This American Songwriter feature highlights three 1960s surf rock albums that it credits with expanding the genre beyond its origins as a regional Southern Californian fad. The piece argues that a handful of visionary artists helped transform surf rock's sun-soaked melodies and twangy guitars into a nationwide phenomenon, reaching even landlocked parts of the United States.

The three records singled out are Dick Dale and His Del-Tones' *Surfers' Choice*, described as the "grandfather" of surf rock for establishing the sub-genre's echoey, "wet" guitar sound; The Ventures' *(The) Ventures In Space*, which added a space-age twist that tapped into national excitement around the emerging Space Race; and Jan & Dean's *Surf City*, named after the duo's chart-topping single. The article notes that "Surf City" was co-written by the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and became surf rock's first No. 1, and it suggests Jan & Dean deserve as much credit as the Beach Boys for taking the genre mainstream.