The Marketts
The Marketts are sometimes classified as a surf group because of their hit instrumental "Out of Limits," one of the last big surf singles, which made number three in early 1964. In reality, they were something of an all-purpose contemporary instrumental group with elements of surf, rock, pop, and even easy listening. And they were not really a group, but a fluid collection of Los Angeles session musicians, working under the direction of producer Joe Saraceno.
Saraceno was the principal man behind the concept of the Marketts, although he himself did not play or arrange anything on their records, or even write all of the material. He was sharp enough to latch onto the surf craze in 1962 for one of the earliest instrumental surf hits, "Surfer's Stomp," which made the Top 40 on Liberty in 1962. While working at Liberty, he also produced the Ventures for a time, and the influence of the Ventures' cleanly picked guitar lines is very evident on "Out of Limits" and some other Marketts tracks. With their blend of surfy guitar leads, film soundtrack horns, and spooky organ, the Marketts' sound is best described not as surf, but as rock-influenced instrumental pop with a futuristic (by early-'60s standards) touch. Many of their songs seemed to be doing their best to evoke space travel and science fiction flicks, sometimes with the help of what sounds like a theremin. They could be said to have filled the void between surf music and space age pop, which is not a criticism; their music is not terribly substantial, but it is fun, and has a pretty good groove.
After "Out of Limits," the Marketts would enter the Top 20 one more time with the "Batman Theme" in early 1966, and release records as late as 1977. Saraceno, in addition to his work with the Marketts and the Ventures, would also produce Bobby Vee, the Sunshine Company, Martin Denny, and many other acts.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Out Of Limits!
Pop - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 8 Feb 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Surfing Scene
Rock - Released by CAPITOL CATALOG MKT (C92) on 1 Apr 1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Batman Theme (The Joker Remix)
Rock - Released by Delta Records on 22 Feb 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Secret Agent Man
Pop - Released by Maestro Entertainment, Corp on 9 Jan 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock Masters: Surfer's Stomp
Rock - Released by Carinco AG on 22 Nov 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Marketts Take To Wheels (2006 Remaster)
Pop - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 2 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Surfing Scene Stompede
Rock - Released by Ling Music Group on 1 Dec 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Batman Theme Played By The Marketts
Pop - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 8 Feb 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Their Best (Rerecorded Version)
Pop/Rock - Released by K-Tel on 11 Apr 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Surfer's Stomp
Jazz - Released by Black Sheep Music on 17 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Out Of Limits
Rock - Released by 2023 Delta Music & Prime Entertainment on 21 Jul 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Surfin' with The Marketts
Rock - Released by Good Time Records on 13 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Markets Greatest Hits
Pop - Released by StreamWorld Entertainment Classics on 18 Jan 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rhino Hi-Five: The Marketts
Pop - Released by Rhino - Warner Records on 20 Dec 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Car Radio Sounds
Rock - Released by The Most Wanted Hits_2020 on 12 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Surfer's Stomp (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 31)
World - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Surfer's Stomp
Jazz - Released by Stars and Stripes on 17 Oct 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo