Church Key

"Church Key" is an instrumental single that was released by California surf group The Revels on Tony Hilder's Impact Records label in 1960.

The group were playing for a March of Dimes benefit in San Luis Obispo at a Chevrolet dealership.

Hilder had come into town to promote a couple of his artists, Billy Watkins and Charles Wright.

Hilder's attention was drawn to Dan Darnold's playing around with the vibrato bar.

Barbara Adkins, Hilder's girlfriend and future wife provided the giggles on the recording.

Not having his own label to release the recording at the time, Hilder and Norman Knowles started their own co. as partners, splitting the costs as well as the profits.

The B side to the single was "Vesuvius which was written by Robert J. Hafner[6] However, the 1959 release on CT 1-IM, 1-IMX credits Norman Knowles as the composer.

The Best Of The Revels by John Blair (author of The Illustrated Discography of Surf Music, 1961-1965), Adkins who did the female giggling voice on the recording was Tony Hilder's girlfriend and future wife.

[25] The version of "Church Key" by Dave Myers & The Surftones is on the ultimate surf music playlist by SurferToday.com.

[26] Note: "Church Key" by The Fabulous Pharaohs released in 1966 is a different track all together and was credited to Fisher-Stevenson.