The Ventures

Although the Ventures' popularity in the U.S. peaked in the early to mid-'60s, they've remained extremely popular overseas, particularly in Japan, and it's been enough to keep this versatile instrumental group going after 40-plus years…

Not a single one of these 26 titles was released before the appearance of this compact disc, though most of the material is of such marginal worth that it could only be recommended to collectors of the band. That considerable constituency will be pleased, though, that the tracks date from the group's prime, approximately 1960 to 1965…

The Ventures recorded a lot of instrumental versions of TV themes in the 1960s and 1970s, whether it was actually used as the theme (as with their hit "Hawaii Five-O") or, as was usually the case, was just a cover…About half of the CD dates from 1976, and has discofied renditions of themes to the likes of Charlie's Angels and Starsky & Hutch…

In 1999, the Ventures celebrated their 40th anniversary in music by recording and releasing V-Gold. According to the liner notes, each track was recorded using the same personnel as the original recording, with one notable exception. Drummer Mel Taylor had passed away and was replaced on this recording, as well as future recordings and tours, by his son Leon…

Varese Sarabande has outdone itself with this marvelous package of surf instrumentals by the Ventures, containing 18 tracks that surely fit into the "space age bachelor pad" category of fun sounds with the superb playing that listeners expect from the legendary group…

With a 40-year recording history, the Ventures are the most successful instrumental band in pop history. Although their heyday in the U.S. was in the early '60s, peaking with the surf music craze, they have continued to have hits abroad, particularly in Japan, where their summer tours are legendary events. A lot of the Ventures' releases have been specific to the Japanese market, and Surfin' to Baja draws on that backlist, collecting 19 originals by the band, and although these recordings were tracked at various times between 1992 and 2000, they fit together seamlessly…

The Ventures' 2002 release Play the Greatest Instrumental Hits of All Time was a competent effort, and the same could be said of its sequel, Play the Greatest Instrumental Hits of All Time, Vol. 2. Once again all tracks were cut between 1996-2000 by a lineup featuring original members Bob Bogle and Don Wilson, as well as Nokie Edwards on some lead guitar (though evidently not as a full member, since he's credited as one of the "guest artists")…

The Ventures - History Box, Vol.1 (1992) {4CD Set, Liberty ‎Japan TOCP-7129~32 rec 1960-1962}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) -> 1.35 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 540 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 69 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960-62, 1992 Liberty ‎/ Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-7129~32
Rock / Pop / Rock & Roll / Surf Rock

Box set containing 4 jewel case CDs (TOCP-7129, TOCP-7130, TOCP-7131, TOCP-7132) and two booklets. The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar in the United States and across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass), Nokie Edwards[3](initially bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).

Not the first but definitely the most popular rock instrumental combo, the Ventures scored several hit singles during the 1960s – most notably "Walk-Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O" – but made their name in the growing album market, covering hits of the day and organizing thematically linked LPs. Almost 40 Ventures' albums charted, and 17 hit the Top 40. And though the group's popularity in America virtually disappeared by the 1970s, their enormous contribution to pop culture was far from over; the Ventures soon became one of the most popular world-wide groups, with dozens of albums recorded especially for the Japanese and European markets.

The Ventures - History Box, Vol.2 (1992) {4CD Set, Liberty ‎Japan TOCP-7121~24 rec 1962-1964}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks) -> 1.54 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 600 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962-64, 1992 Liberty ‎/ Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCP-7121~24
Rock / Pop / Rock & Roll / Surf Rock

Box set containing 4 jewel case CDs (TOCP-7121, TOCP-7122, TOCP-7123, TOCP-7124) and two booklets. The Ventures are an American instrumental rock band, formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar in the United States and across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they tour regularly to this day. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, switched to bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, switched to lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).