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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Worldwide, the Ventures are the most successful instrumental rock band ever, although they were more popular in America and Japan than anywhere else. Britain had its own instrumental bands, notably the Shadows, the Tornados, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan (a duo of two ex-Shadows) and Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen. So while the Ventures had a couple of big UK hits (Walk don't run, Perfidia), the local competition was too strong for them to develop the level of sustained popularity that they had in America and Japan. That said, there has always been a market for the Ventures' music in Britain, and this British compilation of their music caters for it.
The music here is dominated by cover versions (even some of their hits were covers), but their sound was so distinctive that even when recording covers, they at least sounded fresh and a little different. That doesn't make them better than the originals (for the most part, they're not) but at least they stamp their own identity on each track.
In America, they had fourteen Billboard top 100 hits and some singles that just missed the top 100. They also had a lot of complete misses, but their albums sold well (at least in America and Japan) so they weren't dependant on singles sales. Of those hits, this compilation includes Walk don't run, Perfidia, Ram-bunk-shush, Lullaby of the leaves, Silver city, Blue moon, Lolita ya-ya, 2,000 bee part 2 (actually the version here is parts 1 and 2), Diamond head, Secret agent man, Hawaii Five-O and A theme from a summer place. The omissions are Walk don't run `64 (an American top ten hit) and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (an American top forty hit). I would have thought these should have been included, especially as many lesser hits were included, but I'm not going to mark down this compilation because of those omissions. If either or both of them matter to you, by all means mark it down accordingly.
Among the covers, there are inevitably covers of tunes by other instrumental bands and most of them work well although I'm not sure about their version of Telstar; I far prefer the original. Elsewhere, the covers are taken from a diverse range of sources that even includes the occasional country and folk songs, but mostly they are covers of theme tunes and the major pop hits of the time, including five Beatles tunes and two Carpenters hits (three if you count Jambalaya, which was a UK hit but not a UIS hit for them).
This compilation was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band's formation and demonstrates the versatility of the Ventures. If you enjoy sixties instrumental music, you should enjoy this collection.
The music here is dominated by cover versions (even some of their hits were covers), but their sound was so distinctive that even when recording covers, they at least sounded fresh and a little different. That doesn't make them better than the originals (for the most part, they're not) but at least they stamp their own identity on each track.
In America, they had fourteen Billboard top 100 hits and some singles that just missed the top 100. They also had a lot of complete misses, but their albums sold well (at least in America and Japan) so they weren't dependant on singles sales. Of those hits, this compilation includes Walk don't run, Perfidia, Ram-bunk-shush, Lullaby of the leaves, Silver city, Blue moon, Lolita ya-ya, 2,000 bee part 2 (actually the version here is parts 1 and 2), Diamond head, Secret agent man, Hawaii Five-O and A theme from a summer place. The omissions are Walk don't run `64 (an American top ten hit) and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (an American top forty hit). I would have thought these should have been included, especially as many lesser hits were included, but I'm not going to mark down this compilation because of those omissions. If either or both of them matter to you, by all means mark it down accordingly.
Among the covers, there are inevitably covers of tunes by other instrumental bands and most of them work well although I'm not sure about their version of Telstar; I far prefer the original. Elsewhere, the covers are taken from a diverse range of sources that even includes the occasional country and folk songs, but mostly they are covers of theme tunes and the major pop hits of the time, including five Beatles tunes and two Carpenters hits (three if you count Jambalaya, which was a UK hit but not a UIS hit for them).
This compilation was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band's formation and demonstrates the versatility of the Ventures. If you enjoy sixties instrumental music, you should enjoy this collection.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"The very best of the Ventures" was released in 2008 to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the band. It is a double CD with a total of 50 tracks.
The CD comes with a booklet where there are pictures of several album covers and a list with credits for all 50 tracks. In addition, there is a brief essay about the band written by Dave McAleer.
[Read more about the Ventures in this book by Del Halterman, Walk-Don't Run - The Story of The Ventures.]
I will not mention all the tracks here, because you can see a complete list and listen to samples right here on the Amazon website. Instead I will focus on the tracks which are, in my opinion, the most remarkable. I have divided them into three categories.
