the hardest part of the internet for me is seeing all these people I wish I knew in real life. like you my man. keep doing what you are doing. i love it.
Hey Nil, They are playing "Walk Don't Run '64". This was an enhanced surf version of the 1960 recording. This was one of my favorite songs they did in those early years. Great video!
They were the reason I started playing guitar. They spent time in my home town ,Vancouver, Wa. I got to shake Nokies hand and thank him for all he had done . Thank you for this video.
The Ventures are from my hometown, Tacoma Washington. They were hot hot hot when I was a little kid. They are the reason I started to play guitar. Thanks for giving them their due Fil!!
In 1964 I was a 14 year old girl who just got a nice Gibson acoustic guitar. I took a few guitar lessons and this was one of the songs I learned. You made my day Fil.
@@roseyc.5846did you have the “Play Guitar with the Ventures” album? My brother tried to learn to play with that and “Walk Don’t Run” was one of songs they used, of course.
Cut my teeth drumming with Mel Taylor's drumming....I did the Ventures version of ''Wipeout'' Our first instrumental rock band...Very original..Mel Taylor,Ringo,and Gene Krupa were my first inspirations...Great band.
This was an alternate version of the original done by the Ventures in about 1959. They called it "Walk Don't Run '64." They incorporated elements of The Chantay's hit song "Pipeline" into it. Walk Don't Run was a Johnny Smith classic, written and played in 1954, was then covered by Chet Atkins two years later. Nokie Edwards heard the Chet version and loved it. The Ventures (Nokie, Don Wilson, and Bob Bogle) made it into a huge selling rock instrumental classic - TWICE! The Shadows iconic guitarist, Hank Marvin, covered it brilliantly as he did another song from that era -- Jorgen Ingmann's "Apache."
Actually, i think The Shadows recorded Apache after hearing the composer Jerry Lordan play it on ukulele. Bert Weedon was the first to record the song. Jorgen's version came months after hearing The Shads' version
Yes, when I listened to their performance as per Fil's suggestion, I couldn't help but think there were similarities to "Pipeline." Prior to this analysis, I'd heard of the Ventures and I'd heard of the song title "Walk, Don't Run;" however, now I recognize the song after hearing it. There's definitely a lot of guitar technique in this performance.
Chet Atkins' version is jazzier, kind of pre-rock. The same can be said of Johnny Smith's classic version: a lot of jazz chords and riffs, counterpoint by two guitars. as well as jazzy drum beat. In fact, to me it sounds quite similar to Dave Brubeck and similar jazz ensembles (i.e. 1950s cool jazz). In contrast, the Venture's one is a simplified rendition, with conventional chords and no improvisation.
The very first song I ever tried to play! My Dad loaned me His " Play Guitar With The Ventures" Album when I was about 8 yrs old lol! The very first things I learned, right after He taught me D, C and G lol!
I know the Ventures !!! believe me. My father was a massive Fan and has every release , including their whole Japanese catalogue. When I went to Tokyo 5 years ago I got the latest CD for him. The drummer played the "Hawaii 5-0" drums (original 70's series) check it out
I was fortunate enough to see "The Ventures" in around 2017 at WDW in Orlando. At that time it was Nokie Edwards, Don Wilson(the fastest strummer in the west), Mel Taylor, Jr, and a fourth gentleman on bass/guitar, depending on what Nokie was playing. Fantastic musicians and, as Don put it, "mediocre singers-that's why we do instrumentals". I've been a fan of their performances since 1960. Yeah, I'm old(78), and still playing bass-a 1967 Thunderbird, non-reverse.
Fil, this song was EVERYWHERE in 1964. I feel so blessed to have been young during the 1960's. I absolutely LOVED it, from The Beatles, through the entire British Invasion, the American groups who came up during that time period...SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC!! It was positively intoxicating, for lack of a better word. Even a group like The Monkees became a source of joy. The entire 1966-67 period was unbelievable. Hard to describe all the feelings the music evoked. Thank you SO much for this great (as always) analysis. Stay safe and sane, etc. Rosemarie ❤️
My highschool marching band used to play Walk Don't Run in the stands all the time, of course written for an entire woodwind and brass band. It was fun to play.
The Ventures where arguably one of the best instrumental bands of all time, cool breakdown on your part Fil, one of your best guitar demonstrations. 😊👍🎸
My Mom bought me the album Play Guitar with the Ventures when I was about 12. Pipeline, Wipeout, Out of Limits, Let's Go. Pipeline is still one of my favorites
I practice in my man cave every day under a framed personal note from Nokie Edwards. 73 now, & at 14, they dominated my record collection & literally taught me the instrument.
The Ventures made instructional albums back in the 60s to teach you how to play their songs. They were ahead of their time back then. That's how I learned to play guitar (bass, rhythm, lead)
What I like about this analysis and many of your other ones is that all this guitar stuff is related. I've heard modern Death Metal bands play alternate dampened notes but with distortion on. I once was at a German rock festival with a punk band called Red London some time in the 90's and one of the other bands were from the US. They had a unique sort of space age sound - lots of experimentation and they were using guitars that were manufactured and connected with the Ventures.
