Now and Then

by The Tornadoes

Overview

A mountainous collection, Now and Then is the aptly titled story of a band that has been kicking around since the early '60s, and that still sounds as vital today as it did back then. No less than 29 tracks take the group from a clutch of tracks recorded back in 1962 -- "Bustin' Surfboards," "Beyond the Surf," and both sides of the remarkable "The Gremmie" single -- into a handful of similarly themed sessions with engineer Frank Zappa and on to the twin delights of 1964's "Phantom Surfer"/"Shootin' Beavers" single. Now and Then cuts from there, as did the band, to the mid-'90s and the Tornadoes' dramatic return to action: five previously released live cuts from 1995 lead up to Bustin' Surfboards '98, and further live and unreleased studio recordings bring the story up to 2005. All of which adds up to an album that could have been recorded at any time in the past 40 years, and isn't ashamed to admit it; "Old Surfer Blues," from 1997, is one of the funniest teenaged laments you've ever heard an older man sing, while the band's grip on classic rock & roll material (a Presley medley, "Yakkety Yak") reveals a versatility that makes a mockery of the band's reputation as single-minded surfers. The album's refusal to offer more than a passing nod to chronology does dent the listening pleasure a little -- the classic '60s material, for example, is stuck smack in the center, while the 1997 album peels out on either side of it. But when that's the biggest complaint one can come up with, you know you're in the presence of greatness. ~ Dave Thompson

Product Details

Release Date:	12/21/2005
Label:	United States Of Distribution / Crossfire / Gonzo Distribution Ltd.
UPC:	0723850950126
Rank:	123792

Tracks

1. Bottom Feeder
2. Southern Surf
3. Dawn Patrol
4. Old Surfer Blues
5. Jailhouse Rock/One Night
6. My Prayer
7. Yakety Yak
8. What a Wonderful World
9. Born on the Bayou
10. Bustin' Surfboards
11. Beyond the Surf
12. The Gremmie, Pt. 1
13. The Gremmie, Pt. 2
14. Moon Dawg
15. The Inebriated Surfer
16. Shootin' Beavers
17. Phantom Surfer
18. Vaquero
19. Shootin' Beavers
20. Pier Pleasure
21. Bedlam
22. Perfect Paradise
23. Bustin' Surfboards
24. Grunion Run
25. Malague¿¿a (Dark Eyes)
26. Folsom Prison Blues
27. (Hey Baby) ¿¿Qu¿¿ Pas¿¿?
28. Bumble Bee Stomp
29. The Cruncher

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Tornadoes   Primary Artist
Jesse Sanders   Guitar,Cowbell,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Rhythm),Vocals (Background)
Roly Sanders   Guitar
Gerald Sanders   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Shouts,Vocals
Greg Russo   Keyboards
Leonard Delaney   Drums,Maracas,Triangle,Percussion,Tambourine
Joel Willenbring   Saxophone
George White   Vocals,Saxophone,Tambourine
Paul Johnson   Guitar
Jerry Walker   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Pearl King   Composer
Jimmy Kennedy   Composer
Augie Meyers   Composer
Bob Thiele   Composer
Greg Russo   Design,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mastering,Liner Notes,Restoration,Layout Design,Compilation Producer
Frank Zappa   Composer,Engineer
Georges Boulanger   Composer
Leonard Delaney   Composer
John Fogerty   Composer
Jerry Leiber   Composer
Jesse Sanders   Composer,Commentary
Norman Petty   Composer
Mike Stoller   Composer
Dave Bartholomew   Composer
George David Weiss   Composer
Gerald Sanders   Composer,Commentary,Photography
Scott Newton   Cover Photo
Dorinda Morgan   Composer
Dave Aerni   Composer,Producer
Paul Johnson   Producer
Anita Steiman   Composer