The Teammates: Twenty Years Of Making Music 1965-1985
Omnivore, 2022
9/10
Listen to The Teammates: Twenty Years Of Making Music 1965-1985
Dean Torrence has done just about everything an artist can do in the area of music, and here we’re treated to a collection that assembles his work across two decades and alongside many artists for songs that we’ve all heard before, rare and unreleased selections and songs that have never landed on CD or digital platforms until now.
The Legendary Masked Surfers start the listen with the harmonic vocals and warm organ of the jingly “Buy Our Album”, and “Summertime, Summertime” follows Our Gang’s flowing vocals and crisp drums making for an indeed summery, jangly good time.
In the middle, we get a couple selections from Torrence’s voice, including the doo-wop friendly “A Teenager In Love”, as well as the always classic “Get A Job”, which bounces and shakes with an uncontainable energy.
Making our way towards the end, “Jingle Bell Rock” has Mike Love along for the always cheery and upbeat holiday staple, while the swirling guitars and surf rock of “Fun, Fun, Fun” exits the listen with a tune that will always be adored.
Torrence was a pioneer of the surf rock sound that was popularized by The Beach Boys, and his collaborations with Mike Love, Jan Berry, Bruce Johnston, Harry Nilsson, and Leon Russell are all present alongside excellent liner notes on this positively upbeat and exciting project.
Travels well with: Brian Wilson & Van Dyke Parks- Orange Crate Art; Gaby Moreno & Van Dyke Parks- ¡Spangled!