When I was a "wee lad" (to steal a British phrase) my sister and I had to go to Sam's Tavern to drag our Mom home for dinner. It was a working-class bar where they went after work to have a few drinks. Mom would distract us with a quarter or two (American money) and instruct us to play the jukebox first. At that time it was 6 plays for a quarter and she would always request the first song; after that it was up to us. One of our favorites, to piss off the grumpy old drunks, was "Wipeout" by the Safaris. I will never forget the looks I got while doing my best to imitate the drums on the back of my chair! The old guys weren't gonna beat up a 6 year old kid.
Wow, much more complicated than most of us imagined. Thanks Fil. Also, analyze the driving rhythm guitar and excellent lead guitar work on Desolation Row from Highway 61. And there we have it!!
Thanks Fil for keeping the classics alive! This was one of the great instrumental bands from the 60's. I had their greatest hits album. Their biggest hit was "Walk, Don't Run". Some of the other songs they did were "Telstar", "Lonely Bull", "Hawaii 5-O theme, "Wipe Out" etc. The group the Surfaris are actually the first ones who recorded "Wipe Out" in 1963. But it was common for groups to play each others songs.
Glad you explained that the live recording was faster than the original, because I was thinking I don't remember the tune being this fast lol The Tremolos were also a band to add to the confusion lol
@@oldermusiclover Sorry, I don't. From what I can tell it wasn't released as a single. Just watched a video of the Ventures playing "Pipeline" that looked like it was recorded in the 80s The drummer in some long shots looks like John Noakes from Blue Peter lol
Hi, love your reactions. I've already posted but wanted to say a couple of things. Since I saw the Ventures live several times (I was in high school at the time) and my bro was a virtuoso musician in classical music as well as r&r, this doesn't sound pushed to me at all. In fact, all the guitar players were striving for as fast as they could get it. After the "British Invasion", My bro earned the nickname "slow hand" because he could play as fast as Clapton and you could rarely really see his finger/hand movements. It was a Pacific Northwest thing (predominantly Seattle) and in those days we didn't care so much about vocalists. Check, if you haven't already, the Wailers Road Runner. And the Kingsmen's version of Louie Louie. I'm not sure if having classical instruction/training was a factor then (all the high schools offered music instruction, band, orchestra, choir, music theory, etc.) and Seattle had jazz (Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and others got much of their start in Seattle). And then, of course, Jimi. Did you know that the Spanish Castle isn't a castle in Spain, but was a road house near Tacoma that pretty much everybody played in at one time or another? What the Ventures are playing in this tune is "surfing" music, which if I may say so kind of led to the Beach Boys and that California sound, or at least was complicit in it.
Thank you for getting the first chord - A major - right. Most people think it's A minor, especially on the original '59 version, which also uses a major chord there. You can make money pretty reliably off guitar players by betting on that, lol. This performance really does smoke. These guys were my first guitar teachers, like so many others. I'm also from the Pacific Northwest and I met Don Bogle for the first time when he came to see the band I was in at a club in Portland. It was intimidating, this older guy wearing sunglasses at night in the club. :-)
You're right that many people may not have heard of them, especially Brits like me. When I first visited the Philippines in 1991 I was amazed that The Beatles were almost unknown, The Ventures were far more famous and I had never heard of them, then. Needless to say they feature quite strongly in my collection now.
The 60's had some great instrumentals. This was fun to listen to and I enjoyed your alternate picking demonstration and breakdown of the notes on the guitar. 😊🎸🎵
@elisabethaxelsson4736. I remember The Spotnicks from all those years ago. They used to play while dressed in "spacesuits" complete with "space helmets". Must have been difficult! The Spotnicks used to play an excellent guitar version of the old Hebrew (?) folk song "Hava Nagila". I thought it was brilliant! Stay safe and well.
1 my fav. Ventures' LPs, "Ventures' Knock Me Out;" has 1 killer cover of Beatles' "I Feel Fine." "Ventures In Space" is masterpiece LP too. Fabulous Ventures!
This was written by Johnny Smith, who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2012 just before his death. The Ventures did a great rendition. Thanks for the video.
Couldn't figure out which one to watch at any specific moment. Have to watch a few more times I guess. Thanks Fil. Been a while since hearing The Ventures.
I love listening to music, particularly from when I was a youth in the 60s and 70s, but from other eras as well. Sadly, I can’t read music. I don’t play an instrument. I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. I don’t know many of the musical terms you speak of, but I LOVE your channel and am learning things from you!! Thanks Fil, for another, as always fabulous analysis and for sharing your expertise and love of music with us! ❤️
I dont really play either, but am a vocalist and have appreciated Fil's commentary on various vocal performances in addition to guitar. I've learned a lot.
