Search - Ventures :: Guitar Freakout / Wild Things

Partly raveup, partly cheese, & we love em...

DJ Rix | NJ USA | 02/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I wonder how many garage band guitarists learned these songs by listening to these two albums? Well, thanks be to the Japanese for conferring god-like status upon the Ventures; otherwise these albums may never have found their way back into print in America. Like all Ventures albums, these two are partly cheese & partly raveup, featuring great songs, not-so-great songs & the interchangeble Ventures originals we enjoy so much (they often recycled them with new titles). Clean, professional, good background music for writers & artists. Of course, the real game is still in collecting the Ventures on vinyl. Highly recommended: Ventures in Space, also available on CD.

Bob Rixon, WFMU"

Guitar Freekout/ Wild Things

Christopher Covais | Long Island | 12/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Ventures album is one of those albums that features them covering the hits of the day. Well all Ventures albums are superb, when they do covers very similar to the original version, it can get tiring. But because of the choice of material here, and the arrangements of the songs on the album, The Ventures made Guitar Freakout an extraudinary album! Same deal with Wild Things.



Guitar Freakout:

Released in 1967, the album starts off with Paul Revere & The Raiders' Good Thing. They give good treatment to the song. It is more polished than the original, and is well put together. The Ventures' original, High & Dry, and In The Shadows Of Love are all unique in their own right. And songs that you wouldnt think that would work done in an instrumental setting, Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron, do work here. And an awesome version of Young Holt Unlimited's Wack Wack is amazing! These guys trade solos like real jazz musicians. The true standout on the album is the title track, Guitar Freakout. It's perhaps the best song on the album. The only drawback, I'm A Believer. The original was kind of corny to begin with, and to do it over just wasnt a great idea. Other than that, this album was a great success, in my opinion.



Wild Things:

This album has a lot of covers that are now, mostly forgotten. The real standout on this album is The Lovin' Spoonful's Summer In The City. Another highlight is The Tijuana Brass's The Work Song. They change up the arrangements alittle on this piece. Overall, this was another great album. Not as good as Guitar Freakout, but definately a nice listen!



This was a wonderful CD. If you like The Ventures you'll love this Cd. It is not surf music. This is rock and roll! The bonus tracks are worth the purchase too. Kickstand and Classical Gas are very good songs!"

Finally found it!

CastletonTrader | Northern NY | 08/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the 70s I would play this album and my young kids would go nuts dancing to Guitar Freakout. I've been looking for this for years to give to them now that they are grown and I finally found it. We still love it as much as before."