Released at the tail-end of 1964, Monster Surfing Time was one of Vee-Jay’s final releases before the label shut down. Combining the very best of the monster movie craze and the music of the surfing scene, the album has become a sought-after rarity among vinyl collectors for its perfect merging of the two fads.

From the get-go, it's apparent that Monster Surfing Time is not about to take itself seriously. With the straightforward declaration, "It's monster surfing time!" the album’s eponymous opening track takes off in a flurry of surf twang coupled with a bevy of monster-y sound effects. 'Outer Limits Surf' resembles the Markets' hit, though is actually a refreshing moment with its subtle groove and calm organ. The humorous 'There's A Creature in the Surfer's Lagoon' again features some wacky interludes but just works here. 'Surfin' Dock Side' is another well-performed dose of surf music with its 'Pipeline-esque' slides. 'The Mad Drummer Parts 1 and 2' are perhaps the album's weakest moments, and though they predate it by two years, the brass licks uncannily resemble Nelson Riddle's theme from the Batman TV series. Albeit two odd inclusions, a cover of 'Raunchy' and 'Rebel Rouser' do give some familiarity to the album. The 'Telstar'-like 'Moonlight Surfer' actually breaks some new ground, and if you can get past the moans and groans of 'Help', the track underneath is actually quite well produced. A personal favorite, 'Igor Goes Surfing' is the album's most hilarious track as we follow the journey of the clueless Igor as he attempts to go "shurfing." 'The Lone Surfer' has no maniacal overdubs, which makes it the album's strongest number if you were not into the whole monster thing.

 

Credited to the Deadly Ones (a satire on ‘Lively Ones’), It’s Monster Surfing Time is one of - if not the - best monster-infused surfing albums out there. To add to the album’s scarcity, original copies ended up only being pressed in mono; resulting in the few stereo jackets that were mistakenly printed being pasted over with a bright Orange sticker labeled ‘Mono’.