Love the Ventures. Much more so than the Beatles they were responsible for the Japanese craze for Western guitar music and surf rock. Love those Mosrites too.
Thanks for pointing out the subtleties with the slide, alternative picking and showmanship or slight of hand maneuver where he slid the edge of the pick on his low E string and precision picking - Things I would never have picked up on until you pointed things out. Love that it was/was not an instructional video !! wink/wink 😉😉
You're certainly right about their being huge in Japan. When I first came to Japan back in 1991 so many Japanese said they liked The Ventures and I'd never heard of them!
I sooo wanted a Mosrite guitar in the ‘60’s. My parents got me a Fender Jazzmaster instead. Still pretty sweet. That started my GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome). My best was a cherry red Gibson ES-335.
You should do a show on a band from Tacoma, WA USA, The Sonics. They influenced little groups like the Beattles, Rolling Stones, etc. to name a few.. and they in turn were heavily influenced by a little english group called the Kinks...
This is the first song I ever learned to play on the guitar, this song and 40 Miles of Bad Road (Duane Eddy, if I'm not mistaken) - AND - that was when these songs were brand new, by the way. And Fil, I want you youngsters to know how thankful I am that I was listening to all the very first rock stuff when it was NEW, even the first hits by folks like Dion, Buddy Holly, and songs like Houndog and 16 Tons. I feel honored to have "been there," so to speak.
WDR '64 took advantage of the surf sound that was so popular at the time. My Ventures faves are studio cuts of Diamond Head and Slaughter on 10th Avenue (exerpted from a ballet parody, I think).
Reminds me of my cousin , Gary, who played Pipeline on his guitar early 60s. It was the first time I saw someone play guitar in person. On tv but never in person. He also taught me to play it. Not very well but I could do the simple melody. Unfortunately he died young. He had polio when baby and it took a toll on his heart. I think of him when I hear the Venturers. 👍🙂👍
Walk Don't Run was the first song I learned to play. It still is the tune that I play when I try a new guitar. Much later I learned that this tune was written and played originally by Johnny Smith. The Ventures back then simplified it, just because they couldn't paly Johnny Smith's version. Compared to other guitar tunes, this one is quite simple -- yes, you need to practice the muted strings and the chromatic runs on the A string. Never forget: simple does not equal easy. Thanks, Fil.
Takes me back. For those of us who learned to play the guitar in the 1960s there were three songs that were mandatory to learn, Wipe Out, Pipeline, and Walk Don't Run. What a fun time it was.
The techniques used here are pretty typical for "surf" music, yes? At least some of the alternate picking techniques are meant to sound like crashing waves. This was imitated a lot in punk rock (esp. early punk like the Ramones, and California punk, e.g. Dead Kennedys), though I don't think the technique for creating the sound in punk was the same. All very cool sounding!
They played at my college in 1980 at an outdoor festival. They were fantastic! Been a fan since, even though I recognized their music from when I was a kid.
It was recorded in 1960 because in 1964 they re-recorded it a bit differently and it was called Walk Don’t Run 1964. Both versions of this song are great. England had the Shadows and America had the Ventures. That was a time when instrumental groups reigned supreme.
The first two songs I learned on guitar was Walk Don’t Run and Pipeline. Both from listening to Venture albums over, and over, and over, and over! Picking them out a note at a time.Their live version of Caravan, Wipeout (Mel Taylor’s drumming on these are amazing) and Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is incredible. Noki Edwards is amazing on lead guitar, but listen to Bob Bogle on bass!👍
Love your stuff Fil, thanks for including he Ventures. I cut my teeth on their music, picking it out from their records in the 60's. I even got a 1965 Candy Apple Red Mosrite, which they are playing here (white though). Basically a Fender group, they had a Mosrite deal from about 63 to 68. But Bob and Don basically played their Jazzmasters, Nokie his Telecaster. In later years Nokie had a Signature "Hitchhiker" which resembled the Mosrite and Bob's Son came out with the "Wilson Brothers" Ventures Model. So many great players owe their playing to the Ventures. As mentioned earlier this is an updated version "Walk Don't Run '64". Nokie does not mute the first time through the riff. Gerry McGee replaced Nokie at various times in their 50 plus years playing his Stratocaster. And there is even a video with Bob missing and Gerry basically playing Bass with Nokie on lead, and Nokie and Gerry do an acoustic set together. Gerry was a great sessions player with Elvis, Kris Kristofferson, the Wrecking Crew, where he is famous for the first chords on "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees". In many of their concerts they use an electric Sitar for songs like "Paint It Black".
I grew up wth the Ventures which got me playing the guitar. The Ventures got me playing all their hits. The 50 s & 60s were the best times of my life. Play in a band, got my drivers license & got married. All this in the 60s.
