Product description If ever there was a ''band that launched a thousand bands,'' it would be the Ventures. Founded in Tacoma, Washington in 1958, their guitar-based instrumental sound would prove hugely influential, inspiring countless followers to pick up a guitar, bass or set of drumsticks and try to emulate their heroes. As these musical neophytes would soon learn, it wasn't as easy as it initially appeared. The Ventures were masters of tone and technique, deftly arranging their instruments in a seamless approach that was instantly recognizable. Because they were an instrumental group, their songs needed no translation, which resulted in a huge worldwide following. While many rock bands have claimed to be ''big in Japan'' over the years, the Ventures were the country's first rock superstars and they maintain a devoted worldwide following to this day. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best selling instrumental group of all time. Sundazed is proud to rightfully address the magnificent Ventures' catalog - each title has been sourced from the original Dolton and Liberty Records' reels and painstakingly mastered to sound and feel like they were originally intended. Along with precise artwork restoration on each title, these new Sundazed editions stand as the definitive re-releases of these monumentally important albums. Long may they rock! Track listing: MORGEN RAUNCHY HOME MY OWN TRUE LOVE (TARA'S THEME) THE SWITCH WALK, DON'T RUN NIGHT TRAIN NO TRESPASSING CARAVAN SLEEP WALK THE McCOY HONKY TONK Review If ever there was a band that launched a thousand bands, it would be the Ventures. Founded in Tacoma, Washington in 1958, their guitar-based instrumental sound would prove hugely influential, inspiring countless followers to pick up a guitar, bass or set of drumsticks and try to emulate their heroes. As these musical neophytes would soon learn, it wasn t as easy as it initially appeared. The Ventures were masters of tone and technique, deftly arranging their instruments in a seamless approach that was instantly recognizable. Because they were an instrumental group, their songs needed no translation, which resulted in a huge worldwide following. While many rock bands have claimed to be big in Japan over the years, the Ventures were the country s first rock superstars and they maintain a devoted worldwide following to this day. With over 100 million records sold, they are the best-selling instrumental group of all time. Sundazed is proud to rightfully address the magnificent Ventures catalog each title has been sourced from the original Dolton and Liberty Records reels and painstakingly mastered to sound and feel like they were originally intended. Along with precise artwork restoration on each vinyl LP title, these new Sundazed editions stand as the definitive re-releases of these monumentally important albums. Long may they rock! --Sundazed Music
R**I
Fantastic. Lost nothing
I am a long time fan. I used to listen to the group when they were at Don Wilson's jamming. I own every vinyl they've ever recorded. By now, they are well used and approaching the end of their life. So I replaced them with MP3s. The quality closely matches the vinyl when it was new. I could go into the history of Don, Bob, and Nokie, but it's been done already. Let's just say they were fantastic Live, and this album recreates that mood.I have many favorites on Walk Don't Run. For romance, it's got to be My Own True Love, for Upbeat it's the Switch. And the title track is not bad. A rock n roll mood it's always Night Train. Top favorite has got to be Caravan. Top Memory is Diamond Head.This album is 50 years old, and was their first compilation. It has lost nothing. Technically excellent, as you'd expect an MP3 to be. Give Vol 1 & 2 and I'm happy
D**R
An overlooked anthology
I bought this CD on a whim but it turns out to be a great value for $13.99. It contains all their best songs but, with this disclaimer, they are new recordings. But, that said, these new tracks sound great as they were recorded on equipment using modern technology.Their version of Pipeline is the second-best version ever - sorry, nobody can improve on the original by the Chantays. I record a lot of compilations and the Ventures make a great seque between several genres of music.
U**T
Great package of the early Ventures
The Ventures were a true blueprint for so many bands, from the 60's up through today. Their twin guitar sound defined great instrumental rock for me. They were young guys on a roll when this came out, about 1960. It contains many of the big hits they played for the next 50+ years. The recordings were basic (a good thing), with minimal effects besides reverb. It suits the music and the times. This release has their entire first album, with each song done in both mono and in stereo. Along with two bonus Ventures tracks, you get several songs from Bert Weedon, who influenced almost every British invasion era guitarist (Page, Townshend, Beck, Clapton, Harrison, Lennon, etc.) with instructional books, TV appearances, and recordings. I grew up loving the Beatles, Who, Stones, but didn't know Weedon - it's real interesting to take one-step-back and enjoy the roots of the more famous guitarists. Overall, a very enjoyable listen.
C**R
WARNING:WATCH OUT FOR COVERS LIKE THIS ONE...NOT THE REAL VENTURES!
