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.
Ghost Riders in the Sky
The Ventures Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way,
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw,
A ploughin' through the ragged skies
And up a cloudy draw.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
The ghost herd in the sky.
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel,
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky,
For he saw the riders comin' hard
And he heard their mournful cry.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
Ghost riders in the sky.
Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked
With sweat,
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky,
On horses snortin' fire
As they ride on, hear their cry.
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
Ghost riders in the sky.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name,
"If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
A-try'ng to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies."
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o,
The ghost herd in the sky.
Ghost riders in the sky.
The song "Riders in the Sky" by The Ventures tells the tale of an old cowboy who rides alone on a dark and windy day. As he rests on a ridge, he sees a terrifying sight: a herd of red-eyed cows plowing through the skies. Their hooves are made of steel, and their horns are shiny and black. The cowboy experiences a bolt of fear when he realizes that the ghostly riders are coming hard, and he hears their mournful cry. The faces of the ghostly riders are gaunt, their clothing soaked with sweat. They ride on horses that "snort fire," always trying to catch the devil's herd across the endless skies.
When one of the ghost riders calls out to him and warns him to change his ways, the cowboy realizes that his soul is in danger of being lost to hell. The song creates a haunting scene, combining the Western symbol of the cowboy with the supernatural motif of ghostly riders. The message of the song suggests that one must always stay true to their values and not give in to temptation, as the cowboy in the song is warned that he will be forced to ride with the devil's herd if he does not.
Line by Line Meaning
An old cowpoke went riding out one dark and windy day,
A weathered cowboy went for a ride on a cloudy day with low visibility.
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way,
He paused and took a break on a hill while continuing his journey.
When all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw,
Suddenly, he witnessed a large group of ferocious, raging cattle with glowing eyes.
A ploughin' through the ragged skies
The cows were flying high above him, tearing through the rough, uneven clouds.
And up a cloudy draw.
The cows proceeded upwards towards a hazy, indistinct feature in the sky.
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves was made of steel,
The cattle's symbols were still blazing and their feet were as strong as metal.
Their horns wuz black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel,
The animals' horns were dark and polished, and he sensed their breath, hot and heavy.
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky,
He was seized with terror as they charged through the atmosphere with a deafening roar.
For he saw the riders comin' hard
He could see the riders galloping fiercely towards him.
And he heard their mournful cry.
He also heard their mournful screams and wails.
Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred and shirts all soaked With sweat,
The riders had a haggard, emaciated appearance with wet clothing and fuzzy vision.
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught them yet
The riders rode hard to catch the cattle but were unsuccessful so far.
'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky,
They must pursue the cattle eternally in the sky's vast and boundless region.
On horses snortin' fire As they ride on, hear their cry.
Their fiery horses snorted as they carried on, bellowing and bawling.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name,
As the riders ran past him, one of them called out his name.
"If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range,
"If you want to save your soul from being damned by riding with us,
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
you must change your ways now, or you will join us in our endless journey.
A-try'ng to catch the devil's herd Across these endless skies."
We are on a quest to capture the devil's cursed cattle in these boundless skies."
Yippee-yi-ay, yippee-yi-o, The ghost herd in the sky.
The presence of the supernatural cattle and their riders creates an eerie and haunting atmosphere in the sky.
Ghost riders in the sky.
The haunting cowboys and cattle continue their endless pursuit in the sky beyond, forever ghost riders in the sky.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Stanley Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackiegeritz5345
An old cowboy went ridin' out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed steers he saw
A ploughin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He saw the riders coming hard, heard their mournful cry
Yippie-i-ay Yippie-i-oh
Ghost riders in
Ghost riders in the sky
Yippie-i-ay (Yippie-i-ay)
Yippie-i-oh (Yippie-i-oh)
Ghost riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
They're ridin' hard to catch that herd but they ain't caught 'em yet
'Cause they've got to ride forever in the range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire. As they ride hard, hear them cry
Yippie-i-ay Yippie-i-oh
Ghost riders in
Ghost riders in the sky (in the sky)
Ghost riders in (the sky)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Hughie Edward Thomasson
@andrew7taylor
The main riff in this one sounds just like a western showdown soundtrack. Impeccable!
@retferwerbro330
It is
@VickyGeagan
Stan Jones 1948 real authentic western music. Latest version is the Marshall Tucker Band the outlaws version somewhere around 1977 -1978 or their about's.
@Johnny-F-
This version is a cheap redo.....The original is 10 times better.....see if you can find the original to compare.
@wistopnow
It was early 60's, I would spend Dad's quarters on the jukebox at the Carousel Restaurant after church on Sunday to hear this version of this song.
@brownro214
You should have been able to listen for quite a while on 25 cents.
@arinjoybasak8259
Listening to a song about cowboys and devils immediately after church... ironic, but nice.
@khaledsmash
sir you lived the best era, I envy you
@randykelley2376
I was fortunate enough to see the Ventures live at the Excalibur nightclub in Pocatello, Idaho in 1983 or 84. Seat near the stage. Unforgettable performance, which included this song
@rikster4740
Being one of Bobby Kriegers favvorite bands, the Doors were jamming this song at a rehersal. Jim Morrison started singing 'Riders on the Storm' and thus was the beginning of one of the best songs and albums ever. I think it's great that one awesome song is born of another. FYI, I loved the Ventures and Doors growing up.