by RUSSET » Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:47 am
I liked the Ventures from the early '60s, my formative years. Lost track of them by the mid '60s, apart from the occasional track, like 'Hawaii Five-0', which we heard about here. I bought their first EP issued here (Perfidia, Night Train, No Trespassing, Walk don't Run), & liked them. Many years later, apart from one or two tracks, I was rather disappointed with most of their recordings.
I do respect The Ventures as a great instrumental band, who were the US equivalent of our Shads. I think they may have been rather let down by the lack of imagination & quality on their subsequent studio recordings. They were still the local pub band, although great musicians & a working combo right to the end. The Shads had all that the Ventures had, but with an extra sparkle on the top.
We still play their original instros (WDR, Perfidia,Lullaby of the Leaves) with my band, as our opening intro at gigs. It's part of our nostalgia of our teenage years.
Tony.