The Ventures have released two albums with the title Your Hit Parade.
The first, which was released in 2003, features instrumental versions of songs that were radio hits in Japan during the 1960s:
Your Hit Parade – 60s
The second, which was released in 2006, features instrumental versions of famous movie themes. This is the album under review here.
There are 16 tracks plus two bonus tracks on this album. The total running time is about 51 minutes.
For this album the line-up of the band is as follows:
* Bob Bogle – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
* Don Wilson – rhythm guitar
* Leon Taylor – drums and percussion
* Gerry McGee – lead guitar
* Bob Spalding – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar
The following persons appear as guest artists:
* Nokie Edwards – lead guitar
* Chris Turner - keyboards
The CD comes with liner notes in the form of a booklet with information about the 18 tracks on the album.
Unfortunately, almost everything here is written in Japanese, so it will not be helpful to most customers outside Japan.
Here is a list of the 18 tracks with some background information:
# 1: The Green Leaves of Summer
This is the theme for the 1960 movie Alamo starring John Wayne.
The music is written by Dimitri Tiomkin (1894-1979), the lyrics by Paul Francis Webster (1907-1984).
# 2: Charade
This is the theme for the 1963 movie Charade starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. It is written by Henry Mancini (1924-1994).
# 3: Plein Soleil [= Blazing Sun]
This is the theme for the 1960 movie Plein Soleil starring Alain Delon in his first major role. It is written by Nino Rota (1911-1979).
# 4: East of Eden
This is the theme for the 1955 movie East of Eden starring James Dean in his first major role. It is written by Leonard Rosenman (1924-2008).
# 5: Jailhouse Rock
This is the theme for the 1957 movie Jailhouse Rock starring Elvis Presley. It is written by Jerry Leiber (1933-2011) and Mike Stoller (born 1933).
# 6: Blue Hawaii
This song was written for the 1937 movie Waikiki Wedding. It is the title song for the 1961 movie Blue Hawaii starring Elvis Presley.
The music is written by Ralph Rainger (1901-1942), the lyrics by Leo Robin (1900-1984).
# 7: Live and Let Die
This is the theme for the 1973 movie Live and Let Die starring Roger Moore as James Bond.
It is written by Linda McCartney (1941-1998) and Paul McCartney (born 1942).
# 8: Fools Rush in
This popular song was composed in 1940. The music is written by Rube Bloom (1902-1976), the lyrics by John Mercer (1909-1976).
# 9: Melody Fair
This song is written by the Gibb brothers: Barry Gibb (born 1946), Robin Gibb (born 1949) and Maurice Gibb (1949-2003).
It was written in 1968, released on an album in 1969 and featured in the 1971 movie Melody.
# 10: Love Story
This is the theme of the 1970 movie Love Story starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw.
The music is written by Francis Lai (1932-2018). Lyrics (written by Carl Sigman, 1909-2000) were added after the theme became popular.
# 11: Rock Around the Clock
This song was written in 1953 and recorded by Bill Hayley and his Comets in 1954. It was a major hit for them in 1955. It is the title song of the 1956 movie Rock around the Clock.
It is written by Max C. Freedman (1893-1962) and Jimmy de Knight, which is a pseudonym for James E. Myers (1919-2001).
# 12: Diana
Paul Anka (born 1941) wrote and recorded this song in 1957.
# 13: Somewhere over the Rainbow
This song is featured in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland, who sings the song in the movie.
The music is written by Harold Arlen (1905-1986), the lyrics by E. Y. Harburg (1896-1981).
# 14: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
This is the theme of the 1966 movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood. It is written by Ennio Morricone (1928-2020).
# 15: Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ on my Head
This song is featured in the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.
The music is written by Burt Bacharach (1928-2023), the lyrics by Hal David (1921-2012).
# 16: Tonight
This song was written in 1956 and introduced in the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story.
The music is written by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990), the lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021).
# 17: Goldfinger
This is the theme of the 1964 movie Goldfinger starring Sean Connery as James Bond. Shirley Bassey sings the song in the movie.
The music is written by John Barry (1933-2011), the lyrics by Anthony Newley (1931-1999) and Leslie Bricusse (1931-2021).
# 18: California Sun
This song is written by Henry Glover (1921-1991) and Morris Levy (1927-1990).
It was first recorded by Joe Jones in 1961. Since then, it has been recorded by many other artists.
It is featured in the 1979 movie Rock ‘n’ Roll High School and the 1987 movie Good Morning, Vietnam.
The compositions are rather old, as you can see from the information presented above. But I think they are well chosen, and the Ventures play them very well.
If you do not know much about the Ventures, I suggest you start somewhere else. Try Acoustic Rock (2000) or Surfin’ to Baja (2003).
If you already know and like the Ventures, I think you will enjoy this album, which shows another side of this excellent band.
It is highly recommended.
*****
Your Hit Parade
60's
By the Ventures
(Released on a CD in 2003)
*****
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