Search - The Ventures :: In the Vaults Volume 4

The best of the Ventures in the Vaults series!!

Stereo Fan | Southern CA United States | 01/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yep folks, Vaults 4 is definitely the best in the Vaults series and includes very informative liner notes. Ace records always does a nice

booklet and I was very pleased to see that all photos are in color.

What a great service Dave Burke and Alan Taylor have done with their

keen ear on what us stalwart Ventures fans have been clamering for

all these years. This collection answers many questions about

session players and unheard tracks.



"Journey to the Stars"...Holy frickin' cow!!! The sound quality and the

performance on this studio live version of "Journey to the Stars" is

among their very greatest performances. It even has Don's vocal intro.



Delicado - About a gazillion times better than the Latin Album

version (and I like that version). Another tune that I suspect they

heard first from Chet Atkins (he did it on his fantastic "The Other

Chet Atkins" album) as there version is similar to his. The liner

notes ask why this was never released and I have to agree to that

question.



Night Run and Scratch (mono) - amazing quality direct from the

master. Not stereo, but still wonderful.



Station Breaks - Great alternate version of Orange Fire.



Driving Guitars - Probably the best cleanest recorded example of a

naturally overdriven Mosrite in the '60's. But this ain't just a

guitar feature, Mel's drums are very powerful on this cut.



Don't Avoid Me - Great finger style guitar intro. A great

mid '60's country rock with the verse reminding me very very much of

the Monkees' "Aunty Grizelda".



Echo - great spy-surf type track. What an amazing find from the vaults!



Actual session sheet in the liner notes!!! Doesn't say who played

what on what track but does list the names for who played on House

Rising Sun, Blue Coral (early title for Diamond Head), Peach Fuzz, Night Walk,

Slaughter. All the Ventures are listed with Mel paid double as

leader of the session. Stewart Kreisman and (Leon) Russell Bridges

are the only non-Ventures on the session.



Delta Lady - Very '70's country pop instro. Nice cut.



Heart on My Sleeve (mono) - One of my favorite early Ventures

singles direct from the master - spectacular.



Like You've Never Known Before - Strange one though not bad. Very

catchy vocal with a Western Union type verse.



Original Number One - Mel counts in an early rocker. Not a

spectacular tune, easily understood why it didn't make an album as

its just another 3-chord tune. But it is still the Ventures doing it

better than anyone else.



Black Tarantella - Oh boy is this a great one. I think it is the

same track that we've heard on bootlegs and as a bonus cut on one of

the One Way CD's BUT this is true stereo and has horn and shout

overdubs. A great production.



The Twonp (mono) - Don's early masterpiece direct from the master

for wonderful sound.



Beautiful Obsession - Very '70's pop, similar to what they

recorded for the Japanese albums at that time.



Bumble Bee - ANother great driving Mosrite cut from the "live"

album.



Son of a Preacher Man - Gerry McGee at his best.



Runaway - out of tune guitar in the intro is my guess why this

stayed in the can. Otherwise it's a great production. The Vaults

producers feel this is Hal Blaine on drums - no two ways about it to

my ears. That's Hal all the way.



Downtown - Love it!!! This would have been such a contribution to

10th Anniversary album. Its hard to believe it was left off.



Pedal Pusher - Don Wilson is so clearly heard playing heavy

Mosrite single note back-up and then amazing Don Wilson style rhythm

during Nokie's face melting solo break. So great to hear it without

the audience.



Feel So Fine (mono) - Great sound from the original master tape.



Medly WDR - Perfidia - Lullaby - I love the stereo spread on

these un-dubbed studio live cuts.



The Jam - Oh wait a minute.did I say that "Sone of a Preacher man"

was Gerry McGee at his best, this track has me rethinking that

one.



Caravan - The thin tom tone at the beginning is a bit

disappointing. But the rest of the drum sound is great as is the

rest of this recording.





"

Another Great Vaults Album Songs Hidden too Long

Gary Wertz | Olympia, WA United States | 02/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is comprised of several Ventures Tunes for whatever reason were never released as originally recorded. Several should have been. This album is essential to any Ventures Album collection. Ace Records did a superb job on compiling these tracks and a fabulous booklet is also included providing some session data. Why "Beautiful Obsession" was never released by The Ventures is beyond comprehension to me it is a fabulous song one of many on this album. The Ventures are finally in the Rock Hall of Fame and have been playing touring and recording for fifty years now and when you hear this album you will know why. Buy it and you will be glad you did."

In the Vaults 4 by the Ventures

Robert Horbett | 05/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is updated versions of many of their hits. I have an extensive collection of Venture's Albums, CDs and DVDs. This one fits right in with the best of them.

Bob, Hamburg, NY"