The Marketts

Although often grouped with surf ensembles on the strength of their instrumental smash “Out of Limits,” which climbed to number three in early 1964 and ranked among the final major surf records, the Marketts actually operated as a versatile studio unit whose sound mixed surf, rock, pop, and easy-listening touches. Far from a fixed band, they comprised a revolving roster of Los Angeles session players assembled under producer Joe Saraceno.

Saraceno supplied the guiding vision for the Marketts yet contributed no performances, arrangements, or complete songwriting to their sessions. Quick to exploit the surf trend, he guided the group to one of its earliest instrumental successes with “Surfer’s Stomp,” a Top 40 entry on Liberty in 1962. During his Liberty tenure he also oversaw the Ventures, whose precise, cleanly picked guitar style left a clear imprint on “Out of Limits” and several other Marketts cuts. The ensemble’s trademark blend—surf-tinged guitar leads, cinematic brass, and eerie organ—produced a futuristic strain of rock-flavored instrumental pop by early-sixties standards. Numerous tracks aimed to conjure images of space travel and science-fiction films, occasionally employing theremin-like effects. In this way the Marketts bridged surf music and space-age pop, delivering lightweight yet groovy instrumentals that remain enjoyable despite their modest depth.

Following “Out of Limits,” the Marketts returned to the Top 20 only once, with the “Batman Theme” in early 1966, and continued issuing records into 1977. Beyond his work with the Marketts and the Ventures, Saraceno produced sessions for Bobby Vee, the Sunshine Company, Martin Denny, and numerous additional artists.