Definately an alternative version ... The original had Bob Bogle playing lead , but here it seems to be Nokie Edwards , who was a superb country guitarist who played before the Ventures with all the famous country stars . Their "Live "albums might be a bit of an exaggeration as the cover of their live album says recorded in the UK.. They never came here !!! The other thing I think you will find that this has might have been speeded up ....Shame really but they were superb musicians as I found out when I spent some time with them as can be seen on my site.. Just checked .. It was sped up 10 percent ...
Of course I'm aware of the Ventures. I'm from Seattle (Tacoma, where they are from, is just south of Seattle), and actually saw them live many times in those days. My brother was a lead guitar player at the time. And most of the bands were instrumental in the late '50s.
I was drummer in a rock band when I was 14 in 1961 and we played all the Ventures tunes. This is nothing like the original version of "Walk Don't Run." What I always liked about this song was the shift to a shuffle beat, hardly detectable, in the bridge. It was hard to hear on a 45 rpm record on a cheap record player, but it's there. Still love this tune.
Thanks for pointing out palm muting, the picking, and the "sleight of hand". That was funny... a good trick he threw in there. I never would have caught that. Enjoyed it...Rock!
I watched a documentary about the guitars they used back when they released this song. I was fortunate to have been alive during the 1960's when the Ventures was topping the charts with this. What a great time for music.
Год назад+3
I grew up in Renton, about 20 miles north of Tacoma, their hometown. I was 10 when Walk Don't Run was released and yes, it was the reason I wanted to play guitar! The Ventures, being a local band, were well covered by our area radio stations here in the Pacific Northwest. They were much a part of my early soundtrack growing up. Thanks Fil, great episode!
A sound that takes me back❤. Thanks for such a great break down on a fab tune. You had a good time with this I think (never noticed you ever saying ‘errm’ this much before, I notice you are always as precise with words and delivery as with the analyses 🤓). ❤️
The Ventures had its share of members changes the names listed below where the original and classic line up of the band during the 1960's the legacy of the Ventures is kept alive by new members of the band that still performs today with Leon Taylor, on drums Mel Taylor's son. Don Wilson - rhythm guitar (1958-2015; died 2022) Bob Bogle - bass guitar, lead guitar (1958-2005; died 2009) Nokie Edwards - lead guitar, bass guitar (1960-1968, 1972-1985; as guest 1999-2016; died 2018) Mel Taylor - drums (1962-1973, 1979-1996; died 1996)
@@oldermusiclover Yes, all of the original members except for George T. Babbitt are decease, Babbitt who played drums was only with the band for about a year from 1959 to 1960.
the hardest part of the internet for me is seeing all these people I wish I knew in real life. like you my man. keep doing what you are doing. i love it.
Hey Nil, They are playing "Walk Don't Run '64". This was an enhanced surf version of the 1960 recording. This was one of my favorite songs they did in those early years. Great video!
They were the reason I started playing guitar. They spent time in my home town ,Vancouver, Wa. I got to shake Nokies hand and thank him for all he had done . Thank you for this video.
Vancouver, WA? I love that town!
Fil's only a bit off; thoroughly "instructional" 4 Me(ha-ha).
Same here. Walk Don’t Run was the first song I learned to play on guitar back in the sixties. Nice to see those old Mosrite guitars!
The Ventures are from my hometown, Tacoma Washington. They were hot hot hot when I was a little kid. They are the reason I started to play guitar. Thanks for giving them their due Fil!!
In 1964 I was a 14 year old girl who just got a nice Gibson acoustic guitar. I took a few guitar lessons and this was one of the songs I learned. You made my day Fil.
I was also a girl of the same age in 1964...great memories!! 🙂❤️
Eu tinha a mesma idade em 1964. Ótimas lembranças!
@@roseyc.5846did you have the “Play Guitar with the Ventures” album? My brother tried to learn to play with that and “Walk Don’t Run” was one of songs they used, of course.
One of the tightest and most underrated bands I've ever heard.
Listen to Lonnie Mack do ‘Memphis’, the studio version. It’s from 1963, and a great guitar song. Kind of ahead of his time..
Cut my teeth drumming with Mel Taylor's drumming....I did the Ventures version of ''Wipeout'' Our first instrumental rock band...Very original..Mel Taylor,Ringo,and Gene Krupa were my first inspirations...Great band.
This was an alternate version of the original done by the Ventures in about 1959. They called it "Walk Don't Run '64." They incorporated elements of The Chantay's hit song "Pipeline" into it. Walk Don't Run was a Johnny Smith classic, written and played in 1954, was then covered by Chet Atkins two years later. Nokie Edwards heard the Chet version and loved it. The Ventures (Nokie, Don Wilson, and Bob Bogle) made it into a huge selling rock instrumental classic - TWICE! The Shadows iconic guitarist, Hank Marvin, covered it brilliantly as he did another song from that era -- Jorgen Ingmann's "Apache."
