The Third Volume Is The Charm!
Mike King | Taunton, MA United States | 05/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At long last, this collection includes the first single the Ventures ever recorded, "Cookies & Coke/The Real McCoy." In "Cookies & Coke," Don Wilson sings about a party where "the gals will bring some goodies, while the boys will bring the Coke." Those very tame lyrics have a much racier meaning in today's world! During pauses in the song "The Real McCoy," Don Wilson, imitating Walter Brennan, makes humorous remarks. The Ventures rerecorded that song (minus the quips), renamed it "The McCoy," and included it on their 1960 debut album. The single versions of "The Ninth Wave," "Blue Star" and "Lucille" include female vocal backings not found on their album versions. The previously unreleased "Adventures In Paradise" conjures up visions of hula dancers on a Hawaiian Island, with palm trees swaying in the breeze. "Little People" is the flipside of their rare 1973 single "Skylab." The tune features the use of synthesizers and a drum machine, and sounds nothing like their earlier songs. The rareness of the songs, combined with their stylistic diversity, makes this one of the most valuable Ventures collections ever released!"