The sub-genre of guitar instrumental hits is a fascinating musical strand of rock n roll, with Duane Eddy representing its primary high-profile chart vanguard, but it was with groups like The Ventures in the USA and The Shadows in the UK that it expanded in the first years of the 60s to inspire a generation of teenagers to buy a guitar and learn to play the hits indeed, the Ventures were later afforded the occasional accolade of being The Band that Launched a Thousand Bands.

They formed in Seattle in 1958, playing local gigs, and heard Walk Don't Run as a solo finger-style piece on a 1958 Chet Atkins album their decision to adapt it was an inspired one. It was released on the small Dolton label on the west coast, owned by country star Bonnie Guitar, and sold a million copies reaching No. 2. They went on to become one of the industry's most longest-running and successful groups worldwide, building an especially strong following in Japan.

This 64-track collection (some of their records were legendarily short) is a comprehensive overview of the initial era of the career, comprising all their A & B sides during the period, and the complete content of their first four albums, Walk Don't Run, The Ventures, Another Smash and The Colorful Ventures, plus selected tracks from their 1962 LP Twist With The Ventures. It is therefore a comprehensive look at their formative career, naturally including classics like Walk Dont Run, Perfidia, Ram-Bunk-Shush and Lullaby Of The Leaves.

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The Twangin' formula is sublime.  - IH (Mojo)