In the year 2000 the Ventures released an album entitled Acoustic Rock. This title was chosen, because all sixteen tracks are played with acoustic instruments.
On this album there are no electric guitars, no electric bass, no electric keyboard, and no computer tricks.
They used acoustic guitars, an acoustic bass, a piano, a harmonica, and drums, which are by their very nature acoustic.
In this way they created a sound that was new and different, but it still had the unmistakable Ventures touch.
On this album the line-up of the band is as follows:
** Bob Bogle – acoustic bass
** Gerry McGee – acoustic guitar (lead)
** Leon Taylor - drums
** Don Wilson – acoustic guitar (rhythm)
The following musicians appear as special guest artists:
** Jeff Baxter - guitar
** David Carr - piano
** Darrel Devlin - harmonica
** Nokie Edwards - guitar
** Bob Spalding – guitar
On Amazon UK this album is available as an MP3 download and as an audio CD. The CD comes with liner notes in the form of a booklet.
One section is written in English, while another section is written in Japanese.
The English section includes a joint statement by Bob and Don (the founding members of the band), a statement by Bob Spalding, and a list with credits for all sixteen tracks.
For each track you can see who wrote the tune and who played what instrument.
Let us now turn to the sixteen tracks on this album. The total running time is about 57 minutes.
Most of the sixteen tracks are cover versions of songs written by others. In fact, only three of the sixteen tracks have a Ventures by-line:
# 11: “St. James Infirmary,” traditional, arranged by the Ventures
# 14: “Zonked,” written by Bogle/Wilson/Spalding & Taylor
# 16: “Skunk Rock,” written by Bogle/Wilson/Taylor & Baxter
The thirteen cover versions cover a period of more than forty years, from 1958 to 1999, the year before the album was recorded:
# 1: “Someday, Someway.”
This tune was written by Marshall Crenshaw, who had a hit with it in 1982.
# 2: “Rise and Fall of Flingel Bunt.”
This is a Shadows original, written by Marvin/Rostill & Bennett, and recorded by the Shadows in 1964. You can find it on their collection 50 Golden Greats.
It is, in my opinion, one of the best tunes written and recorded by the Shadows. I think it is the first time the Ventures have recorded a Shadows original. What is the result? Can the Ventures play the Shadows?
The answer is yes. It has a different sound here, because of the acoustic set-up, but the Ventures play it very well, perhaps even better than the original.
# 3: “Man of Mystery.”
The British composer Michael Carr (1905-1968) wrote this instrumental tune, which was recorded by the Shadows in 1961. You can find it on their collection 50 Golden Greats.
When the Shadows play this tune, it is not very good, but the Ventures play it in a completely different way, which makes it a great tune.
# 4: “Tobacco Road.”
This song was written by John D. Loudermilk in 1960, and it was a hit for the Nashville Teens in 1964.
# 5: “The Way.”
This tune was written by Tony Scalzo, a member of Fastball, and it was a hit for this band in 1998.
# 6: “Brown Eyed Girl.”
This tune was written and recorded by Van Morrison in 1967.
# 7: “She Drives Me Crazy.”
This song was written by David Steele & Roland Lee Gift. It was a hit for the band Fine Young Cannibals in 1989.
# 8: “The Lonely One.”
This instrumental tune was written by Lee Hazlewood & Duane Eddy. It was a hit for Duane Eddy in 1958.
Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) wrote the song “These Boots are made for Walking” for Nancy Sinatra.
Duane Eddy (born 1938) is famous for the special “twangy” sound of his guitar.
# 9: “Living la Vida Loca.”
This song was written by Robi Rosa & Desmond Child. It was a hit for Ricky Martin in 1999.
# 10: “Maggie May.”
This song was written by Rod Stewart & Martin Quittenton. It was a hit for Rod Stewart in 1971.
# 12: “American Pie.”
This song was written by Don McLean, and it was a hit for him in 1971.
# 13: “Sultans of Swing.”
This song was written by Mark Knopfler, when he was a member of Dire Straits, and it comes from their first album released in 1978.
It is not easy to play the guitar like Mark Knopfler, but Gerry McGee does a good job here.
# 15: “Layla.”
This song was written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon. It was first released on an album in 1970, but it was not a hit. Later, it was released in a live version, and it became a major hit.
Today it is considered one of the most famous songs written and performed by Clapton.
In the year 2000 the Ventures had been in the music business for more than 40 years.
By recording and releasing this album, they showed that they still had the talent, the ideas and the inspiration to make a great album.
If you do not know much about the Ventures, I think Acoustic Rock is a good place to start.
If you already know and like the band, I am sure you will enjoy this album, where they play a fine selection of powerful tunes.
It is highly recommended.
*****
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