The Aquamen’s second single “Line and Track” has become a top retro DJ spin, especially in the UK’s northern soul scene. The enthusiasm of garage collectors for the single led to its inclusion in Teen Beat Mayhem with a good rating. Some consider it more of a novelty, but the beat is solid, the repetitive bass line catchy, and the rhythm guitar has a James Brown-like quality.
Although it’s been more than 50 years since its release, I was surprised to find almost no published information on the group. Last month I bought a collection of photos & promotional materials (thank you Mike D.) which are the main sources for this article.
A promotional biography of the group from about mid-1966 has this info:
Heading THE AQUAMEN roster is Frank Church, lead guitarist and tenor singer, who does most of the musical arrangements for the group. Frank’s guitar solos always generate a hum of excitement.”
Lead singer Dave Walker, who shares the emcee spot, plays rhythm guitar and usually spices each show with a rousing banjo number…
Funnyman Tom Karnes, who consistently breaks up crows with his zany characterizations, doubles on bass, piano, and sings baritone harmony.
Mike Walch, the young “old pro” of twelve “Dennis the Menace” movies, plays piano, trumpet, guitar and other assorted noisemakers. Mike’s lyric tenor voice adds a unique quality to the group sound.
Al Breaux, the little dynamo on drums, formerly appeared with Louis Prima and Jerry Lee Lewis.
THE AQUAMEN have been together for three years and have performed in clubs throughout the country including the Holiday in Reno, Beachboy in San Diego, Carriage House in Burbank, Bahama Inn in Pasadena, Sunset Lanes in Kalamazoo, Maison Jaussaud in Bakersfield, and others. The group has appeared on ABC-TV’s “Territory Underwater” and currently can be seen in Paramount’s “Beach Ball” and “The Girl in Daddy’s Bikini.” They have recorded “RIDE A PALE HORSE” and “LITTLE GRANNY WILSON”, soon to be followed by an LP.
Personal Management:
Joseph H. Friedman
The movie credits in the biography seem to be an exaggeration or outright invention.
Beach Ball features the Supremes, the Four Seasons, the Righteous Brothers, the Hondells, the Walker Brothers and the Nashville Teens. The Girl in Daddy’s Bikini was the original title for It’s a Bikini World, which has the Animals, the Gentrys, the Castaways, the Toys, and Pat and Lolly Vegas.
I haven’t seen either movie in its entirety but I can’t find any credit for the Aquamen or their members in the full cast lists for either film. Perhaps the Aquamen’s performances didn’t make it to the final cuts. Also, I don’t see Mike Walch’s name appear in the credits of the Dennis the Menace TV series.
In March of 1965, Frank Church and David Walker registered a number of songs with the Library of Congress. These include “Aquaman (Aquamen)”, “Big Rock Codley”, “Blue Coral”, “Godzilla”, “Skindiving Man”, “Superman” and “Younger Younger” (with Frank Karnes). Frank Church has a solo composition “The Beachcomber” registered in January 1965, with publishing by Milamco Music. I suppose the group cut demos on some of these songs, I have to wonder if any recordings still exist.
I was pleasantly surprised by “Ride a Pale Horse”, the A-side of the Aquamen’s first single. “Ride a Pale Horse” is a melancholy song with baroque harmonies over a mild folk-rock backing. Record World reported “Ride a Pale Horse” reaching the top 10 in Columbus, Ohio on August 13, 1966. Rod McKuen wrote the lyrics.
The flip is a novelty number about hot-rodding “Grannie Wilson”, writing credited to the Aquamen with publishing by Water, BMI.
Released on Spring Records 333 with distribution by Atlantic. Jack Hayes Productions was based in San Francisco. Notices in all the trades date this single to May of 1966.
“Line and Track” followed in October 1966. The label notes “Line and Track” adapted and arranged by Church, Walker, Karnes and Walch, published by Hinrich Music Company, and “A Corby Production”.
