Lullaby of Birdland

This is my instrumental guitar-rock cover of “Lullaby of Birdland”. It was composed in 1952 by British Jazz pianist, George Shearing as the theme for New York City jazz club, Birdland. I thought it might work in the style of the Ventures.

The Darkness Ends

“The Darkness Ends” is an original instrumental composition intended to sound similar to the style of the Shadows.

Filler Cut

“Filler Cut” is an original instrumental compositions intended to sound like the 12-bar instrumentals used to fill out the albums of groups like the Ventures — as well as many surf-rock groups and the Shadows as well.

Crazy

This is my instrumental cover of “Crazy”, which was written by Willie Nelson and a huge hit for Patsy Cline in 1962. As far as I can tell, neither the Ventures nor the Shadows recorded a version, even though it crossed over to the pop charts from country, and they certainly would have been aware of it.

My Heart Can’t Be Full

“My Heart Can’t Be Full” is an original instrumental composition intended to be similar to the style of the Shadows.

Boogie Bored

“Boogie Bored” is an original instrumental composition intended to be similar in style to 1960s surf-rock.

This Guy’s in Love

This is my instrumental cover of “This Guy’s in Love”, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was recorded and released by Herb Alpert in 1968. Although noted as a trumpet player and for the enormous success of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert’s vocal rendition earned him his first #1 hit single. Hank Marvin included an instrumental cover on his 1969 solo album.

Let’s Move On Together

“Let’s Move On Together” is an original instrumental composition intended to be similar to the country-style songs the Ventures did in the early 1960s. Nokie Edwards was a great country guitarist, and although the Ventures are not thought of as a “country” group, they recorded plenty of country material.

Take Five

This is my cover of the jazz classic, “Take Five”. It was composed by Saxophonist Paul Desmond for the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which recorded and released it on their landmark 1959 album, “Time Out”. When released as a single in 1961, it reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Easy Listening chart. In spite of it’s success, it was, as far as I can tell, never covered by either the Ventures or the Shadows, although Hank Marvin much later recorded the tune for his 1993 album Heartbeat. For my arrangement I tried to imagine how the Shadows might have done the song in the mid-1960s.

My Last Ride

“My Last Ride” is an original instrumental composition intended to be similar to the country-style songs the Ventures did in the early 1960s. Nokie Edwards was a great country guitarist, and although the Ventures are not thought of as a “country” group, they recorded plenty of country material.

Jessica (redux)

This is my new attempt at a cover of the Allman Brothers’ classic “Jessica”. My first attempt was back in 2014. It’s not so much that I play better now (though I like to think I do), but I definitely am better at recording. I could also mention that I find Dickie Bett’s playing to readily influence mine. It’s interesting how that works. There are many guitarists I admire greatly but their approach just doesn’t come easily to me: Nokie Edwards, Ritchie Blackmore, Duane Allman, chicken pickers like Johnny Hiland, etc. Then there are those like Dickie Betts, Larry Carlton and Hank Marvin, whom I can hear in my playing all the time.

Shufflin’

“Shufflin'” is an original instrumental composition intended to be similar in style to the early 1960s instrumental guitar rock groups like the Ventures.

Boxing Day Blues

“Boxing Day Blues” is an “original” 12-bar minor blues that borrows heavily from Miles Davis’ “All Blues”. The title is a simple reflection of when I wrote and recorded it – December 26th. Naming a blues is often little more than looking around for something going on at the moment. As usual, I played guitars and bass and used the computer to create the drum and organ parts. There is one unusual aspect to this track — each of the three on-screen parts took only one take.

Just Me Three

“Just Me Three” is an original instrumental in a “classic rock” style…specifically, a “power trio”.

Home

This is my cover of “Home (When Shadows Fall)”. It was written by Harry Clarkson, Geoffrey Clarkson and Peter Van Steeden in 1931. It has been recorded by many artists, including Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke and Paul McCartney. The Ventures included an instrumental version on their very first album “Walk Don’t Run” in 1960.