Kick Out

“Kick Out” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more complex musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. With this one I tried to get a feel similar to the early 60’s style of surf rock and the Ventures.

Manchurian Beat

“Manchurian Beat” is a guitar rock instrumental that is based on a Russian folk tune. While “Manchurian” is normally associated with China, the geographic region actually incorporates what is now both Russian and Chinese territory on the far eastern borders of both — bordering North Korea.

In 1963 an instrumental rock group called “The Sounds” from Finland released what appears to be the first version of this as the “B-side” to another track. Seriously. I don’t make this stuff up.

The Ventures regularly performed a derivative arrangement live and recorded it as well, but never released it as a “regular” single or album track.

My version is based on the original concept.

Après Surf

“Après Surf” is an original composition intended to be in the style of early 1960’s surf rock and the Ventures. It is a “slow dance” that imagines a peaceful beach scene after sunset, perhaps with a campfire.

Nokie Dokie

“Nokie Dokie” is an original instrumental, and a tribute to Ventures lead guitarist Nokie Edwards. The tune has a country swing feel, as I have always felt there were strong country underpinnings to Nokie’s wonderful style.

Maroc 7

Maroc 7 was a 1967 British thriller film starring Gene Barry, Elsa Martinelli, Leslie Phillips, Denholm Elliott and Cyd Charisse. The screenplay concerns an international jewel thief who hatches a plan to go to Morocco and steal a valuable artifact.

The music for the film was  composed by Paul Ferris, produced by Norrie Paramor and performed by the Shadows. The single of the main theme (with Bombay Duck as the “B-side”) reached #24 on the UK singles chart.

My arrangement is based on the original Shadows recording, but without the orchestral backing. I tried to imagine a setting that might have been performed by just the four members live.

Wild Child

“Wild Child” was originally a track in the Ventures 1966 album “Wild Things”. The album is notable in that the “filler” tracks written by the group are particularly good, and arguably superior to the “cover” songs.

“Wild Child” was prominently featured in The Wiseguy’s 1999 song Start the Commotion. The Wiseguy’s recording was used in a Mitsubishi television commercial, and in a promo for the Ally McBeal show.

My version is essentially a cover.

Wild Trip

“Wild Trip” was originally a track in the Ventures 1966 album “Wild Things”. The album is notable in that the “filler” tracks written by the group are particularly good, and arguably superior to the “cover” songs.

My version is a cover.

Gandy Dancer

“Gandy Dancer” was an “album” track on the Ventures 1962 album “Going to the Ventures Dance Party”. It was composed by rhythm guitarist Don Wilson and was actually a reworking of a tune called “Ventures Stomp” that the group recorded in 1961 but did not release. My version is a loose cover.

Gandy dancer is a slang term used for railroad workers in the United States.

Go Go Slow

“Go Go Slow” was a “filler” cut on the Ventures 1965 album, “Ventures A Go Go”. Songwriting credit is shared by all four members. My version is basically a cover, although I omitted the organ part that is in the original. Guitar purist, and all.

Sweet and Lovely

Sweet and Lovely” was written 1931, composed by Gus Arnheim, Charles N. Daniels, and Harry Tobias.

In 1962, the Ventures included a version on their album “Going to the Ventures Dance Party!” Their arrangement was based on Nino Tempo and April Stevens hot 100 hit from that same year, which bears very little resemblance to the jazz standard recorded by Les Paul and Ella Fitzgerald.

My version was inspired by the Ventures approach.

Taboo

“Taboo” was composed by Cuban singer and composer  (1910–1981) Margarita Lecuona, a cousin of Ernesto. It has been recorded many times, primarily by singers and big bands.

However, there are also rock versions by the Ventures and a Belgian guitar-rock group , the Jokers.

These inspired by arrangement.

Damaged Goods

“Damaged Goods” was the “B-Side” to the Ventures 1963 single “Ninth Wave”. It was never released on an album. It has a rather interesting story (I love interesting stories):

According to the book “Walk Don’t Run: the Story of the Ventures”, the Ventures were commissioned to provide the score for a movie entitled “Damaged Goods”. The group believed it was to be a remake of a 1954 action film, “Forbidden Cargo”,  about smuggling on the high seas. They renamed and re-recorded a previously unreleased track to be the title theme. Song writing credit was given to Bob Bogle’s wife Carol Bedford.

However, when the film was released, it turned out to be a remake of a 1937 film titled “Forbidden Desire” which was about a popular high-school athlete who contracts venereal disease from a prostitute.  Oopsie.

Needless to say the group was none too pleased about this and thus never promoted the track, which is actually pretty good.

My arrangement is based on the original.

Making the Drop

“Making the Drop” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more complex musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. With this one I tried to get a feel similar to the early 60’s style of surf rock and the Ventures.

“Making the Drop” is surf lingo for catching a wave and riding on its lower part.

Everyone is from Somewhere

“Everyone is from Somewhere” is another original instrumental composition in which I try to combine the feel of 60’s instrumental guitar rock with a somewhat more complex musical and harmonic language than was typical for that genre. With this one there is a sort of “folk rock meets the Ventures” feel.