I'm sorry folks but this is not THE VENTURES! It's a COVER BAND at best and the reason for the hyphenated "Walk - Don't Run" title! I downloaded this compilation album of "Ventures sounding music" (and am listening to it while writing this review) just to be able to compare it to the ACTUAL versions of these tunes as recorded by the actual band The Ventures! The album itself does not appear on The Ventures online site discography or any other Ventures discography! What really set me off is the fact that this album is DOMINATED BY KEYBOARDS and SOUND EFFECTS/ORCHESTRATION GENERATED BY KEYBOARDS! The Ventures were the reason I started playing guitar (1964) and literally the very first guitar songs I ever learned. At one time I owned almost every Ventures albums in vinyl and now most in digital format. I am an active guitar player, a writer, a studio musician. The seasoned keyboardist (nearly 50 years experience) I work with the most, said that even many of the guitar solos sound keyboard generated! There are also a number of recording errors (jumps & skips & pops) in the tracks that would have been caught and edited out had this album been professionally mastered. But bottom line, if you compare these tracks to the actual albums they were originally included on, you will find they are not the same tracks.Listen closely to the originals "Pipeline," "Apache," and "Walk,Don't Run" and you will understand what I'm talking about! The album musically overall is not bad AS A COVER album but the lack of GUITAR driven interpretations is very revealing. Even the song "Apache" though well performed here it is not the REAL Ventures! The picture on this cover has been "photo-shopped" from the 1991 Legendary Masters Series CD album "Walk-Don't Run:The Best of The Ventures" which has a completely different track listing. Even You-Tube videos don't show a keyboardist on stage with The Ventures during live gigs. I do realize that The Ventures used keyboards including the famous Hammond B-3 on a number of recordings simply because they would not have been complete without the sound in those particular songs (such as "Telestar") but they were still guitar driven not dominated with keyboards as this album is.Just saying...
C**N
An actual review of the album, not the CD company.
This is a highly important album in the history of rock. The Ventures were all extraordinarily talented musicians, and this was certainly a high point in their early career. While you won't hear the harder-edged guitar sound you might be accustomed to from the Hawaii Five-O theme, you will hear highly skilled performances of popular hits of the day (and before). If you enjoy Duane Eddy or the early work of Chet Atkins, then this is certainly the album for you. The two bonus Ventures tracks were a nice addition, and I am enjoying the nine Bert Weedon tracks included. Γ©l and Cherry Red always do a nice job of filling out their CDs. I have purchased discs from other record companies which were originally released in the early 1960s, only to find that I had paid $18.98 for 24 minutes worth of music. And the quality here is unbeatable. Walk Don't Run
G**E
Great music and amazing vinyl quality
What can I say - this is one of a few vinyl records I bought on Amazon that I did not request a replacement for - the vinyl has no surface noise, no pops/clicks, no craters/bulges, and it is absolutely flat. Plus it is in an eye pleasing green color... wonderful quality, I wish all records could be that way. The music is great, but it is expected, why would you buy a record of a group you do not like? ;-)
S**E
YOU GET 50 TUNES ... IT'S CHEAP, BUT IT'S CHEERFUL!
Both The Shadows and The Ventures were highly successful instrumental beat groups from either side of the Atlantic ... the same line up, but with entirely different backgrounds. The Shads were formed initially as a backing band for Cliff when touring, until of course they had a big hit in their own right with 'Apache', after which they were an essential part of any stage show. They produced hit after hit, lost their way a bit, had personnel changes and diversified into covering other people's pop tunes of the day, including the occasional yuck vocal. The Ventures, on the other hand, were obviously reared on surf sounds, were a band on their very own -- at least I don't think they ever backed anybody. Hits came from their version of many times recorded by others of 'Walk, Don't Run', and covering catchy older tunes such as 'Perfidia', after a while they too diversified by taking on more covers and turning out album after album. This cheap re-issue is from the outfit's early work and perhaps best efforts, mainly because they're now out of copyright restrictions so anybody can just pick up their efforts. So, on the whole, a good example of the better stuff, if only to have in your collection, particularly if you're downsizing as I am. One personal pet hate however -- the awful cardboard packaging, which isn't substantial or protective. There's a lack of good informative booklet notes too, although there are just a few paragraphs, but the type is so small it's hardly legible. So, on that score, I'll give it just the four stars. successful instrumental outfit, more 'rocky' and sax based? They fizzled out of fashion, didn't they? I doubt it.
M**Y
The Ventures.......Walk Don't Run
Brilliant cd this, there as good as the shadows, this cd will get a lot of play from me, real value for money.
F**2
Highly recommended.
Item as described. Highly recommended.
N**E
Five Stars
Exelent cd thanks
H**E
Five Stars
pleased with item
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