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.
Uptight
The Ventures Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight
I'm a poorman's son, from across the railroad tracks
The only shirt I own is hangin' on my back
But I'm the envy of every single guy
Since I'm the apple of my girl's eye
When we go out stepping on the town for a while
My money's low and my suit's out of style
Out of sight because my heart is true
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, out of sight
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
I'm a pearl of a girl, I guess that's what you might say
I guess her folks brought her up that way
The right side of the tracks, she was born and raised
In a great big old house, full of butlers and maids
No one is better than I, I know I'm just an average guy
No football hero or smooth Don Juan
Got empty pockets, you see I'm a poorman's son
She says give her the things that money can buy
But I'll never, never make my baby cry
And it's all right, what I can't do
Out of sight because my heart is true
She says baby ev'rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, ah ah ah ah
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
The Ventures' song "Uptight" is a story of two people from different backgrounds, who are in love with each other. The singer is the "poor man's son from across the railroad tracks" who owns only one shirt and has no money. However, his girlfriend sees him as the "apple of her eye" and considers him better than anyone else. She comes from a wealthy family and has been brought up in a big house with butlers and maids. Despite their different backgrounds, they are happy together and enjoy going out on the town, even though they don't have much money.
The lyrics suggest that money can't buy everything, and that true love is more important than material possessions. The singer may not be able to give his girlfriend the things that money can buy, but he promises to never make her cry. Despite his lack of wealth, he is content because he knows that his heart is true.
Overall, "Uptight" is an optimistic and upbeat song that celebrates love, happiness, and contentment. It suggests that it's possible to be happy and fulfilled even if you don't have much in material terms.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, everything is all right, uptight, out of sight
Despite my financial situation and lack of nice clothes, my girl still loves me and makes me feel on top of the world
I'm a poorman's son, from across the railroad tracks
I come from a poor family and grew up in a working-class area
The only shirt I own is hangin' on my back
I have very few clothes to my name
But I'm the envy of every single guy Since I'm the apple of my girl's eye
Despite my lack of material possessions, I feel lucky to have the love of my girl and know that other guys wish they were in my shoes
When we go out stepping on the town for a while My money's low and my suit's out of style
When we go out together, I may not have a lot of money or a fancy suit, but we still have a good time
But it's all right if my clothes aren't new Out of sight because my heart is true
I don't need new clothes or material possessions to be happy as long as I have the love of my girl
She says baby everything is alright, uptight, out of sight
My girl reminds me that everything is okay and that we have a good relationship
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
My girl tells me that everything is even better than okay, it's 'clean out of sight' which means it's really great
I'm a pearl of a girl, I guess that's what you might say
My girl is a beautiful and valuable person, and I'm lucky to have her
I guess her folks brought her up that way
My girl was raised by wealthy parents, which is how she became used to a lavish lifestyle
The right side of the tracks, she was born and raised
My girl grew up in an affluent neighborhood
In a great big old house, full of butlers and maids
My girl grew up in a mansion with many servants
No one is better than I, I know I'm just an average guy
Despite my girlfriend's background, she still sees me as worthy of her love and affection
No football hero or smooth Don Juan
I'm not particularly athletic or suave
Got empty pockets, you see I'm a poorman's son
Despite my girlfriend's wealth, I grew up very poor and don't have a lot of money
She says give her the things that money can buy
Although my girlfriend loves me, she still desires the material things that wealth can bring
But I'll never, never make my baby cry
I will do whatever it takes to make sure my girlfriend is happy and never sad
And it's all right, what I can't do Out of sight because my heart is true
Even though I can't give my girlfriend everything she wants, as long as we have each other, everything is fine
Baby ev'rything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
My girlfriend reassures me again that everything is good between us and even better when we're together
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
We continue to be happy and our relationship is strong
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, ah ah ah ah
The fact that we are in love and have each other makes everything okay
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
Our love continues to be strong and everything is perfect between us
Baby, everything is alright, uptight, clean out of sight
We continue to be happy and our relationship is strong
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HENRY COSBY, STEVIE WONDER, SYLVIA MOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind