Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Marketts - Surfin' and Stompin'
 | Joe Saraceno's studio band the Mar-kets (later known as the Marketts after some legal wrangling with the Mar-Keys' management) were quick to jump on the band wagon with surf titles, laying down the nearly Lawrence Welk forties-ish "Surfers Stomp." Among the usual suspects at the original sessions were Tommy Tedesco - guitar, Plas Johnson - sax, Earl Palmer - drums, Rene Hall - guitar, and Jimmy Gordon - bass, who appeared on many a studio project in those days. One of the road versions of this band would include Pat and Lolly Vegas in a lineup that was essentially the Avantis. there were often several versions of the band on tour simultaneously back then. This CD collects two full albums plus some rare singles, all in the early sound that's about as far from true surf as you can get. It's hard to imagine that Saraceno was inspired by Dick Dale as he claims. having said all of that, if don't screw on your purist hat too tight, this is an easy CD to enjoy. |
Picks: Surfer's Stomp, Balboa Blue, Survival Stomp, Let's Go Trippin', Stompede, The Bristol Stomp, Stompin' At The Savoy, Surfin', Stomp, Look and Listen, If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody, Here Comes The Hodads, Stompin' Room Only, Start, Canadian Sunset (#1), Beach Bum, Sweet Potatoes, California Summer, Groovin' Time, Sun Power, The House Of The Rising Sun, San Remo Sunset, Sunshine Superman, Mexican Sunset, We'll Sing In The Sunshine, Summer Sunset, Sunshine Girl, California Sun, You Are My Sunshine, Canadian Sunset (#2), Come To The Sunshine
Track by Track Review
Sub Surf (Instrumental)
The Mar-Kets created this nearly Lawrence Welk forties-ish "Surfers Stomp." Frankly, Susan and the SurfTones do the best version of this song. Simple slow paced innocent instrumental rock and roll, with great piano and saucy sax. Infectious and unpretentious. Don't look for the classic surf sound here, but do enjoy the simplicity and fun. Smooth and right nice.
Surf (Instrumental)
That most humorous concept band, the Mill Valley Taters (drum machine and all), slip into a white water swirl with this surfy instro, structured somewhat like a Torpedoes tune, though less power driven. Nice work, and good listening.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
A variation on the Pastel Six's "Cinnamon Cinder," this lacks the chemistry, yet slides in with an innocent grin.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
About as thin and gutless as they come, the lead guitar is playing with the amp turned way down, and dry as a bone. The piano is actually the best part of this track. Even thinner than Milt Rogers take.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Like a pep rally variation of the "Surfers Stomp," we find a marching band feel and some cool fun within "Stompede."
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
The Dartells' "The Bristol Stomp" is smoothed out and saxed up. Less frat and more suave, this rendition oozes chaperoned suit and tie affairs.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
back to the roots of the whole concept, the Marketts soften Benny Goodman's "Stompin' At The Savoy." Its actually a really nice track.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
The Beach Boys' "Surfin'" gets the soft rock treatment, shifting from white doo-wop to rhythmic sax-n-roll. Works pretty well.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Mike Gordon's "Stomp, Look and Listen" is very much in the vein of "Balboa Blue," and is not particularly remarkable. Gordon was also leader of Mike Gordon and the Agates.
If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Rudy Clark's "If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody" just doesn't work in this venue. Too stiff.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Frat rompin' in a "Cinnamon Cinder "groove with great piano and a simple riff that would also be the basis of the Rolling Stones' "I'm All Right" a couple of years later.
Stompin' Room Only Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
"Stompin' Room Only" is a relatively lackluster track with the same beat as the rest of the first album.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
A nearly complete knockoff of "Balboa Blue" under a new title.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
This first take of the MOR classic "Canadian Sunset (#1)" is one rare sucker. Verging on displaying chemistry, it has a bit of a rock edge, yet gently sways in the breeze.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
A darn lot like earlier work, and borrowing liberally from "Canadian Sunset," "Beach Bum" is a gentle rocker with an almost gutty edge.
Sweet Potatoes Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
On the moody side, "Sweet Potatoes" is not your most spirited track. Nice piano work, but little else to grab your socks by. A little stilted, this is much too jammy to sustain interest throughout.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
With inspiration from "Music To Watch Girls By," and sounding like the inspiration for the seventies TV series Love American Style, this borders on dangerous in an MOR world not ready for such adventurous noodlings.
Groovin' Time Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Pop hit turned elevator pastime. Soft and "soulful," with no shame.
Sun Power Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Some actual distortion and real guitar run underneath the horn section in this soft rock wonder.
The House Of The Rising Sun Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Blues classic "The House Of The Rising Sun" slowly oozes from the slightly fuzzed guitar. Even the horn section kinda works, as if it was a hybrid of rock and some lost big band master.
San Remo Sunset Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Employing a "Concrete and Clay" beat, this MOR number grunts with a gutty guitar and flighty arrangement.
Sunshine Superman Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" wasn't intended for this. In a twisted way, this is an enticing torture for your next party.
Mexican Sunset Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
"Mexican Sunset" is a soft MOR number with a bit of plastic sofa cover excitement amid a bland arrangement.
We'll Sing In The Sunshine Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Gail Garnett's sappy "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" MOR hit is softened and grooved.
Summer Sunset Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Sounding kinda Percy Faith, like a variation on the "A Summer Place" theme, "Summer Sunset" is plinky and soft and slow, with a touch of shimmer.
Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
Nice shimmering vibrato guitar delivers a very smooth melody in what begins as a solid adventure before the horn section comes in.
California Sun Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
The Rivieras' "California Sun" is oddly arranged in a way doesn't really feature the melody line. It's hard to fathom grooving to this.
You Are My Sunshine Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
This classic has been around forever it seems. It was the A-side to Richard Berry's "Louie Louie," and has been done by everyone from Johnny and the Hurricanes to Dean Martin.
Canadian Sunset (#2) Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
This second take of "Canadian Sunset" is quite a bit smoother, yet maybe a little less interesting than the first. Nice guitar work, but no real chemistry.
Come To The Sunshine Small Combo Big Band (Instrumental)
More MOR pop material morphed into retirement home fair... not very interesting.