See my comment elsewhere about Tommy Emmanuel. 😊
Actually, i think The Shadows recorded Apache after hearing the composer Jerry Lordan play it on ukulele. Bert Weedon was the first to record the song. Jorgen's version came months after hearing The Shads' version
Interesting to know that. No wonder Hank Marvin plays Apache like he "owns it."@@christoh711
Yes, when I listened to their performance as per Fil's suggestion, I couldn't help but think there were similarities to "Pipeline." Prior to this analysis, I'd heard of the Ventures and I'd heard of the song title "Walk, Don't Run;" however, now I recognize the song after hearing it. There's definitely a lot of guitar technique in this performance.
Chet Atkins' version is jazzier, kind of pre-rock. The same can be said of Johnny Smith's classic version: a lot of jazz chords and riffs, counterpoint by two guitars. as well as jazzy drum beat. In fact, to me it sounds quite similar to Dave Brubeck and similar jazz ensembles (i.e. 1950s cool jazz). In contrast, the Venture's one is a simplified rendition, with conventional chords and no improvisation.
Fil, musicians that can actually play their instruments, that's rare nowadays
The very first song I ever tried to play! My Dad loaned me His " Play Guitar With The Ventures" Album when I was about 8 yrs old lol! The very first things I learned, right after He taught me D, C and G lol!
I know the Ventures !!! believe me. My father was a massive Fan and has every release , including their whole Japanese catalogue. When I went to Tokyo 5 years ago I got the latest CD for him. The drummer played the "Hawaii 5-0" drums (original 70's series) check it out
I was fortunate enough to see "The Ventures" in around 2017 at WDW in Orlando. At that time it was Nokie Edwards, Don Wilson(the fastest strummer in the west), Mel Taylor, Jr, and a fourth gentleman on bass/guitar, depending on what Nokie was playing. Fantastic musicians and, as Don put it, "mediocre singers-that's why we do instrumentals". I've been a fan of their performances since 1960. Yeah, I'm old(78), and still playing bass-a 1967 Thunderbird, non-reverse.
I’m still a huge Ventures fan. So technical but not robotic. Surf music baby!
Fil, this song was EVERYWHERE in 1964. I feel so blessed to have been young during the 1960's. I absolutely LOVED it, from The Beatles, through the entire British Invasion, the American groups who came up during that time period...SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC!! It was positively intoxicating, for lack of a better word. Even a group like The Monkees became a source of joy. The entire 1966-67 period was unbelievable. Hard to describe all the feelings the music evoked. Thank you SO much for this great (as always) analysis. Stay safe and sane, etc. Rosemarie ❤️
My highschool marching band used to play Walk Don't Run in the stands all the time, of course written for an entire woodwind and brass band. It was fun to play.
The Ventures were so popular when I was in high school! They were such a geat band. Thanks for your analysis!
The Ventures where arguably one of the best instrumental bands of all time, cool breakdown on your part Fil, one of your best guitar demonstrations. 😊👍🎸
My Mom bought me the album Play Guitar with the Ventures when I was about 12. Pipeline, Wipeout, Out of Limits, Let's Go. Pipeline is still one of my favorites
I practice in my man cave every day under a framed personal note from Nokie Edwards. 73 now, & at 14, they dominated my record collection & literally taught me the instrument.
Great vid, Sir!
The Ventures made instructional albums back in the 60s to teach you how to play their songs. They were ahead of their time back then. That's how I learned to play guitar (bass, rhythm, lead)
What I like about this analysis and many of your other ones is that all this guitar stuff is related. I've heard modern Death Metal bands play alternate dampened notes but with distortion on. I once was at a German rock festival with a punk band called Red London some time in the 90's and one of the other bands were from the US. They had a unique sort of space age sound - lots of experimentation and they were using guitars that were manufactured and connected with the Ventures.
When I was a "wee lad" (to steal a British phrase) my sister and I had to go to Sam's Tavern to drag our Mom home for dinner. It was a working-class bar where they went after work to have a few drinks. Mom would distract us with a quarter or two (American money) and instruct us to play the jukebox first. At that time it was 6 plays for a quarter and she would always request the first song; after that it was up to us. One of our favorites, to piss off the grumpy old drunks, was "Wipeout" by the Safaris. I will never forget the looks I got while doing my best to imitate the drums on the back of my chair! The old guys weren't gonna beat up a 6 year old kid.
Wow, much more complicated than most of us imagined. Thanks Fil. Also, analyze the driving rhythm guitar and excellent lead guitar work on Desolation Row from Highway 61. And there we have it!!
I love how easily you can figure these techniques out. It’s fun watching your mind work it out! You definitely do not have a poker face!!
Thanks Fil for keeping the classics alive! This was one of the great instrumental bands from the 60's. I had their greatest hits album. Their biggest hit was "Walk, Don't Run". Some of the other songs they did were "Telstar", "Lonely Bull", "Hawaii 5-O theme, "Wipe Out" etc. The group the Surfaris are actually the first ones who recorded "Wipe Out" in 1963. But it was common for groups to play each others songs.
