Customer Reviews

Gold

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Ventures are back in America on Pat Boone's Gold label. The group couldn't have signed with a more focused and dedicated organization. Quality attracts quality.

It's seems so fitting, with the group celebrating their fortieth anniversary, that they come full circle and then turn the clocks back on their greatest hits and re-record them in all their glory utilizing today's exceptional recording technologies. The end result is magical. All of these songs sound better than they ever did! The renditions of some of their most well known songs starts a whole new life for each one, and hopefully attracting a new audience. Beginning their fiftieth decade of recording literally hundreds of albums and touring endlessly, these fine musicians have made an indelible mark upon music and our culture. The sounds perfected during the Gold sessions are just outstanding. Each song has some new an interesting twists and turns that make it a thoroughly entrancing experience.

Nokie Edwards returns as a guest on fourteen tracks. Edwards still has what it takes. Those cat quick fingers go right to work, making melodious twang filled notes that strike like lightning, stoking the fire that once burned in the sixties. Bob Bogel, who normally plays bass, steps in on lead guitar on four tracks; "Walk Don't Run", "Perfidia" , "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" and "Wipe Out." On "Wipe Out", Leon Taylor shows why he is Mel's son. What a nice job he does with that classic song. Taylor adds some of his own style and percussive variation, while the diverse Bogel cuts loose with some tasteful and well placed lead guitar notes. It's not as powerful as "Wipe Out 2000", nevertheless just as intriguing as any version I have ever heard. You can tell when Gerry McGee steps back in on lead guitar, his sound is very distinctive. He plays with more of an r & b flavor, with fatter chords, where as Nokie has a more twangy reverb style. It's Nokie's trademark sound of instro-surf that inspired an entire new genre in the sixties.

The late great Mel Taylor does one of his best numbers ever, and one of my personal favorites, called "Bongo Rock." What an exciting rocker it turns into, thanks to the lightning fast hands of one of music's greatest drummers. We miss him dearly.

After forty years The Ventures haven't lost a step, in fact, I think they have gained a few on their contemporaries. A truly amazing and wonderful group that always puts out a consistently excellent sound. If it's a new song or a remake, it all sounds like heaven to me. Nobody does it like The Ventures. They are like the "The Beatles" of instrumental rock and pop. They are living legends in every sense of the word. They seem to command more energy and electricity than groups half their age-just amazing. The Ventures are an original slice of Americana making history with every performance and every recording. Yes, this is pure gold.

Keith Hannaleck June 14, 2000 MuzikMan's Sound Script

This isn't a "bad" retrospective, but it's not the same as the original stuff. Maybe I wouldn't be so hard on this cd if I didn't also have some old "real" Ventures tapes with the original cuts. The Gold version of songs like Walk Don't Run and Apache are oddly "off" -- the reverb isn't right, the slides aren't right and the rhythm lines are too crisp. I'm not sure, but I think the guitars aren't tuned quite the same, either. The notes might be OK but the music isn't the same. Perfidia is pretty good but Telstar stinks -- it's too "digital". To me, part of the magic of the original was the mushy cymbals and guitar reverb, you know, early "surround sound" stuff. If you're into early surf guitar music, go with the Dick Dale "King of the Surf Guitar" cd and leave the golden oldie Ventures on the shelf...

I was 12 years old when I first heard that magical instrumental, "Walk-Don't Run", while riding in our '49 Buick. I was hooked, for 40 years!

I can't quite believe my good fortune of having 40 years of listening pleasure. These guys have allowed me to grow with their everchanging, improving and innovating sound.

This album is just what we would have heard during the 60's, using the latest technology.

I recently purchased 2 live concert tapes of the late 90's. My first viewing ever of a group who's music has carried my through good times and less pleasant life experiences.

Can we possibly see another 40 years?

"I am really happy that I bought this CD. The Ventures are a cool band, that have a lot of tunes that I never knew were The Ventures. It was a real surprise. They played the House of Blues out here in LA over a year ago, and the entire band Aerosmith was there just to watch these guys play. Cheers to the Pat Boone's label for putting out this gem."

This CD is an attempt to reproduce the early recordings. If that means it should sound like it was recorded in someone's garage, then this CD is for you. Some of the tunes seem not quite right which may suggest the players are getting rusty. One thing is certain: Mel Taylor is sorely missed. His son Leon drums on all but two of the tunes. He does not play like his father did, his drums need to be tuned, and he is a terrible time keeper.

This CD Rocks.....Aside from the classic hits with a supercharged drumming of the late Mel Taylor's son - Leon, this one is packed with hidden gems like "Secret Agent Man" and "Bongo Rock." I love it.

Nice remix collection but definitely lacks the punch of the original cuts. If you really need a cut of Tall Cool One you can make do with this CD, but if you are a real Ventures buff longing for that true and unique sound, you'll probably be disappointed.

This CD rocks...If you are a true Ventures fan, you will love the fact that all of the key original members that were ever in the band, including the late Mel Taylor, are on this album. The interesting thing on "Gold" is the juxtaposition of the late Mel Taylor to his son Leon Taylor's drumming ability. I love it.