The Ventures Plays Southern All Stars (2001)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Southern All Stars (aka SAS) is the name of a famous Japanese pop/rock band which was formed in the mid 1970s.

 

In order to pay tribute to this band, the Ventures have released two albums where they play instrumental versions of songs by SAS.

 

The first album (which is under review here) was released in 2001. This album is available as an MP3 download and as an audio CD.

 

The second album (a CD with 16 tracks) was released in 2009.

 

There is some overlapping between the two albums. 

 

Four tracks are found on both:

 

* Tsunami

* Hotel Pacific

* Erotica Seven

* Ai No Kotodama - Spiritual Message

 

Some parts of “Spiritual Message” sounds a lot like the song “A Woman in Love” which was a hit for Barbara Streisand in 1980.

 

The total running time is about 53 minutes. The average time for each track is more than four minutes.

 

On this album, the line-up of the band is as follows:

 

* Bob Bogle – Bass guitar and lead guitar

* Don Wilson – Rhythm guitar

* Leon Taylor – Drums and percussion

* Gerry McGee – Lead guitar and bass guitar

 

The following musicians appear as guest artists:

 

* Bob Spalding – Rhythm guitar and bass guitar

* David Carr – Keyboards and synthesizers

 

The CD comes with liner notes in the form of a booklet with information about the 12 tracks on the album.

 

Unfortunately, almost everything here is written in Japanese, so it will not be helpful to most customers outside Japan.

 

All tracks on this album are composed by Keisuke Kuwata, the front man of SAS and one of the most popular musicians in modern Japan.

 

Here are the titles:

 

# 01. Hotel Pacific

# 02. Ai No Kotodama – Spiritual Message

# 03. Inase Na Locomotion

 

# 04. Shulaba la Bamba

# 05. Erotica Seven

# 06. Paradise

 

# 07. 01 Messenger

# 08. Minna No Uta

# 09. Kibou Na Wadachi

 

# 10. Sonna Hiroshi Ni Damasarete

# 11. Anara Dake Wo – Summer Heartbreak

# 12. Tsunami

 

When you listen to this album, you will find that the music from SAS is quite varied. Some songs can be described as soft and gentle, while others are rather hard and heavy.

 

But they are all very harmonious, and the Ventures play them very well.

 

From the first category (soft and gentle) I want to mention tracks # 9 and 11:

 

* Kibou No Wadachi

* Anata Dake Wo - Summer heartbreak

 

From the second category (hard and heavy) I want to mention tracks # 4 and 7:

 

* Shulaba La Bamba

* 01 Messenger

 

This is not the first time the Ventures have played Japanese material.

 

In 1967, they recorded an album entitled Pops in Japan.

 

The following year, they recorded a follow-up entitled Pops in Japan no. 2.

 

Both albums were of course released on vinyl.

 

In 1999, when the CD had introduced, these two albums were released on a CD by the British company See For Miles.

 

This tribute to Southern All Stars is a great album. In my opinion, it is one of the best albums ever made by the Ventures.

 

I want to go all the way to the top with this product. I think it deserves a rating of five stars (100 percent).

 

*****

The Ventures Play

Southern All Stars

(Released on a CD in 2009)

(16 tracks)

*****