I must be old when songs that were a hit when I was a kid are "classics" 😀
Glad you explained that the live recording was faster than the original, because I was thinking I don't remember the tune being this fast lol
The Tremolos were also a band to add to the confusion lol
do you remember Pipeline
@@oldermusiclover
Sorry, I don't.
From what I can tell it wasn't released as a single.
Just watched a video of the Ventures playing "Pipeline" that looked like it was recorded in the 80s
The drummer in some long shots looks like John Noakes from Blue Peter lol
@@pencilpauli9442 thanks
So many guitarists got their start learning Ventures riffs. 😊
Hi, love your reactions. I've already posted but wanted to say a couple of things. Since I saw the Ventures live several times (I was in high school at the time) and my bro was a virtuoso musician in classical music as well as r&r, this doesn't sound pushed to me at all. In fact, all the guitar players were striving for as fast as they could get it. After the "British Invasion", My bro earned the nickname "slow hand" because he could play as fast as Clapton and you could rarely really see his finger/hand movements. It was a Pacific Northwest thing (predominantly Seattle) and in those days we didn't care so much about vocalists. Check, if you haven't already, the Wailers Road Runner. And the Kingsmen's version of Louie Louie. I'm not sure if having classical instruction/training was a factor then (all the high schools offered music instruction, band, orchestra, choir, music theory, etc.) and Seattle had jazz (Quincy Jones, Ray Charles and others got much of their start in Seattle). And then, of course, Jimi. Did you know that the Spanish Castle isn't a castle in Spain, but was a road house near Tacoma that pretty much everybody played in at one time or another? What the Ventures are playing in this tune is "surfing" music, which if I may say so kind of led to the Beach Boys and that California sound, or at least was complicit in it.
Thank you for getting the first chord - A major - right. Most people think it's A minor, especially on the original '59 version, which also uses a major chord there. You can make money pretty reliably off guitar players by betting on that, lol.
This performance really does smoke.
These guys were my first guitar teachers, like so many others. I'm also from the Pacific Northwest and I met Don Bogle for the first time when he came to see the band I was in at a club in Portland. It was intimidating, this older guy wearing sunglasses at night in the club. :-)
You're right that many people may not have heard of them, especially Brits like me. When I first visited the Philippines in 1991 I was amazed that The Beatles were almost unknown, The Ventures were far more famous and I had never heard of them, then. Needless to say they feature quite strongly in my collection now.
This footage is from a travelogue/concert film of the Ventures tour of Japan '65 titled Beloved Invaders. It was only released theatrically in Japan.
The 60's had some great instrumentals. This was fun to listen to and I enjoyed your alternate picking demonstration and breakdown of the notes on the guitar. 😊🎸🎵
So true! I love instrumental music!
Hey linda >24 hrs See U
Way back when I worked through a book called "Play bass with the Ventures."
Always a great tune with plenty of scope for 'going walkabout'. The Pink Fairies did a version with lyrics 😃 !
Mom had an album "Bobby Vee meets The Ventures". And I became hooked on both.
We hade a great group in Sweden calld The Spotnicks around the same time , they was big in Japan too.
@elisabethaxelsson4736. I remember The Spotnicks from all those years ago. They used to play while dressed in "spacesuits" complete with "space helmets". Must have been difficult! The Spotnicks used to play an excellent guitar version of the old Hebrew (?) folk song "Hava Nagila". I thought it was brilliant! Stay safe and well.
1 my fav. Ventures' LPs, "Ventures' Knock Me Out;" has 1 killer cover of Beatles' "I Feel Fine."
"Ventures In Space" is masterpiece LP too.
Fabulous Ventures!
Good evening Fil..🧚💎lot of bands i discover with you, over time..!! 🤘💌
This was written by Johnny Smith, who I had the pleasure of meeting in 2012 just before his death. The Ventures did a great rendition. Thanks for the video.
Couldn't figure out which one to watch at any specific moment. Have to watch a few more times I guess. Thanks Fil. Been a while since hearing The Ventures.
I love listening to music, particularly from when I was a youth in the 60s and 70s, but from other eras as well. Sadly, I can’t read music. I don’t play an instrument. I couldn’t carry a tune to save my life. I don’t know many of the musical terms you speak of, but I LOVE your channel and am learning things from you!! Thanks Fil, for another, as always fabulous analysis and for sharing your expertise and love of music with us! ❤️
I dont really play either, but am a vocalist and have appreciated Fil's commentary on various vocal performances in addition to guitar. I've learned a lot.
This is just such a fun song to play. So many ways to go. Love Messi g with it after playing it straight the first time.
how cool is this band from the 1950`s- elements of punk rock, ragga etc- I can hear The Ramones Hey Ho Lets go
Please analize their version of Wipeout from this same performance. It never fails to blow me away.
