Last month, we featured classic rock instrumentals "Wild Weekend" by the Rockin' Rebels and "Telstar" by the Tornados. We're returning to the Hackwhacker Time Machine today for the The Ventures' 1960 instrumental hit "Walk, Don't Run." As contemporaries with the early Beach Boys, Dick Dale, and The Chantays, The Ventures epitomized "surf" music from California, and were enormously successful, touring worldwide.
R.I.P. Nole "Nokie" Edwards -- original member and guitarist for the most successful instrumental rock band of all time, The Ventures -- who passed away on March 12 at the age of 82. Edwards had started as the bassist for the band but quickly became its lead guitar player. The Ventures pioneered special effects like the "fuzz tone" and reverse tracking, and also are credited with developing the first rock "concept album" (1961's "Colorful Ventures"). Their guitar style has influenced the likes of George Harrison, John Fogarty and Stephen Stills. While not initially considering themselves a "surf rock" group, they were also heavy influences on surf rock bands like The Surfaris ("Wipe Out"), The Chantays ("Pipeline") and, of course, the Beach Boys. Here's their first and biggest hit, "Walk, Don't Run" (original 1960 version). Note The Ventures' characteristic early stereophonic style of using the extreme right or left channels for the instruments -- in this case, drums, base and rhythm guitar on the left, lead guitar on the right. Hope you enjoy.
