Their first wide-release single, "Walk, Don't Run" (1960), brought international fame to the group, and is often cited as one of the top songs ever recorded for guitar. In the 1960s and early 1970s, 38 of the band's albums charted in the US, ranking them as the 6th best album chart performer during the 1960s, and the band had 14 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. With over 100 million records sold, the Ventures are the best-selling instrumental band of all time.
The Ventures have had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. The band was among the first to employ and popularize fuzz and flanging guitar effects, concept albums, and twelve-string guitars in rock music. Their instrumental virtuosity, innovation, and unique sound influenced many musicians and bands, earning the group the moniker "The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands". Their recording of "Walk, Don't Run" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its lasting impact, and in 2008 the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Don Wilson and Bob Bogle first met in 1958, when Bogle was looking to buy a car from a used car dealership in Seattle owned by Wilson's father. Finding a common interest in guitars, the two decided to play together, while Wilson joined Bogle performing masonry work. They bought two used guitars in a pawn shop for about $10 each. Initially calling themselves the Versatones, the duo played small clubs, beer bars, and private parties throughout the Pacific Northwest. Wilson played rhythm guitar, Bogle lead. When they went to register the band name, they found that it was already taken. Disappointed, they cast about for an appropriate name. Wilson's mother suggested the name "The Ventures", upon which they eventually agreed in 1959.
During their first years (1958–1961), the Ventures played Fender guitars (a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster and a Precision Bass) for both their live performances and their recording sessions. These instruments are prominently visible on the covers of two early albums: The Ventures and The Colorful Ventures. From 1962 to 1963 they used two Jazzmasters with a Precision Bass, shown on the album cover of "Bobby Vee meets The Ventures". Then in early 1963, California guitar manufacturer Mosrite re-branded their uniquely styled, futuristic-looking Mark 1 electric guitar model for the Ventures by applying decals that stated "The Ventures Model" on the headstock. The band adopted these guitars (which included a bass model) and first used them on The Ventures in Space (1963), one of their most influential albums because of the unique, otherworldly guitar sounds it contained. From 1963 through 1968, a statement on their album covers announced that the Ventures used Mosrite guitars "exclusively" (the Ventures and designer Semie Moseley were partners in the distribution of these instruments). After the expiration of their contract with Moseley, the Ventures returned to playing mainly Fender guitars. Only rarely have they used Mosrite guitars since that contract ended.
In the mid-1990s, Fender issued a limited edition Ventures Signature Series of guitars consisting of a Jazzmaster, a Stratocaster, and a Fender Jazz Bass, all with specifications determined by the band.
Aria Guitars and Wilson Brothers Guitars have subsequently issued Ventures Signature Model instruments. The Wilson Brothers guitar, in particular, is closely modeled physically on the original Mosrite design.
The Ventures pioneered the use of special effects on such songs as "The 2000 Pound Bee", recorded in late 1962, in which lead guitarist Nokie Edwards employed a fuzz pedal. Edwards' use of "fuzz tone" predated the "King of Fuzz Guitar", Davie Allan of The Arrows, by at least three years. In addition, Edwards was among the first to use the twelve-string guitar in rock. The 1964 The Ventures In Space album was a primer in the use of special guitar effects, and made pioneering use of 'reverse-tracking'. The Ventures In Space, because of its ethereal space-like effects, was deemed an influence on the later 1960s San Francisco psychedelic generation, as well as being cited as a favorite by Keith Moon of the Who.
The band's cover of the Tornados' "Telstar" (released in January 1963) featured one of the first instances of flanging on a pop record. The song "Silver Bells" on The Ventures' Christmas Album, released in November 1965, has one of the first recorded uses of a talk box as a musical effect, voiced by Red Rhodes.
The Ventures have had an influence on many musicians, both professional and amateur. Their instructional album, Play Guitar with the Ventures, was the first such record to chart on the Billboard Top LPs list, peaking at No. 96, and taught thousands of budding guitarists how to play the guitar. George Harrison stated in a Guitar Player interview that he preferred the American guitar sound of the Ventures to British contemporaries. When asked to name the most influential rock guitar solos, Joe Walsh said he would have to include the entire song "Walk, Don't Run" because it changed so many guitar players' lives. John Fogerty, during his introduction of the Ventures at their Hall of Fame induction, said that it "kicked open a whole movement in rock and roll... The sound of it became 'surf music' and the audacity of it empowered guitarists everywhere." Stephen Stills told Ventures guitarist Don Wilson that he learned to play on Ventures records. Jeff Baxter and Gene Simmons were early members of the Ventures Fan Club. Carl Wilson called the Ventures a major influence on his early guitar playing, stating that the Beach Boys had learned to play all of their songs by ear.
Bob Bogle lived in Vancouver, Washington, for years and died there on June 14, 2009, of non-Hodgkin lymphoma; he was 75.