Love the Ventures. Much more so than the Beatles they were responsible for the Japanese craze for Western guitar music and surf rock. Love those Mosrites too.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE VENTURES
I loved when you suddenly broke into _Misirlou_
I was thinking the same thing! 😀
Thanks for pointing out the subtleties with the slide, alternative picking and showmanship or slight of hand maneuver where he slid the edge of the pick on his low E string and precision picking - Things I would never have picked up on until you pointed things out. Love that it was/was not an instructional video !! wink/wink 😉😉
Love the Ventures. Love the Tornados too! My parents had both albums and played them often enough.
You're certainly right about their being huge in Japan. When I first came to Japan back in 1991 so many Japanese said they liked The Ventures and I'd never heard of them!
I sooo wanted a Mosrite guitar in the ‘60’s. My parents got me a Fender Jazzmaster instead. Still pretty sweet. That started my GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome). My best was a cherry red Gibson ES-335.
another amazing analysis! One of the very first songs I learned back in 1964 was Walk Don't Run. Great Job.
I always loved Telstar. Cool music.
Love the Ventures!!!
You should do a show on a band from Tacoma, WA USA, The Sonics. They influenced little groups like the Beattles, Rolling Stones, etc. to name a few.. and they in turn were heavily influenced by a little english group called the Kinks...
This is the first song I ever learned to play on the guitar, this song and 40 Miles of Bad Road (Duane Eddy, if I'm not mistaken) - AND - that was when these songs were brand new, by the way. And Fil, I want you youngsters to know how thankful I am that I was listening to all the very first rock stuff when it was NEW, even the first hits by folks like Dion, Buddy Holly, and songs like Houndog and 16 Tons. I feel honored to have "been there," so to speak.
Great analysis of my favourite bands technique of playing. Well presented.
Love them. Wore out a lot of vinyl with The Ventures. ❤❤❤
I LOVE the ventures!!!
WDR '64 took advantage of the surf sound that was so popular at the time. My Ventures faves are studio cuts of Diamond Head and Slaughter on 10th Avenue (exerpted from a ballet parody, I think).
Surf's up!!! Four notes in and I could picture the waves. My high school was across the sand dunes from the beach. The Ventures were very popular.
I always love how Happy you are in these videos. It's infectious.
OK, THAT was fun! Great way to wrap up the work week. Taking me back in time for sure! 😎
That sounds cool .
Oh my, this one takes me back a few years! Your demonstration of how they produced some of their sounds was most interesting! Great analysis, Fil!
Reminds me of my cousin , Gary, who played Pipeline on his guitar early 60s. It was the first time I saw someone play guitar in person. On tv but never in person. He also taught me to play it. Not very well but I could do the simple melody. Unfortunately he died young. He had polio when baby and it took a toll on his heart. I think of him when I hear the Venturers. 👍🙂👍
Thanks 🙏 so much Fil, for dedication and love for music 🎶 🎸❤
Walk Don't Run was the first song I learned to play. It still is the tune that I play when I try a new guitar. Much later I learned that this tune was written and played originally by Johnny Smith. The Ventures back then simplified it, just because they couldn't paly Johnny Smith's version. Compared to other guitar tunes, this one is quite simple -- yes, you need to practice the muted strings and the chromatic runs on the A string. Never forget: simple does not equal easy.
Thanks, Fil.
I learned this song in early 2023. My mind is blown by how much fun it is to play.
Thanks for reviewing them, I remember hearing their songs on the radio as a kid
Loved this as a child. 😊
Takes me back. For those of us who learned to play the guitar in the 1960s there were three songs that were mandatory to learn, Wipe Out, Pipeline, and Walk Don't Run. What a fun time it was.
You seem to be having so much fun doing this analysis. Thanks
The techniques used here are pretty typical for "surf" music, yes? At least some of the alternate picking techniques are meant to sound like crashing waves. This was imitated a lot in punk rock (esp. early punk like the Ramones, and California punk, e.g. Dead Kennedys), though I don't think the technique for creating the sound in punk was the same. All very cool sounding!
They played at my college in 1980 at an outdoor festival. They were fantastic! Been a fan since, even though I recognized their music from when I was a kid.
Pink Fairies version of walk don't run from the 70's has lyrics !
Thank you Fil, your love of music brings joy to me and all Wingers!Many Blessings!
First song I ever learned to play was the Hawaii 5 0 theme song by the Ventures!
It was recorded in 1960 because in 1964 they re-recorded it a bit differently and it was called Walk Don’t Run 1964. Both versions of this song are great. England had the Shadows and America had the Ventures. That was a time when instrumental groups reigned supreme.
The first two songs I learned on guitar was Walk Don’t Run and Pipeline. Both from listening to Venture albums over, and over, and over, and over! Picking them out a note at a time.Their live version of Caravan, Wipeout (Mel Taylor’s drumming on these are amazing) and Slaughter On Tenth Avenue is incredible. Noki Edwards is amazing on lead guitar, but listen to Bob Bogle on bass!👍
Fil, another great one. Among other things, I love how you demonstrate technique.