The Aquamen’s version appropriates Fred Neil’s arrangement titled “Linin’ Track”, as it appears on a Les Baxter’s Balladeers single on Link Records from 1963 (with David Crosby contributing vocals). The Balladeers version also appears on the album Jack Linkletter Presents A Folk Festival that includes the Yachtsmen who would become the What’s Four (covered on this site). Fred Neil recorded his own versions of “Linin’ Track”, first on Hootenanny – Live At The Bitter End, and then with Vince Martin on Tear Down The Walls. The song seems to come from Leadbelly, but with very different lyrics. If there are other sources for Fred Neil’s version of the song, I’d like to know about them.
The B-side is a version of “Tomorrow Is a Long Time”. “Line and Track” received a B+ in the October 29, 1966 issue of Cashbox. Release was on Hiback HB-109 and again in December on Hinrich Music Company H-33/H-34.
The Library of Congress shows another Aquamen registration in October 1966: “Acid Test” by Walker, Karnes, Walch and Church. I’d like to hear that song!
The group continued at least into the summer of 1967. The Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada published two entertainment notices on the group. The first from December 24, 1966 repeated much of the info in the promotional bio. The second notice comes from July 8, 1967.
I don’t know when the group disbanded. Mike Walch is credited with percussion, vocals and piano on an ABC album by The Phoenix in 1969, I’m not sure if this is the same person. The other members seem to have disappeared from the entertainment industry.
The Warehouse IX was located at 2214 Stoner Avenue in West Los Angeles.
According to Bruno Ceriotti’s site on the Sons of Adam, the Fender IV played at the Warehouse IX regularly just before changing their name to the Sons of Adam. At least one ad for the club appeared in KRLA Beat.
The building appears to still be standing today, from the street view image below.
Tom Karnes is my uncle. He did leave the music industry. He built his own home in Topanga. I think he was a cabinet maker for decades. His son, Joe Karnes, plays bass for Fitz and the Tantrums.
i remember hearing “Ride a Pale Horse” on my local top 40 station, KMBY in Monterey back in the summer of 1966 and, although i didn’t find a copy of the single at the time, it became one of my “holy grails”.
i was able to add it to my collection in the mid-80s.
By January of 1968 Tom Karnes and Mike Walch were part of the Surrey Singers formed with husband and wife team of Glenn Keener and Jan (Moore) Keener, and Fred Thompson. Most of the band sang, Keener played lead guitar, while Thompson handled guitar, ukelele, and worked as emcee.
They seem to be more of a lounge-country act, they worked as the openers as part of television star Dale Robertson’s act at Harrah’s Casino in Reno, later becoming Roberston’s roadshow, which toured the Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno circuit as well as playing fairs and rodeos across the country well into 1969.
I’m David Walkers daughter. I have all those pictures and the record. He was an incredible man, great guitar player, and singer. He worked as an electrician, photographer, private investigator and more. So many nights of my childhood spent listening to him sing and play. We moved to the country around 1970. His new wife my stepmom preferred he leave show business. He stared in Ferndale’s playhouse “One flew over the Cuckoo’s nest ( he was the big Indian of course). He taught me to appreciate music and nature, I miss him everyday.
WOW!! Your dad was my wife’s uncle! My wife Dawn, the daughter of Dan Walker, your dad’s brother, was asking about the Aquamen and Uncle Dave!! I did a little research and found this website. Dawn would love to talk with you! Call Dawn at 240-577-3327.
The credits for the appearance in Beach Ball was as the “Aquamen” for the underwater stunts. They were all underwater unstructors. They did not sing in the movie.
I introduced the group to Jack Hayes who produced tge “Ride a Pale Horse”. record. I was allowed to sit in on the recording session.
I’m wondering if anyone could help. Thomas Karnes is my grandfather, he passed three years ago from kidney cancer. Our family has never heard or owned one of the aquamen records and I’ve been long on the hunt for it. If you know anyone who has a record or knows where it can be bought please let me know. Our family would love to have one of their records
Hi Amber,
“Ride a Pale Horse” / “Grannie Wilson” is available cheaply on ebay or Discogs.
“Line and Track” has been in demand for decades, and is very expensive, at least $600 in decent shape for the first Hiback issue, or a little less for the 1967 Hirich label. And beware of the bootleg versions that look identical to the Hiback original. These unlicensed reproductions are sold mainly out of England, for about $15, but shipping would be a similar amount.
Good luck