The Ventures Live

[wstagner]

Nigel.....you win the prize...you R correct!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJaSZxZJFV0

[wstagner]

Part 2 of Gerry/Jerry D.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcEIkyPP ... 1&index=56

[wstagner]

Part 3 of Jerry/Gerry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkglJvbv ... playnext=2

[51 Relic]

Many thanks
Enjoyed these , apart from HBM Jerry Donahue must be my no 1 guitarist

[abstamaria]

Cockroach, I think you are right, regarding the change in styles of the two bands. Nokie is much revered in Japan, my Japanese friend tells me.

[Pedro]

I have been thinking about this and believe Pedro may be right too.

The Shadows's sound and style continue to have strong links to their early 60s pieces, which remain very popular among their fans. Hence, we have in this forum discussions on The Sound, what strings to use, etc. It has helped that the original lead and rhythm guitarists remain, as well as the drummer who joined the band at an early stage. They use the same instruments, too, generally, down to the Fiesta Red color.

The perspective of a Ventures fan is probably different and in fact varies, depending on when one first got drawn to the group and whether one continued to listen to them. My perspective as a Ventures fan is rooted firmly in their very early years, ending in Outer Limits. My Japanese friend, who was with me at the Ventures show, continued to listen to the Ventures as they evolved, so his concept of the Ventures "sound" is different from mine (he's a big Nokie Edwards fan). People younger than me may have begun to like the Ventures in the 80s or 90s and may not care at all for Walk Don't Run, Bulldog, etc. This fact that the Ventures had three lead guitarists, the later ones intent on establishing their own style and style (as they should) probably has something to do with this.

The point of this long-winded essay is that there is no single Ventures sound. Pedro may be right in that Don Wilson's style, while essential to the original Ventures sound, no longer contributes to the performance of the "new" Ventures.

Manila was in the early 60s a Ventures (more than a Shadows) town, but interest in instrumental music here disappeared quickly when the Beatles appeared. Very few folks here under the age of 55 ever heard of the Ventures or the Shadows, and the older generations that know them only know their pre-1963 music. That's me. When I think of Ventures I think Lullaby of the Leaves, played on a Jazzmaster with a tremolo bar. Did the McGee and the new Ventures sound like that? No, except perhaps for Wilson, but they had their own sound and style and were very good. When listening to them, perhaps one should dissociate them from the original Ventures and assess them and their music as a completely different band. They are an exceptional instrumental band.

My apologies for the long post, but we are quite far from the musical front here in Manila.

Andres

Andres,

Visited Manila dozens of times in the 60s (Blue Funnel Line) memories of Tanduay rum, Tabacalera Cigars and Cigarillos. Seem to remember that for 200 State Express 555 you could get Rum, Cigars and much more.