The Ventures Play Seaside Story - produced primarily for the Japanese market - was released in 1991.
There are 12 tracks on this album, and the total running time is about 52 minutes.
At the time of recording, the line-up of the band was as follows:
* Gerry McGee – lead guitar
* Don Wilson – rhythm guitar
* Bob Bogle – bass guitar
* Mel Taylor – drums
The following musicians appear from time to time:
* Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – lead guitar
* Edgar Winter – saxophone
* David Carr – keyboards
* Bob Spalding – rhythm guitar
* Joe Barile - percussion
* Michael Rose - saxophone
* Tommy Dunbar - vocals
Bob Bogle played with the band until shortly before his death in 2009. He was replaced by Bob Spalding, who had, in fact, been filling in from time to time since 1981.
Mel Taylor played with the band until his death in 1996 - except for a few years during the 1970s, when he was busy with other musical projects. In 1996, he was replaced by his son Leon Taylor.
Joe Barile replaced Mel Taylor on the drums during the years 1972-1979.
David Carr was born in England in 1943. As a young man he was a member of the British band the Fortunes, who had an international hit with You've Got Your Troubles in 1965.
Later, he relocated to the US, where he worked with the Ventures on several occasions. He died in 2011.
The tracks can be divided into two categories:
(a) Western compositions
(b) Japanese compositions
There are no original tunes written by the Ventures on this album.
Let us begin with the western compositions:
# 05: The Lady Wants to Know is written by Michael Franks, who was born in 1944.
It is included on his album Sleeping Gypsy which was released on vinyl in 1977 and on a CD in 1999.
# 06: What You Won’t Do for Love is written by Bobby Caldwell and Alfons Kettner.
# 07: Breezin’ (written by Bobby Womack, who was born in 1944) was a 1976 hit for American musician George Benson who plays jazz, funk, soul, and rhythm & blues.
# 10: We’re All Alone (by Boz Skaggs, born 1944) was a hit for Rita Coolidge in 1977. It is included on her album The Collection.
# 12: If We Hold on Together (by James Horner and Will Jennings) is the theme song from the 1988 movie The Land before Time.
Diana Ross sings the song on the soundtrack. It is included on her album The Force behind the Power.
Let us now turn to the Japanese tunes:
# 01: Fruit of Summer is written by singer and songwriter Keisuke Kuwata (born 1956), who is the front man of the Japanese band Southern All Stars and one of the most popular musicians in Japan.
The Ventures have released two albums where they play music by Southern All Stars.
The first one (with 12 tracks) was released in 2001. The second one (with 16 tracks) was released in 2009.
# 02: Surfside Dream is written by singer and songwriter Hideya Nakazaki. This is Japanese Rock & Roll.
# 03: Truth is written by Masahiro Ando. This is hard Rock & Roll – with Jeff Baxter on the lead guitar and Edgar Winter on the saxophone.
# 04: Seychelles is written by Masayoshi Takanaka. This is a slow tune with a hard beat. Takanaka is still active in the music business. In 2011, he released an album with his most famous hits:
Golden Best
# 08: Fragrance of Thrill is written by Tatsuro Yamashita, who was born in 1953. His most famous hit is Christmas Eve from 1983.
# 09: Love Storm is written by Mariya Takeuchi (born 1955), who is still active in the music business. She has released 11 albums and 35 singles. She is married to Tatsuro Yamashita.
# 11: Fall in Love is written by Keiko Yukawa and Akiko Kobayashi. In 2011, Akiko released an album with her most famous singles:
Golden Best
The Ventures are very versatile.
Their music can be experimental or traditional. It can be hard Rock & Roll or soft pop.
In this case, we have not only soft pop but also hard Rock & Roll and even something that sounds like jazz.
If you like instrumental music – and if you like the Ventures – I think you will enjoy this album with an interesting mix of oriental and western tunes.
It is highly recommended.
PS. The Ventures played the tune “Seaside Story” during a concert in Japan in 1990. The concert was released on a DVD in 2005.
A studio version of this tune is found on The Ventures Play Southern All Stars (2009).
*****
The Ventures Play
Seaside Story
(Released on a CD in 1991)
(12 tracks)
*****
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