Customer Reviews

Hawaii Five-O / Swamp Rock

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

 

 

This CD brings back a lot of wonderful memories. Even though I wasn't born even close to the sixties, I love The Ventures and their music. I am only 21 years old and even though I listen to new stuff also, The Ventures are the best instrumental group of all time. My Dad got me into The Ventures when I was very young. He and I would listen to his very old and scratched records of the Ventures. The album Swamp Rock has always been my favorite and it brings feelings of joy when I hear it. My Dad just passed away this past summer from cancer and when I listen to The Ventures, he is right there with me. The Ventures Swamp Rock is true southern rock.

I had both these albums when they were first released almost 30 years ago, and receiving this CD on Christmas '98, I still feel The Ventures were breaking new ground that sounds as fresh today as it did then. The first 14 songs are from the Hawii 5-0 record are all very well arranged with a full horn section. The Swamp Rock album is very interesting, because like the Hawii 5-0 album they went into a totally different genre. It has the taste or feel of the "bayou". The writing and arranging is done very well. Listen especially to "Carry Me Back", "Plaquemines Parish", "Swamp Rock", and "Catfish Mud Dance".

Hawaii Five O was part of a string of albums by The Ventures in which their style, along with their personell was changing. Guitarist, Nokie Edwards left and Gerry McGee came in and The Ventures new sound was born. It was not much different from their old style, but anyone could tell the differences between Telstar and Hawaii Five O, the albums. This was the third change in The Ventures musical style. They went from surf, to pop/rock, and then to more agressive, but tame rock. This wouldn't be the last change. Two major other changes occured. Anyway, this album isn't that bad, and an early Ventures fan would like it two. The group does a beautiful version of Aquarious/Let The Sunshine In. If you like this album, you'll like The Horse, and Underground Fire.

This CD features two albums from 1969 by the Ventures.

"Hawaii Five-O" was the Ventures second biggest hit of all time, so it was natural to title an album after it. The album generally employs a "softer" sound than the group had previously employed, plus there is a horn section. The album overall is not that exciting, although they do a good version of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", as well as the classic title track.

Swamp Rock also has a horn section, but it has more of a Southern, Louisiana-ish, sound. No hits this time around. A decent album, but not really one of the group's best.

The CD adds four bonus tracks, which are all non-LP b-sides from the early 1970s. In some ways, these tracks are the most interesting ones on the CD. "Little People" is unusual in that it is a Moog synthesizer based tune, and is probably the first time that instrument was used by the Ventures. "Honky Tonk (Part II)" has a 1950s throwback sound that makes it interesting.