Nokie Edwards died on March 12, 2018, due to complications after hip surgery. He was 82.
Gerry McGee died on October 12, 2019, after having a heart attack and collapsing onstage four days earlier in Japan. He was 81.
Don Wilson continued to record with the band, but retired from touring at the end of 2015. He died of natural causes on January 22, 2022, at the age of 88.
Mel Taylor died on August 11, 1996, of cancer, at the age of 62. He was diagnosed two weeks before his death.
Caravan
The Ventures Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The myst'ry of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sand so I may keep
The mem'ry of our caravan
You are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to the magic charms
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
The lyrics of The Ventures' song "Caravan" depicts a romantic scene in the desert, where the night sky gleams with stars and the "myst'ry" of their fading light is a vivid metaphor for the fleeting nature of love. The singer asks his partner to sleep upon his shoulder as they traverse the sand, creating a memory that will last beyond their journey. The sense of excitement and anticipation is palpable as the singer revels in their mutual attraction, feeling the "magic charms" of the desert enveloping them. The intimacy of the moment is punctuated by the realization that his "dream of love" is finally coming true, solidifying the bond between the two of them within a space that is both vast and intimate.
While the song was originally instrumental by the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Ventures' version features lyrics that were written by Irving Mills, a prominent music publisher and lyricist. Mills reportedly drew inspiration from his experiences of traveling through the deserts of the Middle East and North Africa, capturing the sensory experience of being immersed in the vast, surreal landscape. Furthermore, the song's incorporation of Middle Eastern instrumentation and melodies has been noted as being particularly innovative and influential for its time, helping to popularize the use of non-Western musical elements in American popular music.
Some interesting facts about "Caravan" include the fact that the song was first recorded in 1936 and has since been covered by countless artists, including Van Morrison, Wes Montgomery, and Carlos Santana. Additionally, the Ventures' rendition was featured in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction, where it was used in a memorable scene of two hitmen driving to complete a job. The song played a significant role in establishing the Ventures' reputation as innovative instrumentalists who pushed the boundaries of popular music, and remains a key example of their unique style to this day.
Chords: Am, Em, Am, Em, Am,Em, Am,Em, Am,Em, Am,Em, Am,Em, Am,Em, Am G F, Em, Am
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The bright stars in the night sky above are so fascinating to look at.
The myst'ry of their fading light
The way the stars appear to gradually fade away into the darkness is an intriguing mystery.
That shines upon our caravan
The light from the stars is shining down on our caravan, lighting our path across the desert.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
As we travel slowly through the night, I want you to rest your head on my shoulder and sleep.
Across the sand so I may keep
As we journey through the desert, I want to hold you close and keep you safe.
The mem'ry of our caravan
I want to remember this moment forever, as we ride together through the night in our caravan.
This is so exciting
I am filled with excitement and joy at this adventure we are sharing together.
You are so inviting
You are warm and welcoming, and I feel so fortunate to be sharing this experience with you.
Resting in my arms
You are resting comfortably and securely in my embrace.
As I thrill to the magic charms
I am enchanted by your presence and find myself captivated by your every move and word.
Of you beside me here beneath the blue
In this beautiful desert setting with the blue sky above us, I couldn't ask for a better companion to share this with.
My dream of love is coming true
Being with you in this moment feels like a dream come true, and I am grateful for this opportunity to be together.
Within our desert caravan
As we travel together through the desert, we are building a special bond and shared memories that we will always cherish.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RACHEL MARY BERKELEY PORTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nievesgonzalez6446
soy fan de los venturosos de toda la vida y mi disco favorito es el de navidad y tube la oportunidad de escucharlos en vivo hace como cuarenta y tres años en la Cd. de Mexico.
@MelosAntropon
And you'll notice, friends: No flash pots, no smoke bombs, no weird face makeup. Just fantastic musicians doing their thing. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame notwithstanding, The Ventures have never gotten the credit they truly deserve, IMHO.
@TrainsofCLFDUTandmore
Right on!
@luisgaitan7567
El mejor grupo de música instrumental de todos los tiempos, muy bueno, de una calidad extraordinaria.
@sallietannehill2613
Just plain ol good musicianship. Cut my teeth listening to these guys and they are still as great today. Big-Time musical inspiration.
@tightpythonboot
I love the polite hand shaking at the end. Amazing cultural phenomenon viewed from both audience and performers' perspective.
@craighildebrand7256
After Mell Taylor's death his son took over his place with the Ventures. He drums just like his dad. Possibly the best drummer ever!!!
@alecfed
Leon Taylor. Saw him with Mel and Nokie in, I think, 2012. Great drummer. They did Caravan, Mel would have been proud.
@celmardida
Quel groupe fantastique ! Merci à vous.
@whity72
Great musicians, high level playing and entertaining, thanks a lot for upping!