Search - Ventures :: Play Telstar & Ventures in Space

The Ventures Really Knock Me Out

R. Barnes | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | 01/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I admit it. I am a Ventures nerd! Two of their finer albums on one CD is hard to miss. Their covers are better than the originals as evident by "Out Of Limits" (Marketts)and "Telstar" (Tornados0. Their rendition of "Penetration" is excellent the the effect of their maturing productios are evident here.("Penetration" originally done my The Pyramids).Herb Alpert's "The Lonely Bull" is well done here and they make it there own. "Apache" is a classic, and many people learned to play guitar by using this record, (It latter appeared on "Play Guitar With The Ventures")"The Ventures In Space" starts the period in which the Ventures put out album after album of pure magic, with the use of Mosrite Guitars always showcased, and the "Fuzz Bass" lines took hold. Songs like "Tequila" and "Solar Race" are Venture classics. This group was integral to music in the sixties, with many artists directly affected by their music. This is a worthy addition to any collection, and is way ahead of its time. I still have the original Dolton LP's in Vinyl, but these CD's are excellent up-issues. Mandatory for any Ventures Fan,"

The Outer Limits of Surf Music

Danno | NY, NY | 01/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When the Ventures' back catalogue was reissued on CD in the 1990s, most combined two LPs on a single CD. "Telstar" and "In Space" were early 1960s hit LPs, recorded right around the time the Ventures won an endorsement deal with Mosrite guitars and adopted a tough, fuzzed-out sound. As a bonus, this CD has a useful and accurate booklet.



"Telstar" has more variety than "In Space," featuring a very aggressive version of "Green Onions," a faithful rendition of Herb Alpert's "The Lonely Bull" and the amazing title track with its Star Trek-like electric organ. "In Space" is a collection of sci-fi themed songs. Some are originals, some aren't; "He Never Came Back" is a fantastic original song in a "Monster Mash" vein. It's hard to believe, but the Ventures didn't use synthesizers on "Outer Limits," relying instead on steel guitars, reverb, electronic organs, creative mic placement, and tape manipulation. While nothing on this CD is surf music in the purest sense, the Ventures helped define surf music to such a degree that it's hard not to think of this as surf in the broadest possible sense.



While the Ventures' playing on all their LPs is always first-rate, special mention must be made here of Mel Taylor. He's something of a forgotten name among rock drummers, but in his day he was quite impressive - influencing (among others) Keith Moon of the Who. The Ventures are often mentioned as a band that budding rock guitarists should listen to, but I would go further and suggest that young rock drummers could learn quite a bit from Taylor's excellent style.



I highly recommend this CD."

Instrumental Music??

Stanley Runk | Camp North Pines | 02/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like Frank Zappa, The Ventures have about eight billion albums out there, so it might be hard for a newcomer to know where to start. While nothing of The Ventures' is bad, this cd is an excellent place to start(it's also one of the easiest to find and not pricey either). The Ventures are usually considered a surf rock group, and though they had some of the most famous recordings in that genre, they never restricted themselves to that. They're basically an instrumental rock group. Don't be discouraged if you're looking for surf rock, throw on Telstar and find it doesn't sound like Dick Dale(we only need one Dick Dale). Telstar will really grow on you. It gives you a nice taste of everything. Once you get to In Space, you'll notice that album has more of a surf sound. Both albums are great and a nice pair for the price, giving you a cd just short of an hour. The Ventures were a top group back in the day before those longhaired commies from England came barging in. This was back in the day when instrumental music could top the charts. Imagine that! When was the last time an instrumental tune charted? The Ventures are still alive and kickin', but they have to go to Japan to get any respect anymore. It's a real shame. Good music, good musicians, good times. Good cd."