In the first category we have some famous instrumental tracks:
* 1.1 Walk - don't run
* 1.2 Wipe Out
* 1.3 Perfidia
* 1.7 Apache
[The Shadows also play Perfidia and Apache. You can find their version of these tunes on their album 50 Golden Greats from 2003.]
In the second category we have some famous tracks about the world of the secret agent:
* 1.8 Mission Impossible
* 1.9 Batman Theme
* 1.10 Secret Agent Man
* 1.25 The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
[The Ventures have released an entire album devoted to this theme: Tele-Ventures from 1996.]
In the third category we have cover versions of popular songs performed by other bands or artists. The human voice is an essential part of a song, and so are the words. You might think that an instrumental version of a song is not going to work, because there is no voice, because there are no words. But when it is done by the Ventures, it usually works very well. Why is that? I think I know why. The Ventures do not just play the song, they add something more, maybe we can call it the Ventures touch, and this means that the cover version gets its own identity. In some cases I think the cover version is even better than the original, because the Ventures are so professional.
The Turtles are here with one song:
* 1.22 Happy Together
The Mamas and Papas are here with two songs:
* 2.10 California Dreamin'
* 2.19 Monday, Monday
The Beatles are here with five songs:
* 1.13 Eleanor Rigby
* 1.14 I feel fine
* 2.12 Strawberry Fields Forever
* 2.13 Hey Jude
* 2.17 Michelle
[The Ventures have released an entire album devoted to compositions by the Beatles: In My Life from 2010.]
The Animals are here with one song:
* 2.9 The House of the Rising Sun
Simon & Garfunkel are here with one song:
* 2.11 Bridge over troubled Water
The McCoys are here with two songs:
* 1.12 Fever
* 1.18 Hang on Sloopy
On the DVD The Ventures: The 30th Anniversary - Super Session Rick Derringer of the McCoys explains how his band got its name. He and his brother already played the guitar. They wanted to form a band, but they needed a third person to play the bass. His neighbour said he was ready to buy a bass guitar, if they would teach him how to play it. Rick looked at his collection of Ventures records and picked out "The McCoy" - the first track recorded by the Ventures. Listening to this track the neighbour learned how to play the bass, and he joined the band. When they had to find a name for the band, they decided to use the name the McCoys, because they were inspired by the Ventures. Later on, when the band had its major hits, the Ventures made cover versions of the hits, and so the story came full circle.
Although this album was released in 2008 to celebrate 50 years in the music business, all tracks (except two) are from the 60s and the 70s. Track 2.2 "Blue Moon" is from 1989, while track 2.8 "The 2000 Pound Bee" is from 1990. If you want to hear something more recent, you will have to get a more recent album, such as Acoustic Rock (2000) or Surfin' to Baja (2003).
If you already know and like the Ventures, I am sure you will enjoy this selection of recordings from the early years of their long and successful career as an instrumental band.
The CD comes with a booklet where there are pictures of several album covers and a list with credits for all 50 tracks. In addition, there is a brief essay about the band written by Dave McAleer.
[Read more about the Ventures in this book by Del Halterman, Walk-Don't Run - The Story of The Ventures.]
I will not mention all the tracks here, because you can see a complete list and listen to samples right here on the Amazon website. Instead I will focus on the tracks which are, in my opinion, the most remarkable. I have divided them into three categories.
In the first category we have some famous instrumental tracks:
* 1.1 Walk - don't run
* 1.2 Wipe Out
* 1.3 Perfidia
* 1.7 Apache
[The Shadows also play Perfidia and Apache. You can find their version of these tunes on their album 50 Golden Greats from 2003.]
In the second category we have some famous tracks about the world of the secret agent:
* 1.8 Mission Impossible
* 1.9 Batman Theme
* 1.10 Secret Agent Man
* 1.25 The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
[The Ventures have released an entire album devoted to this theme: Tele-Ventures from 1996.]
In the third category we have cover versions of popular songs performed by other bands or artists. The human voice is an essential part of a song, and so are the words. You might think that an instrumental version of a song is not going to work, because there is no voice, because there are no words. But when it is done by the Ventures, it usually works very well. Why is that? I think I know why. The Ventures do not just play the song, they add something more, maybe we can call it the Ventures touch, and this means that the cover version gets its own identity. In some cases I think the cover version is even better than the original, because the Ventures are so professional.