Love your stuff Fil, thanks for including he Ventures. I cut my teeth on their music, picking it out from their records in the 60's. I even got a 1965 Candy Apple Red Mosrite, which they are playing here (white though). Basically a Fender group, they had a Mosrite deal from about 63 to 68. But Bob and Don basically played their Jazzmasters, Nokie his Telecaster. In later years Nokie had a Signature "Hitchhiker" which resembled the Mosrite and Bob's Son came out with the "Wilson Brothers" Ventures Model. So many great players owe their playing to the Ventures. As mentioned earlier this is an updated version "Walk Don't Run '64". Nokie does not mute the first time through the riff. Gerry McGee replaced Nokie at various times in their 50 plus years playing his Stratocaster. And there is even a video with Bob missing and Gerry basically playing Bass with Nokie on lead, and Nokie and Gerry do an acoustic set together. Gerry was a great sessions player with Elvis, Kris Kristofferson, the Wrecking Crew, where he is famous for the first chords on "Hey, Hey, We're the Monkees". In many of their concerts they use an electric Sitar for songs like "Paint It Black".
I grew up wth the Ventures which got me playing the guitar.
The Ventures got me playing all their hits. The 50 s & 60s were the best times of my life. Play in a band, got my drivers license & got married. All this in the 60s.
Definately an alternative version ... The original had Bob Bogle playing lead , but here it seems to be Nokie Edwards , who was a superb country guitarist who played before the Ventures with all the famous country stars . Their "Live "albums might be a bit of an exaggeration as the cover of their live album says recorded in the UK.. They never came here !!! The other thing I think you will find that this has might have been speeded up ....Shame really but they were superb musicians as I found out when I spent some time with them as can be seen on my site.. Just checked .. It was sped up 10 percent ...
Of course I'm aware of the Ventures. I'm from Seattle (Tacoma, where they are from, is just south of Seattle), and actually saw them live many times in those days. My brother was a lead guitar player at the time. And most of the bands were instrumental in the late '50s.
I was drummer in a rock band when I was 14 in 1961 and we played all the Ventures tunes. This is nothing like the original version of "Walk Don't Run." What I always liked about this song was the shift to a shuffle beat, hardly detectable, in the bridge. It was hard to hear on a 45 rpm record on a cheap record player, but it's there. Still love this tune.
Age 72 the VENTURES inspired me to play guitar. 1962 my Father got me a FENDER JAGUAR and I still have it OF COURSE!!?!
Thanks for pointing out palm muting, the picking, and the "sleight of hand". That was funny... a good trick he threw in there. I never would have caught that. Enjoyed it...Rock!
Thanx again, Fil. "Surf's Up!"
I watched a documentary about the guitars they used back when they released this song. I was fortunate to have been alive during the 1960's when the Ventures was topping the charts with this. What a great time for music.
I grew up in Renton, about 20 miles north of Tacoma, their hometown. I was 10 when Walk Don't Run was released and yes, it was the reason I wanted to play guitar! The Ventures, being a local band, were well covered by our area radio stations here in the Pacific Northwest. They were much a part of my early soundtrack growing up. Thanks Fil, great episode!
KJR Seattle - Channel 95! On a clear night we could listen to KJR where I grew up in Hoquiam. Great times in PNW rock!
Your a great communicater, musicologists. Thanks 👍 keep it up
Great analysis Fil 👩🏻🏫👏🏻🥰‼️
A sound that takes me back❤. Thanks for such a great break down on a fab tune. You had a good time with this I think (never noticed you ever saying ‘errm’ this much before, I notice you are always as precise with words and delivery as with the analyses 🤓). ❤️
The Ventures had its share of members changes the names listed below where the original and classic line up of the band during the 1960's
the legacy of the Ventures is kept alive by new members of the band that still performs today with Leon Taylor, on drums Mel Taylor's son.
Don Wilson - rhythm guitar (1958-2015; died 2022)
Bob Bogle - bass guitar, lead guitar (1958-2005; died 2009)
Nokie Edwards - lead guitar, bass guitar (1960-1968, 1972-1985; as guest 1999-2016; died 2018)
Mel Taylor - drums (1962-1973, 1979-1996; died 1996)
wow i had not realized all the members were now deceased I knew about the drummer
Gerry McGee was lead guitar 1968 after Nokie.
@@oldermusiclover Yes, all of the original members except for George T. Babbitt are decease, Babbitt who played drums was only with the band for about a year from 1959 to 1960.
That is so sad 😞 RIP all
@@drewpall2598 thanks was he any relation to bass player BOb I know that was not his real name though
Nice review... keep up the great work.
charming video
I absolutely loved the ventures as a very young girl and my brother playing their albums! Good memory throwback.😂
The drummer's work is also worth to mention.