Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Ventures - Walk, Don't Run Vol 2 c/w Knock Me Out
 | Of the two albums coupled here, Walk, Don't Run Vol 2 is much stronger with lots more surf relevant material. |
Picks: House Of The Rising Sun, Diamond Head, Night Train, Peach Fuzz, Rap City, Blue Star, Walk, Don't Run '64, Night Walk, One Mint Julep, Pedal Pusher, The Creeper, Stranger On The Shore, I Feel Fine, Love Potion No. 9, Tomorrow's Love, Oh, Pretty Woman, Mariner No. 4, When You Walk In The Room, Gone, Gone, Gone, Slaughter On Tenth Avenue, She's Not There, Lonely Girl, Bird Rockers, Sha La La
Track by Track Review
House Of The Rising Sun Rock (Instrumental)
A tame instro treatment of the Animals' hit. Not very strong.
Surf (Instrumental)
Danny Hamilton's classic instro, and among the very few surf singles the Ventures issued. Classic.
Rock (Instrumental)
This is a very tamed down version of the classic tune James Brown made such a rock 'n' soul staple. Very soft and small combo jazzy.
Peach Fuzz Rock (Instrumental)
Semi speedy country based variation on the classic folk song "This Train." Fuzz lead and twangy rhythm.
Surf (Instrumental)
The "Hungarian Rhapsody" is completely reworked in the most delightful surf fashion. Arranged much light "Walk, Don't Run '64," this is a splendid example of how cool the Ventures could be when they wanted to. Obvious humor and excellent musicianship. A must have.
Rock (Instrumental)
The theme from "Medic" played on steel or bottle necked guitar. It's a nice track, melodic and pretty, but not at all rockin'.
Surf (Instrumental)
The Ventures had already become the chameleons of rock by the time surf came along a mere few months after they cut "Walk, Don't Run" in 1960. They adapted quickly, morphing their crown jewel tune into a surf classic by adding reverb and glissandoes. It's way fun.
Night Walk
Rock (Instrumental)
Chunky and chumpy fuzz and no melody one note bounce. Very uninteresting.
One Mint Julep Rock (Instrumental)
One of the few rock lounge tunes that the Ventures covered. Who was it, Phil Upchurch? Pedestrian rock interpretation.
Surf (Instrumental)
Excellent vibrato, and a go-go sorta beat under a riff and chop number that is just so-so except for the big chord vibrato.
Go-Go Fuzz (Instrumental)
This thick fuzzy number is choppy and repetitious, interesting for the first few bars, but then not. It would be a good backtrack to a snotty vocal. No where as interesting as King Fuzz's material.
Rock (Instrumental)
Mr. Acker Bilk's jazz band fave finds new live with a lap steel guitar treatment. It's very pretty, especially with the vibrato break.
I Feel Fine Rock (Instrumental)
Beatles cover... next. It lacks the oomph of their original, and has no particular magnetism either.
Love Potion No. 9 Rock (Instrumental)
A sad cover of the Robins' aka the Coasters' hit. It just doesn't work without Richard Berry's bass voice.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
This is a really pretty song, often overlooked by those covering the lads. Only Eddie and the Surfbeats and the Fabulous Planktones have seen fit. Romantic feel, aquatic scenery, and a unique fluid melody line. It's not actually a Ventures original, but was written by Ron Story and issued by his band the Travelers.
Oh, Pretty Woman Rock (Instrumental)
Aside from the Holy Sisters Of The Gaga Dada, no one has cover Roy Orbison's glorious hit well. This is quite pedestrian.
Rock (Instrumental)
Launched on the success of "Telstar," this is a too-close imitation, but without the mean wall of sound from Joe Meek.
When You Walk In The Room Rock (Instrumental)
Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk In The Room" is a solid song requiring her earthy voice and country drawl. Fuzz guitar and all, this sorta works, but doesn't have the same drama and emotional intensity that her great recording does.
Rock (Instrumental)
Sorta like "Tequila" in a country store, "Gone, Gone, Gone" bounces along with a nice little piano, but is just not very interesting for very long. Too much of a jam.
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue Surf (Instrumental)
This is the original rock interpretation, and surf to boot. Its hot, powerful, dramatic, and downright infectious. Totally wonderful. This is remarkable, both for its adaptation to the surf idiom, and because of it's power. Wonderful.
She's Not There Rock (Instrumental)
The Zombies, covered instrumentally. Fuzz guitar and piano. Just OK. I'll take I Cosmonauti anytime over this pretentious track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Intense loud guitar whammy and twang in a slow format. This is really nice. Not surfy at all, but a fine adaptation.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Bird Rockers" is an organ and fuzz guitar number with an interesting melody line, but too much sameness throughout.
Sha La La Rock (Instrumental)
Jeepers - Spencer Davis Group, chorus and all. I don't think so.