Zoom!
The Torques
// 1964 on Kenneth Raymond Wight & Associates Records (WA 64-010)
1.5
Torquay / Can't Sit Down / Out of Limits / Chances Are / Miserlou / Nobody / On Broadway / The Bird (Surfin' Bird) / Lonely Bull / Watermelon Man / It Ain't Necessarily So / Pipeline / Do You Wanna Dance
Album Review:
Formed at Phillips Andover Prep School in Massachusetts, the Torques have been linked with President George W. Bush, who reportedly was a handclapper on one or two of their records. It is doubtful that the former POTUS is present on this release, however.
'Torquay' is a passable cover of the Fireballs' minor 1959 hit. 'You Can't Sit Down' is included from a live performance, while the Marketts' otherwordly 'Out of Limits' is a considerably strong cover. Johnny Mathis' 'Chances Are' is played in a jazzy swung style with a baritone sax taking on the melody. The second surf-related track, 'Miserlou,' is a fairly subdued take on Dale's signature tune though the added brass adds a nice touch. The laughably bad 'Nobody' is followed by a sleepy cover of the familiar 'On the Broadway.' Simply titled 'The Bird,' the Trashmen's claim to fame is the third surfing song to appear. Herb Alpert's 'Lonely Bull' is well played, as is 'Watermelon Man' - the former being based on the Lively One's rendition from Surfin' South of the Border. After an exceptionally dull cover of 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' the Torques kick back into gear with 'Pipeline' - the unquestioned highlight of the record. 'Do You Wanna Dance' is a painful listen.
Zoom! is an assortment of genres with little to no cohesion and, for all its rarity, is better left in obscurity... anyone want to buy a copy?
CHOICE CUTS:
Pipeline / Out of Limits