The Four Speeds

The Four Speeds, a studio-only project, made one little-known hot rod single in late 1962 ("My Sting Ray" B/W "RPM") of interest to Beach Boys completists due to the presence of Dennis Wilson on drums. Gary Usher sang lead on both sides, as well as co-producing and writing the tunes with Mike Borchetta. The songs are fair hot rod songs in the mold of the Beach Boys' "Shut Down" and some of the lesser hot rod filler on early Beach Boys albums. Both tracks were reissued on Surfin', a 2000 CD compilation that also included the Beach Boys' pre-Capitol recordings for Candix and an Usher-produced single (by the Tri-Fives) on which Dennis Wilson played drums and Carl Wilson played lead guitar. ~ Richie Unterberger