Product Description

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: VENTURES
Title: VENTURES PLAY THE GREATEST SUR
Street Release Date: 08/28/2001
Domestic
Genre: OLDIES

Track Listing

1. Walk Don't Run '64
2. Penetration
3. Mr. Moto
4. Out Of Limits
5. Lonely Surfer
6. Baja
7. Let's Go
8. Diamond Head
9. Pipeline
10. Slaughter On 10th Avenue
11. Bombara
12. Hawaii Five-O
13. Surf Rider
14. Ninth Wave
15. The Cruel Sea
16. Surfin' And Spyin'
17. Perfidia
18. Wipe Out

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11990 in Music
• Brand: VENTURES
• Released on: 2001-08-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
If there's irony in the fact that the founding fathers of surf rock the Ventures hail from quarters not exactly renowned as bastions of sun-drenched wave-riding (Portland, Oregon, and Tacoma, Washington), it only stands to reason that their inspirations weren't exactly baggy-clad and bushy-blond-coiffed, either (Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Duane Eddy). But those unlikely roots did indeed spawn a 40-year career for the band as international stars and, more important, instrumental rock's first and foremost preservationists.

This album replicates much of the Ventures' longtime tour repertoire, drawing on their own considerable hits ("Walk, Don't Run," "Perfidia," "Hawaii Five-O") as well as covers that range from Richard Rodgers ("Slaughter on 10th Ave.") to prime '60s bands like the Surfaris ("Wipe Out"), Marketts ("Out of Limits"), and Astronauts ("Baja"). All are performed with the verve and solid craftsmanship that has long characterized the band. Longtime fans should note the presence of guitarist Nokie Edwards (the band's most fabled soloist from their heyday) on most of the tracks, as well as Leon Taylor, who ably fills the drum throne of his late father, Mel. Later guitarist Gerry McGee's Nashville-influenced licks are featured on "Five-O" and "Bambora," with former Steely Dan-Doobies fretman Jeff "Skunk" Baxter also taking a solo turn on the latter. While some can't quite measure up to the originals, this collection often succeeds on the band's still-driving momentum and the obvious joy they continue to find in the material. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Surf's Up, Ventures Style
For those of you who thought that this CD was a repackaging of songs recorded in the sixties, let me set the record straight. "Surfin' And Spyin' " was recorded by the Ventures in 1981, and all of the remaining tracks were recorded between 1996 and 2000. For those of you who thought that the Ventures might have lost something with age, let me set your mind at ease. "Walk Don't Run '64" starts the CD off on a strong note, and the music never falters from first song to last. A particular standout is "Baja" from 1996, featuring Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Gerry McGee and Mel Taylor. "Diamond Head" and "Pipeline" are outstanding surf instrumentals. Those versions were recorded with original member Nokie Edwards instead of Gerry McGee on guitar, and with Leon Taylor replacing his late father Mel on drums. "Surf Rider," written by Nokie Edwards but here credited to Wilson/Bogle, is alone worth the price of the CD. Voting members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should buy this CD. I guarantee after one listen, they would vote to induct the Ventures immediately!

Good but not the original recordings
Good stuff, but these are from 1990's sessions, not the original recordings of these tunes. These lack the energy (and distortion) of the originals. It's the 5,000th time they've played these songs, so the differences are significant. If you were looking for the originals, try a differrent Ventures collection....

Surf is definitely UP!
This disk is highly recommended for anyone who really grooves on the inspiring sounds of surf guitar. I bought this by accident because I looking for a disk with "Pipeline" and "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" the other tunes weren't important at the time. Well I was in for a surprise! Just the three-song run from "Penetration" to "Mr. Moto" to "Out of Limits" is enough to turn any landlubber into a devoted surf head. As far as the people who think that the newer recording sound is not authentic as compared to the old noisy scratchy originals.... Your all wet...This is the bomb. Look out Dick Dale theres a lot of variety here not just Spanish sounding songs with single string leads......