The Ventures are an American instrumental surf rock band formed in Tacoma, … Read Full Bio ↴The Ventures are an American instrumental surf rock band formed in Tacoma, Washington, in 1958, by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle. The band, which was a quartet for most of its existence, helped to popularize the electric guitar across the world during the 1960s. While their popularity in the United States waned in the 1970s, the group remains especially revered in Japan, where they toured regularly. The classic lineup of the band consisted of Wilson (rhythm guitar), Bogle (initially lead guitar, later bass), Nokie Edwards (initially bass, later lead guitar), and Mel Taylor (drums).

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.

Santa Claus is Comin
The Ventures Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
I called on dear old Santa Claus
To see what I could see
He took me to his workshop
And told his plans to me, so

[Chorus]

You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He's making a list and checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
He sees you when you're sleepin'
He knows when you're a wake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town

With little tin horns and little toy drums
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is comin' to town
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
So! You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town

Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
You'd better write your letter now
And mail it right away
Because he's getting ready
His reindeer's and his sleigh. So

[Chorus]

With little tin horns and little toy drums
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is comin' to town
And curly head dolls that toddle and coo
Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee
They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree
So! You better watch out, you better not cry

Better not pout, I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is comin' to town

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Ventures' "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" describe a trip to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus and see his workshop. The singer warns children to be on their best behavior because Santa is making a list and checking it twice to determine who is deserving of gifts. The second verse lists several different kinds of toys that Santa will be bringing, including little tin horns, toy drums, curly head dolls, elephants, boats, and kiddie cars. The final verse reminds children that Santa is a busy man with millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day, so they must write their letters to him soon and mail them right away.

The overall message of the song is that Santa Claus is a benevolent figure who brings joy and happiness to children on Christmas day. The lyrics encourage children to be good and obedient so that they will be rewarded with presents from Santa. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it a popular tune for holiday celebrations and gatherings.

Line by Line Meaning

I just came back from a lovely trip along the Milky Way
The singer is implying that he's singing about something magical and exciting that is usually beyond the realm of reality, a trip to the Milky Way galaxy.

Stopped off at the North Pole to spend a holiday
The singer is trying to explain his adventure of travelling to the North Pole which is known as the home of Santa Claus.

I called on dear old Santa Claus, To see what I could see
The singer visited Santa Claus and he was looking for a surprise or something new and exciting.

He took me to his workshop, And told his plans to me, so
Santa Claus showed the singer his workshop and shared his plans with him about giving presents to all the deserving children.

You better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is comin' to town
The chorus simply conveys that Santa Claus is coming to town and children need to be good to receive presents from him.

He's making a list and checking it twice, Gonna find out who's naughty and nice, Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa Claus is keeping a list of children who are naughty and nice to decide who deserves presents on Christmas day.

He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake, He knows if you've been bad or good, So be good for goodness sake
Santa Claus has a magical ability to see and know everything about the children. Therefore, it is important to behave well and be good all year round to receive a reward.

With little tin horns and little toy drums, Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums, Santa Claus is comin' to town
The singer is describing an exciting sound of instruments and toys that children play with on Christmas day, as Santa Claus is visiting the town.

And curly head dolls that toddle and coo, Elephants, boats, and kiddie cars too, Santa Claus is comin' to town
The singer is describing various types of toys that children love to play with on Christmas day.

Then kids in Girl and Boy land will have a jubilee, They're gonna build a Toyland all around the Christmas tree, So! You better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I'm telling you why, Santa Claus is comin' to town
Children are going to have a great time and build a Toyland where they will be able to play and have fun on Christmas day as Santa Claus visits them.

Now Santa is a busy man, He has no time to play, He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day, You'd better write your letter now, And mail it right away, Because he's getting ready, His reindeer's and his sleigh. So
Santa Claus is a busy person who has to deliver presents to millions of children all over the world. Therefore, children are advised to write their letters to Santa Claus soon and post them quickly. He is preparing for the event with his fleet of reindeers and sleigh.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: John Coots, Haven Gillespie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS