Wildwood Flower

This is my instrumental cover of “Wildwood Flower”, which is an American folk song originally popularized by the Carter Family, beginning with their recording in 1928. The song is a variant of “I’ll Twine ‘Mid the Ringlets”, published in 1860 by composer Joseph Philbrick Webster, with lyrics attributed to Maud Irving. In Chet Atkins recorded and frequently performed “Wildwood Flower”, and the Ventures included a version on their a963 album “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”.

Get Back

This is my instrumental cover of “Get Back”. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon/McCartney, it was released as a single in 1969 and later as the closing track on the 1970 album, “Let It Be”. The single reached number one in numerous countries, including the USA and UK.

Cheap Phil on the Run

“Cheap Phil on the Run” is an original instrumental intended to evoke the feel of an early 1960s song used to “fill out” a Shadows album or serve as a “B-side”. Both the Ventures and Shadows discographies are full of tracks like this. In many, many cases, I actually prefer these tracks to the “featured” ones. By definition, they must be fairly simple tunes and use only the base group with no additional instruments or production.

One Step Each Day

“One Step Each Day” is an original instrumental in a 1980s type style, with some fusion as well as Hank Marvin influence.

I Walk the Line

This is my instrumental version of “I Walk the Line”, which was written by Johnny Cash and became his first #1 Country hit in 1956. Although it is something of Cash’ “signature” song, it has been covered by quite a few artists. The Ventures included a cover on their 1963 album, “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”.

San Antonio Rose

This is my cover of “San Antonio Rose”, which was written as an instrumental by Bob Willis in 1938 and became the signature song of Bob Willis and his Texas Playboys. The most successful recording was Bing Crosby’s, in 1940, of course with added lyrics. The Ventures included a somewhat “rocked-up” cover on their 1963 album, “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”. My arrangement turned out a bit more on the traditional country side of things.

Sharp Dressed Man

This is my instrumental cover of “Sharp Dressed Man”, which first appeared as a track on ZZ Top’s 1983 album, “Eliminator”. Song writing credit is shared by all three band members. I keep trying to challenge myself to work on and improve in various guitar styes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that ZZ Tops’ basic, blues based style is easy to pull off; I can assure you that it isn’t, and I need lots more practice with it.

What Is in Her Heart

“What Is in Her Heart” is an original instrumental ballad, influenced by the Shadows, Hank Marvin, and others.

Across the Sea of Space

“Across the Sea of Space” is an original instrumental intended to sound similar to one of my favorite guitar-rock sub-genres, “Space-Rock”. This style is exemplified by the Ventures 1964 album “Ventures in Space”, and features unusual chord changes and spacy sound effects.

Wabash Cannonball

This is my instrumental cover of “Wabash Cannonball”, an American folk song that describes the scenic beauty and predicaments of the Wabash Cannonball Express as it traveled on the Great Rock Island train route. Over many years, this popular song’s music has remained unchanged while the verses have been updated by song artists. One of the first successful recordings was by the Carter Family in 1932. The Ventures included an instrumental arrangement on their 1963 album, “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”.

Panhandle Rag

This is my cover of “Panhandle Rag”, which was written by Leon McAuliffe in the late 1940s. It was recorded by “Leon McAuliffe and his Western Swing Band” in 1949. It is considered something of a country “standard” has been recorded by countless artists, including the Ventures, who covered it on their 1963 album “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”.

When the Sun Comes Up Tomorrow

“When the Sun Comes Up Tomorrow” is an original instrumental similar in style to the “smooth jazz” from the late 1970s or early 1980s.

I Can’t Stop Loving You

This is my instrumental cover of “I Can’t Stop Loving You”, which was written in 1957 and released in 1958 by Don Gibson as the “B-side” to “Oh Lonesome Me”. The enormous popularity of both songs made it a 2-sided hit. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” has been recorded by countless artists. Perhaps the best know is Ray Charles’ version, which was a #1 hit in 1962. The Ventures included an instrumental cover on their 1963 album “The Ventures Play the Country Classics”.

Incheon Waterway” ( 인천 수로 )

“Incheon Waterway” ( 인천 수로 ) is an original instrumental intended to be similar to the style of the material the Ventures wrote and recorded in the early 1970s primarily for the Japanese market. The Ventures were enormously popular in Japan in the 1960s and 70s, outselling all other foreign artists there, including the Beatles.

A Fleeting Moment

“A Fleeting Moment” is an original instrumental intended to have a nostalgic feel. The music and performance were influence by Hank Marvin and Shadows, among others.