In My Life by the Ventures (2010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In My Life by the Ventures was released on the Japanese label EMI Music in 2010.

 

There are 15 tracks on this CD and the total running time is ca. 45 minutes.

 

On this album, the Ventures pay tribute to the Beatles. They play instrumental versions of 15 songs which were recorded by this band.

 

All tracks are written by the duo John Lennon and Paul McCartney - except # 13, written by George Harrison and # 15, written by John Lennon alone.

 

The CD comes with a 12-page booklet, which includes an essay about the fifteen tracks.

 

Unfortunately, it is in Japanese, so it will not be helpful to many people outside Japan.

 

Fortunately, there is a list of all tracks on page 1, and this time the text is bi-lingual (English and Japanese). The names of the composers are added in English.

 

On pages 10-11, all tracks are listed again, this time with information about the musicians who play on each track, and this time the text is in English.

 

For background information about the band, see the following items:

 

Walk Don’t Run: The Story of the Ventures

by Del Halterman

(First edition 2008)

(Second edition 2009)

 

The Ventures: Essential Albums Discography

by Arnold E. Beverhoudt, Jr.

(2015)

 

The 15 tracks on this album were recorded at different times. Six were recorded in 2010; seven had been released before, while two are designated as a remix made in 2010.

 

Over the years, the line-up of the band has changed several times. The musicians who play on these tracks are not always the same. In fact, the only constant is Don Wilson who plays rhythm guitar on every track.

 

I think the best way to explain who plays what is to offer the complete list of players, track by track. And just so that you understand the family relations, I will mention that Ian Spalding is the son of Bob Spalding, and Leon Taylor is the son of Mel Taylor.

 

Here are the titles of the 15 tracks:

 

# 1. In My Life [new]

Lead guitar – Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Backing guitar – Bob Spalding

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Piano – Ian Spalding

 

# 2. Norwegian Wood [new]

Lead guitar and sitar – Bob Spalding

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Keyboards – Ian Spalding

 

# 3. Strawberry Fields Forever [2010 remix]

Lead guitar – Nokie Edwards

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass - Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

Keyboards – Evelyn Freeman

Moog synthesizer – Paul Beaver

Marxophone – James Gordon

 

# 4. Michelle

Lead guitar – Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

 

# 5. Yesterday [2010 remix]

Lead guitar – Nokie Edwards

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

Piano – Mike Rubini

 

# 6. Eleanor Rigby

Lead guitar – Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

Piano – John Durrill

 

# 7. Back in the USSR [new]

Lead guitar – Bob Spalding

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Piano and synthesizer – Ian Spalding

 

# 8. I Feel Fine

Lead guitar – Nokie Edwards

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

 

# 9. Paperback Writer [new]

Lead guitar – Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

 

# 10. All You Need Is Love

Lead guitar – Bob Bogle

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Leon Taylor

Keyboards – Art Greenhaw

 

# 11. Hey Jude

Lead guitar - Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

Piano – John Durrill

Orchestration – Al Capps

 

# 12. Let It Be

Lead guitar – Gerry McGee

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Bob Bogle

Drums – Mel Taylor

Piano – John Durrill

 

# 13. Here Comes the Sun [new]

Lead guitar – Bob Spalding

Rhythm – Don Wilson

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Backing guitar – Ian Spalding

 

# 14. Golden Slumbers – Carry That Weight – The End [new]

Lead guitar – Bob Spalding

Rhythm – Don Wilson and Ian Spalding

Bass – Ian Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Keyboards – Ian Spalding

 

# 15. Imagine

Lead guitar – Nokie Edwards and Bob Spalding

Rhythm – Don Wilson and Ian Spalding

Bass – Bob Spalding

Drums – Leon Taylor

Mellotron and synthesizers – Ian Spalding

 

These 15 songs by the Beatles are well-chosen and the Ventures play them very well. I am not surprised:

 

The Ventures are known as one of the best cover bands in the world. Sometimes the cover version by the Ventures is even better than the original. Perhaps this is the case with track # 3, Strawberry Fields Forever?

 

When you listen to this album, you will have a chance to compare different line-ups of the Ventures.

 

The man on the lead guitar is not always the same. Can you tell if is Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Bob Bogle, or Bob Spalding (without looking at the chart)?

 

The man behind the drums is not always the same. Can you tell if it is Mel Taylor or his son Leon Taylor (without looking at the chart)?

 

The Ventures have a certain style, but they can change it if they want to. On this album, they try to sound like the Beatles. But they are still the Ventures, so they give all these songs a special touch. Perhaps we can say they have been “venturized.”

 

If you like instrumental music, I think you will enjoy this album where the Ventures pay tribute to a great band which only played for a few years but which had a huge impact on the musical scene.

 

It is highly recommended

 

*****