The Ventures Albums (64)
'Live in Tokyo 2006'
Release Date 6/28/2007
Tracks 23
Label Pony Canyon
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Summer & Winter: Live'
Release Date 8/17/2004
Tracks 20
Label Pony Canyon
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What The Critics Say
Recorded in 2002, this Ventures Christmas album -- it's not the first -- puts their trademark crisp and stripped guitar instrumental arrangements upon a bountiful helping of Christmas standards. Indeed most of the program is given over to the most overplayed of holiday classics, including "Sleigh Ride," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Deck the Halls," "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Silent Night," and "Winter Wonderland." In its defense, it does stick to the Ventures' traditional signature sound, with lean twangy guitar lines and a no-nonsense, straightahead driving rhythm section, though the keyboards and synths (by guest David Carr) sound a little too slickly modern in places. Occasionally they insert quotes from past hits like "Walk Don't Run" and "Perfidia" into the Christmas tunes to remind you it's the Ventures. Those non-holiday references aren't limited to their own discography: "Deck the Halls" starts with a quote of the Jackie DeShannon/Searchers "Needles and Pins" riff. As for more contemporary material, the disc ends with a cover of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" (which has some snatches of actual vocals from this usually all-instrumental group) and the sole band original, the moody title track, which has (shaky) vocals throughout. This disc isn't terrible and it's faithful to the sound the Ventures cultivated in the 1960s. But it's not good, either, and if you're looking for just one Ventures holiday record, you might prefer The Ventures' Christmas Album, recorded in the group's 1960s prime. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'The Ventures Play the Greatest Instrumental Hits'
Release Date 10/1/2002
Tracks 16
Label Varese
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What The Critics Say
Recorded between 1996 and 2000 (although the liner notes refer to the version of "Hawaii Five-O" having been started in the mid-'80s), this set is largely devoted to covers of instrumental hits of the late '50s and early '60s, although remakes of the Ventures' own two biggest hits ("Walk, Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O") are present. Otherwise, the track list looks a little like a mix tape of some of the biggest instrumental songs from the time when the Ventures were at their peak: "Rebel Rouser," "Apache," "Peter Gunn," "Bongo Rock," "Honky Tonk," "Sleep Walk," "Tequila," "Green Onions," "James Bond Theme," "Secret Agent Man." Original members Bob Bogle and Don Wilson are still on hand, though original guitarist Nokie Edwards is only credited as a "guest" artist, and the late Mel Taylor is replaced by his son Leon Taylor on some tracks (the precise ones aren't specified). This has all the hallmarks of being an uninspired rehash of a band's glory days, but it actually sounds surprisingly good, though certainly no significant ground is broken and you'd be better off with collections of the original recordings (whether by the Ventures or others). There's no concession to inappropriate modernized production -- it sounds like the Ventures, the lean, hungry, reverbed guitar sound to the forefront. These are pretty energetic and capable renditions, though perhaps the only mild surprise in the track selection is "Tall Cool One" by the Wailers (which only just made the Top Forty in 1959), the Northwest group that helped inspire the Ventures when they began. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'Plays Southern All Stars'
Release Date 9/18/2001
Tracks 12
Label Pony Canyon
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'Live in Japan 2000'
Release Date 4/3/2001
Tracks 29
Label Pony Canyon
See Album Tracklist and Review
