The Tornadoes
Not to be confused with the British studio group that gave the world the Joe Meek-produced instrumental "Telstar," or the Midwest group that recorded "Scalping Party" on Cuca, or the Kennewick, Washington combo of the same name, this group of Tornadoes burst onto the national scene with one of the very first surf instrumentals, "Bustin' Surfboards," in 1962. A family band, the Tornadoes' lineup consisted of two brothers (Gerald and Norman Sanders), their cousin Jesse Sanders, and a friend, Leonard Delaney. They started out as an instrumental group from San Bernardino, California called the Vaqueros. After adding sax man George White to the lineup, they changed their name to the Tornadoes. Their lone national chart entry was nonetheless an important one, with "Bustin' Surfboards" in 1962 making the playlists in cities that were far removed from any kind of surfing activity and signaling the beginnings of surf music as a national craze. Although using an off-brand echo unit in place of the Fender reverb unit (which hadn't been invented yet), the record had the prerequisite sound of this fledgling genre, utilizing a solid surfer's stomp drumbeat and crashing wave sound effects throughout.
More recordings followed, with a name change to the Hollywood Tornadoes for their next two singles in deference to their British namesakes, who had charted higher with "Telstar." Their fourth single, "Shootin' Beavers," was banned from radio play because of the so-called suggestive title. No more hits were forthcoming, although they did release one excellent album that stands as one of the earliest -- and best -- examples of the genre. And when Quentin Tarantino featured "Bustin' Surfboards" in his 1994 film Pulp Fiction, the bandmembers subsequently reunited -- minus saxophonist George White -- to release Bustin' Surfboards '98 three and a half decades after their original hit.
© Cub Koda /TiVo
Discography
15 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Won't You Forgive b/w Feel Like A Fool
R&B - Released by Numero Group on 3 apr. 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bustin' Surfboards
Pop - Released by Mach60 Music on 25 aug. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bustin' Surfboards
Rock - Released by Sundazed Music, Inc. on 1 jan. 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beyond the Surf - Best Of
Rock - Released by Sundazed Music, Inc. on 1 jan. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Original Telstar: The Sounds of the Tornadoes
Rock - Released by Fidelity Masters on 1 dec. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bustin' Surfboards / Phantom Surfer
Rock - Released by Good Time Records on 13 jan. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Presenting The Tornadoes
Ambient / New Age / Easy Listening - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on 10 dec. 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Tornadoes (Vintage Charm)
Rock - Released by Don't stop the music on 15 jun. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Tornadoes - The Essential
Rock - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 8 jun. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Tornadoes
Divers - Released by Foggy Milan Records on 26 mei 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Please Come Home
Pop - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 31 okt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bustin' Surfboards (From "Pulp Fiction" Soundtrack)
Rock - Released by Milestones Records on 8 apr. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beyond the Surf
Rock - Released by Milestones Records on 19 jun. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Original Telstar (The Sounds Of The Tornadoes)
Rock - Released by Ancien Prodige on 9 mrt. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jungle Fever
Rock - Released by Milestones Records on 19 jun. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo