Ventures vs Shadows: Apache

[abstamaria]

A video on YouTube compares the two band's versions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KdFRku97jE

Setting aside sound quality and presentation, and focusing on style or interpretation alone, I am more drawn to the Shadows' version. Nokie's is a bit slow for me. Well, one can't win them all. I'm a Nokie fan, especially when he's playing what he really wants to play.

Best,

Andy

[grayn]

I applaud Nokie for trying something different on this classic tune but a comparison with the Shads doing the classic, in their classic fashion, is rather rediculous.

As you say, it's not Nokie at his best and I see that Ventures version as a bit of fun.

The Shadows in fine form, doing one of the best guitar tunes ever, is going to be very hard to beat.

[geoff1711]

I heard the original version posted, here? Ventures site? somewhere else? earlier this year and The Ventures version is probably closer to it than the Shad's, having said that I prefer The Shad's version.

I've got a lot of Ventures of tracks, and to my mind , most of it sounds fairly second rate, particularly the animal noises! growls, Oh Yeas! and Here we Go's!

The sort of things which sounded pretty cool in the early 60's but now sound cringy

Geoff

[event]

Take a look at this - Apache - Peter Frampton & The Ventures:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Hc5abS ... re=related

[geoff1711]

I think Andy probably hit the right note when he said playing what he wants to..

What his prefered style is I don't know but some tracks where he's playing rolling fingerpicking are in a different league to a lot of the other stuff.

Could it be his roots are in country, but his day job all these years have been in a Surf band?

Geoff

[donna plasky]

I do not know much about The Ventures, although I am becoming very interested in them lately. Here's a video (part 2 of 4, if you search YouTube). They play Apache at the 4:24 mark. The three songs are The Cruel Sea, Walk Don't Run, and then Apache. I am not knowledgeable enough on the subject to make an educated remark, but I can say that I like this video because they've put some "twang" into Apache but still have that finger-scratching thing in the galloping.

Kind regards,
Donna

[JimN]

There's a bit of fuzztone on that Mosrite for Apache.

The blonde Fender amps look just wonderful - and so cool - on those lean-back stands (I have a Twin Reverb in the same finish).

In retrospect, 1964-1966 was the Ventures' best period. The "Batman" LP (of '66) was a knock-out.

JN

[abstamaria]

I agree with you, Graham.

The Ventures are a very different kettle of fish, Geoff, and so varied, as they had so many lead guitarists and session artists recording for them. Still, they have a few good ones; I like Gandy Dancer, Blue Moon, and Trambone. And I prefer their 1960 take on Walk Don’t Run to our guys’ version.

The Ventures sound so much better in those videos, Donna, Trgve, especially with Peter Frampton on lead, and with a Fiesta-red, maple-necked Strat to boot. He was rooting for the Shadows! They seem to be have had a lot of fun there though. Even normally passive Bob Bogle is movin' around.

I think those are Fender Showman amps, Jim. I didn’t notice any microphones on them, so they must have been playing those at full volume. I wanted one of those amps so badly as a teenager!

Andy

[Ezekiel]

I love The Ventures as much as The Shadows but they do look a little wooden on stage unlike The Shadows.

[donna plasky]

Hello. I wonder if our friend Eugene from Japan might be reading this (perhaps I will send him a PM). I was looking in YouTube for "Kimi to Itsumademo" actually, and I found a version of it by a Japanese recording artist -- whom I then notice was in several Ventures videos, when The Ventures were in Japan.

I respectfully acknowledge that this isn't a Ventures Forum but rather a Shadows Forum, and I hope you don't mind that I posted these two videos. I am fascinated how good music can cross all cultural borders, and I think this is so cool to see a Japanese band playing with the Ventures..in Japan.

Eugene, is Kayama Yuzo-san very famous in Japan? He sang Kimi To Itsumademo very beautifully but I can see he plays guitar well, too.

Kind regards,
Donna