12.31.2010

THE VENTURES: PURE AND POWERFUL



In 1958, Bob Bogle and Don Wilson formed the nucleus of the original music group, The Ventures. The duo was joined a few years later by Nokie Edwards to record "Walk, Don't Run". The song hit Billboard's Singles Chart on July 18, 1960 and peaked at #2. The rest, as they say, is history. The band became one of the most popular and biggest selling acts of the 1960s, and was prolific during the 60's in terms of touring and recording, particularly albums.


* Don Wilson - Rhythm Guitar - (co-founder in 1958)
* Bob Bogle - Lead and Bass Guitar- (co-founder in 1958)
* Nokie Edwards - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1960)
* Gerry McGee - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1968)
* Bob Spalding - Lead and Bass Guitar- (joined in 1981)
* Mel Taylor - Percussion -

From the Rock Hall of Fame
:

The Ventures are the most successful instrumental combo in rock and roll history. They also rank among its most prolific bands, too. They’re best remembered for a pair of Sixties smashes, “Walk – Don’t Run” (My favorite) "The Lonely Bull" and “Hawaii Five-O.”



Yet their most impressive feat was charting 38 albums from 1960 to 1972. The Ventures’ “big guitar sound” made them the instrumental institution in the Sixties, Guitar Player magazine called them “the quintessential guitar combo of the pre-Beatles era, [who] influenced not only styles, but also a generation’s choice of instruments.” The Ventures’ influenced all of the bands in Detroit. Even the Mighty MC5 played instrumentals in their early incarnations.


This was my Mom's lp that I grew up hearing and I love it to this day. Hey I think I'll go buy from I Tunes! The Ventures Guitars: During their first years (1958–1963), the Ventures played Fender guitars (typically a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Precision Bass) for both their live performances and their recording sessions.


These instruments are prominently visible on the covers of three early albums: "The Ventures", "Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures", and "The Colorful Ventures." Then, in the early 1960s, California guitar manufacturer Mosrite designed and marketed a uniquely styled, futuristic-looking electric guitar called "The Ventures Model." The band adopted these guitars (which included a bass model) and first used them on The Ventures in Space (1963), one of their most influential albums because of the unique, unworldly guitar sounds it contained.

From 1963 through 1968, a statement on their album covers announced that The Ventures used Mosrite guitars "exclusively" (The Ventures and designer Semie Moseley were partners in the distribution of these instruments). After the expiration of their contract with Moseley, the Ventures returned to playing mainly Fender guitars. Only rarely have they used Mosrite guitars since that contract ended. In the mid-1990s, Fender issued a limited edition Ventures Signature Series of guitars consisting of a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Jazz Bass, all with specifications determined by the band.

3 comments:

Peter Harold Cole Patterson said...

Hi Kim, a few years ago I got friendly with a gentleman by the name of Gene Moles who wrote a few songs with them. He actually swapped a Mosrite neck with Ventures written on it & a couple of old pick-ups. He was the nicest guy in the world & really went out his way to help me out & he didn't have to. I'll never forget that. I think his big hit was called 'Burnin Rubber' b/w 'Twin Pipes' I hope he's still with us. I think he worked at the Mosrite factory in Bakersfield.

Eric B. Johnson said...

They celebrated their 50th year together at a concert here on Seattle. It was awesome. Sweet guitar on Sleepwalk.

Ded Led Zombee said...

The Ventures??!! I love you!

They (not the Beatles or Elvis) were the reason I picked up a guitar and still play thasnk you very much.


Are you a UMich kid at all?

Another question -if you are in Michigan state ,why do you never write about Grand Funk Railroad (Flint Michigan),,oh and have a fantastic New Year in 2011!

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