It's Monster Surfing Time!

There is so much awesome going on in this album cover...

I've often wondered about the connection between surf rock and monsters.  To me it just seems inexplicable that these two things would go together at all...  And yet it seems so right!  Over the years, I've thought about it probably way too much...  And looked over the glaringly obvious.

I eventually arrived at the conclusion that monster movies and rock music both represent a sort of subversive counter-culture in their respective mediums.  Thinking about it this way, it seems almost inevitable that a mash-up would be a natural result.  This is what I do:  Overthink stupid stuff and be oblivious to the obvious...

Well, regardless of the how and/or why this pairing all got started, I'm glad it happened...  Because in some sad alternate universe out there where surf rockers and monsters never collaborated they don't have "It's Monster Surfing Time" by the Deadly Ones!

(Although within this same alternate universe the trade-off is that they can probably shoot laser beams out of their eyes or secrete chocolate taco sauce instead of sweat...  Even so, those guys missing out!)

Yes folks, this one's got it all!

Bad Boris Karloff impressions?  Check.

Twangy hooks and cheesy sound effects?  Check.

Genuinely awesome surf rock?  CHECK!!!

Jokes aside, this is actually an enjoyable album with some fun, memorable tracks.  As with most monster-surf-rock bonanzas, the band isn't taking itself too seriously and it's very apparent that they're just goofing around.  The album is full of original instrumentals, but there are a few covers of surf-rock staples, including "Raunchy" and "Rebel Rouser".

I searched and searched for more information on this band and this album, but unfortunately it seems that there simply isn't much to be found...  Actually, nothing really aside from the fact that the album was released in 1964 by Vee-Jay records (An independent record label that just so happened to release the first Beatles record).  The only other tidbit of information I could find was that the band may or may not have been a studio players led by songwriter Joe South.  Sadly, this appears to be the only album ever produced by the band.

When I first discovered this album, I thought it would be cool to have a copy of it on vinyl to add to my offbeat record collection.  It didn't take long to discover that this record is actually a very hot commodity in high demand by collectors.  I found a copy on Ebay with the starting bid set at $100.  At another website specializing in rare records, the asking price was $350!  So, if you have a copy of this album, hold on to it!  Or, you know, you could be a pal and loan it to me for Halloween...

If you don't already own a copy, you can find this album on iTunes or purchase a physical copy from Amazon in the form of a CD.