals
Tom Rockriver - Sax
Jay Graydon - Bass (occasional stand-in)

Songs recorded by the Riptides: (Click the link to listen to the song)

Farmers Daughter - demo never released written by Brian Wilson. produced by Mike Curb - Fall 1965
I Couldn't Love You Again - Fall 1965
Sally Ann - released on Sidewalk records, written and produced by Mike Curb- Spring 1966
April- B side of Sally Ann, produced by Mike Curb - spring 1966
Last Wave of the Day- written by Mike Curb, from the movie "Mondo Hollywood" - Fall 1966
What Turns you On - 1967
The Golden Breed - produced by Mike Curb, released on sound track album for the movie Golden  Breed
Shady Lady - demo never released written by Bob and Phil. produced by Clancy B Grass - 1967
Dream
Stocks and Bonds - Original song written by Bob in 1987 - one of his best
Slow Dance - Original song written by Bob
Honest Man - Original song written by Bob in 1987
Catch Another Life - Original song written by Bob
Mainstream - Original song written by Bob
Curfew - instrumental demo never released, written by Bob, produced by the Riptides

"The Riptides" were first formed from a band that was initially called the "Mai Tai Five".  It was composed of Bob Bennett, Phil Kasper, Ron Record,  Tommy Howell, and Tom Rockriver.  The basic musical content was surf music (note that most early surf music used saxophones-hence Tom Rockriver) and local garage band music.  We played some junior high dances at Jordan and elsewhere.  But when we discovered that we could sing, and the Beach Boys were becoming popular we formed "The Riptides" after Rockriver left the band for a different type of music .  Bob Bennett on piano/keyboards, Phil Kasper on Fender Jazzmaster guitar, Ron Record on Gibson ES 335 guitar, and Tommy Howell on a Ludwig kit.  When we ran into a kid named Steve Schoen, who played bass, we were introduced to his mother who was a Hollywood type who had just written a song for a Christmas "Supremes" album.  She heard us and liked us.  She said that she knew a guy who was just beginning to make it in the L.A music scene.  He had just written two songs for Honda-"You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda" and "The Worlds Biggest Seller Is A Sporty Little Street Machine".  His name was Mike Curb.

Steve's mother set up a meeting at her house and Phil and I played some songs that I had written and recorded on Ron's Sony Reel to Reel.  Curb liked what he heard and thus began  a new direction for "The Riptides".  Curb wanted us to record a Beach Boy song because he had produced the hit song "Little Honda" by the Hondells on Mercury.  So he gave us a demo of one of the future "Three Dog Night" singers, Danny Hutton.  It was from an album by "The Beach Boys" and the song was "Farmers Daughter", written by Brian Wilson.   We had a recording date set up and we practiced the song 897 times.  When we went to the studio it was the studio that had recorded all of the "Steppenwolf " and "Three Dog Night" albums and hits.  It was recorded in four track.  The guitar solo in the middle of the song was performed by Richie Podolor who was also the engineer.  He was married to Pricilla Paris at the time and did the solo on a Rickenbacker 12 string.  Absolutely fantastic, probably the best recorded song was our first.  Perfect, but nothing happened. 

Next song was "I Couldn't Love You Again" written by Curb writer and friend Harley Hatcher.  Hatcher's name appears on a lot of the songs in street gang movies that were popular at the time.  Our next effort was our only single released on Curb's Sidewalk label.  "Sally Ann" which was a "Barbara Ann" knock off was written by Curb.  The B side was called "April" and was written by Curb writer friend Ron Abeyta.  It was also recorded in four track and included a dubbed in horn section.  The single bombed but it did make the John Burroughs Cafeteria juke box.  We recorded a song for the movie called "Mondo Hollywood" called "The Last Wave Of The Day".  It was written by Curb and it was a great song.  The album was released on Tower, a Capital subsidiary.

After the bass player moved on to a low-rider band there was no bass in the song and it suffered as a result.  We also had some background parts for that movie which included the sidewalk surfing/skateboarding scenes.  The movie was terrible and very controversial at the time.  Curb's reputation suffered but not enough to stop him from eventually becoming California Lieutenant Governor.  Next we did two songs for the movie "The Golden Breed".  Curb had the backing tracks already done but he had Phil Kasper record a song called "The Golden Breed" and  Bob Bennett recorded a song called "Hey Girl, What Turns You On".  The album was released in stereo on Capital.  That was our last involvement with Mike Curb.  "The Riptides" would eventually break up, Ron Record got married at age 17, Phil and Bob went on to college and Tommy Howell went off into the sunset.  Great times, fun stuff.  Some of it still available on DVD.
Bob Bennett 06/21/07



       

"Golden Breed reaches the pinnacle of surf movie making at the height of the longboard era. Witness the surfing legends risking their lives in huge Hawaiian waves. The L.A. Times calls this by far the most magnificent movie of its time. Whether you surfed in the late '60s, or are just want to discover your surfing roots, it is fortunate that this rare and irreplaceable film has been found and restored. Starring legendary Mickey Dora, Greg Noll, Mike Doyle, David Nuuhiwa, Nat Young, Barry Kainaiaupuni, Buffalo, Eddie Aikau, Mickey Munoz, Jeff Hackman, Joc Sotherland, Mark Martinson, and many, many more. See pristine California, and one of the the North Shore's most magnificent winters of all time."