The Turtles are here with one song:
* 1.22 Happy Together
The Mamas and Papas are here with two songs:
* 2.10 California Dreamin'
* 2.19 Monday, Monday
The Beatles are here with five songs:
* 1.13 Eleanor Rigby
* 1.14 I feel fine
* 2.12 Strawberry Fields Forever
* 2.13 Hey Jude
* 2.17 Michelle
[The Ventures have released an entire album devoted to compositions by the Beatles: In My Life from 2010.]
The Animals are here with one song:
* 2.9 The House of the Rising Sun
Simon & Garfunkel are here with one song:
* 2.11 Bridge over troubled Water
The McCoys are here with two songs:
* 1.12 Fever
* 1.18 Hang on Sloopy
On the DVD The Ventures: The 30th Anniversary - Super Session Rick Derringer of the McCoys explains how his band got its name. He and his brother already played the guitar. They wanted to form a band, but they needed a third person to play the bass. His neighbour said he was ready to buy a bass guitar, if they would teach him how to play it. Rick looked at his collection of Ventures records and picked out "The McCoy" - the first track recorded by the Ventures. Listening to this track the neighbour learned how to play the bass, and he joined the band. When they had to find a name for the band, they decided to use the name the McCoys, because they were inspired by the Ventures. Later on, when the band had its major hits, the Ventures made cover versions of the hits, and so the story came full circle.
Although this album was released in 2008 to celebrate 50 years in the music business, all tracks (except two) are from the 60s and the 70s. Track 2.2 "Blue Moon" is from 1989, while track 2.8 "The 2000 Pound Bee" is from 1990. If you want to hear something more recent, you will have to get a more recent album, such as Acoustic Rock (2000) or Surfin' to Baja (2003).
If you already know and like the Ventures, I am sure you will enjoy this selection of recordings from the early years of their long and successful career as an instrumental band.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
feeble choice of mostly 1960's covers and only a bare 10 or so normal ventures own material.
however, it is a dirt cheap 2CD set so can't really complain too much.
but/however....
choice of covers is mostly to suit UK market rather than US/Japan.
Walk dont run and House of the rising sun are both mono which is a great pity as i was expecting an all stereo 2CD set.
only 60+70 mins used out of possible 80+80 mins max time so pretty poor VFM.
EMI(ie capitol=USA) could have filled out the remaining 20+10 spare mins with more hits and covers to pad out each CD disc to max length of 79:59.
no such 50th (1958+50) anniversary set for The Shadows(EMI) or Jet & Tony(Decca) either.
however, it is a dirt cheap 2CD set so can't really complain too much.
but/however....
choice of covers is mostly to suit UK market rather than US/Japan.
Walk dont run and House of the rising sun are both mono which is a great pity as i was expecting an all stereo 2CD set.
only 60+70 mins used out of possible 80+80 mins max time so pretty poor VFM.
EMI(ie capitol=USA) could have filled out the remaining 20+10 spare mins with more hits and covers to pad out each CD disc to max length of 79:59.
no such 50th (1958+50) anniversary set for The Shadows(EMI) or Jet & Tony(Decca) either.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great !!!!!!
This is a great buy ! Fine purchasing company. The CD came just before Christmas. Exactly at time to put as a gift. Thanks !
Published 4 months ago by Piotr Radomski
pop music
another one of the great groups from when I was growing up with great tracks many covered by the shadows and others
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Michael A. Brady
Not Impressed
Walk Don't Run is the best track The Ventures recorded.
I am very disappointed in this 2 cd set, having been a fan of The Shadows for many years it makes me appreciate... Read more
I am very disappointed in this 2 cd set, having been a fan of The Shadows for many years it makes me appreciate... Read more
Published 13 months ago by K. Johansen
The Very best of "The Ventures"
Some good old classics of "yesteryear" and some new ones I've not heard before. In all, a good quality "double" CD!
Published 18 months ago by Mr. R. Mctait
Long Live The Ventures!!!!!
What can be said about Nokie and the boys that hasn't already been said?They are the absolute killer's of the Surf guitar sound.50 year's in the business say's it all!
Published 19 months ago by J. Martin
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