Penetration (instrumental)

"Penetration" was an instrumental hit for the surf band The Pyramids in 1964.

"Penetration"
Instrumental by The Pyramids
from the album The Pyramids Play The Original Penetration!
B-side"Here Comes Marsha"
LabelBest Records 13002
Songwriter(s)S. Leonard
Producer(s)John Hodge

Background

The song has been described as a pivotal surf-instro anthem.[1] In Duane Cozzen's book, Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference, it says that "Penetration" is believed to be the last major surf instrumental song.[2]

On the day of the recording session, Will Glover was in the studio and he was not "feeling it" so he decided to go across the road to have a bite to eat and a soft drink. Coming back, he bumped into two members of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The Beach Boys had recorded in the same studio. He spoke to them and then remembered his group's recording session. By the time he arrived back at the studio, Skip Mercier had recorded his guitar part. However, Glover did sing on the other song contained on the 45.[3] "Here Comes Marsha", which was written by Glover, was meant to be the A-side but a DJ in Riverside played the B-side "Penetration" and caused it to be a hit.[4]

The Way Back Attack website has "Penetration" at #18 in the TOP 100 SURF SONGS 1959-1969 list.[5]

Chart performance

Spending a total of ten weeks in the charts, it peaked at #18 in the week of April 4, 1964.[6]

The B-side of the record, "Here Comes Marsha", was a regional hit in Texas thanks to DJs playing that side.[3]

Chart (1964) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 18

References
  1. "REVERSE TAKEOFF: SURF'N'ROD MUSIC REVIVAL INTENSIFIES". Billboard. August 10, 1995. p. 87 – via Google Books.
  2. Duane Cozzen (11 August 2015). Surf & Hot Rod Music of the 60's: Collectors Quick Reference. p. 100. ISBN 9781329400337 – via Google Books.
  3. Jim Washburn (March 31, 1995). "Pyramid Power". Los Angeles Times.
  4. Matt Cohn (January 29, 2016). "The Pyramids, Stompin' with The Pyramids, Long Beach's Legendary Surf Band: Guitarist Will Glover Remembers". Long Beach Post.
  5. TOP 100 LISTS! TOP 100 SURF SONGS, Way Back Attack
  6. THE HOT 100 45 Penetration, Billboard
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