Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Little Deuce Coupe was all original BB material, too, just to be clear. IMO the best '60s car album ever made...like a 1963 copy of "Rod and Custom" put to music.

They never claimed to be surfers (save Dennis) but I think they had their car cred.

Thanks George that would be nice...Paul Johnson, who wrote Mr. Moto in the early 60's, had an L.A. based Surf Band, The Bel Airs, later to be renamed The Challengers. Mr. Moto was a unique sounding instrumental that captured the feel of that era. Richard Delvechio, who shortened his last name to Dely, was the drummer and claimed to co-writing it with Paul. Those of us who knew them also knew that Richard only got his name on the song because of his connections with the recording industry. Mr. Moto was a Pro Wrestler from Japan working the So.Cal. area with the likes of Freddie Blassie, Gorgeous George, Edware Carpentier, and the others who put on a great display of Wrestling and Gymnastics with a little blood thrown in, Paul thought the song sounded a little oriental so he tagged it with the title of "Mr. Moto". Surfers were like that, kinda wild sided and rebellious. In the 80's Paul came around my shop and gave me an autographed copy of his latest Surf Album on Vinyl. One song in particular "Squad Car" really captures the sound of the early 60's with it's upbeat tempo and raw power. It is still in my opinion one of the best sounding Surf Albums of all time.

CD Universe has it for $13.39..I'm waiting to hear back from a friend who I believe sells them direct..for maybe less...if you talk with him you will have many more stories! His name is Verne Langdon and he knew Mr Moto as well as Freddie Blasie, Gorgeous George, Haystack Calhoun and the rest of that era..he's also a top flight keyboardist..he's a very cool guy..did many monster/zombie masks for the movies back in the day.google his name..cool stuff...so what does all this have to do with surf music..ok Yep, heard that about Mr Delvey..similar situation with Michael Z Gordon who wrote "Out Of Limits" He was the main mover in the group which was mainly a studio band..another fellow whose name escapes me at the moment stuck his name on many of their releases..but it was Mike Gordons compositions that made the group. I sent him a 45 awhile back and he autographed an Lp for me..he looks for copies of vinyl that have his name..not the other guys on it as producer.

That would be The Mar-Kets.. They had their 1st hit "Balboa Blue" before Outer Limits. The T.V. show lawyers made them change the title of the song, they went with Out Of Limits.. We covered those songs also. Balboa Blue was one of my all time favorites.

Lets not forget that Eddie Bertrand of the Belairs went on to form his own deal known as Eddie and the Showmen..

Surprised Fender didn't make him change that name.

Then what about The Fendermen or The Champs ?

Yeah, another great song...Mule Skinner Blues a remake of the Singing Brakeman's old classic from the late 20's... I think that the groups that used these kind of names were actually helping to advertise for the Fender Company, so it was to their credit not to do anything.

With all due credit to Al Jardine, I have always thought that David Marks kicked butt on lead on the Beach Boys' early sides. I believe he played on Surfin Safari, Surfin USA and Little Deuce Coup Lp's. Not sure of the exact time frame, but as I recall David started another band "The Marksmen" and played mostly California gigs opening for more established surf bands...heard of him again in the mid 60's he played in a psych group "The Band Without A Name" Jim Fuller from The Surfaris, did a stint in a psych band about the same time..the band was "US" and played the clubs on the Sunset Strip...saw them once at a club called The Sea Witch..he was playing a hollowbody w/Bigsby and the band did a lot of Yardbirds songs...

David's still around and touring, too. He was on stage with Brian recently, I seem to recall.

I thought David was rhythm on those songs, George, and Carl was lead right from the beginning.

Here's a recent picture:



His upcoming autobiography, "The Lost Beach Boy":

Don't forget about those studio musicians: Glen Campbell, Carol Kay and The Captain(Daryl Dragon)

Maybe you're right Paul...I really like those Chuck Berry inspired licks on some of the early tunes and ,,, the leads on Moondawg..as you well know!

So saw Brian Wilson on the tube last night being inducted into the UK Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame..sounded pretty good I thought..did Good Vibrations with a good band..the guy playing the Therimin or clone was maybe a bit over the top but cool..Brian seemed happy and comfy enough on stage.

I saw that too George. Sounded pretty good a lot of toe tapping and singing along from the audience. He looked comfy, happy & secure up front