Walk-Don't Run: The Best Of The Ventures

Walk-Don't Run: The Best Of is a carefully selected cross section of big hits by the most popular instrumental rock band in the world, and the 26th most successful recording act in history, starting in chronological order from their first American smash single, 1959's "Walk Don't Run," to their last, 1969's "Hawaii Five-O." Other classic 'Venturisms' include the the surf stunner "Ram-Bunk-Shush", the Latin sounding "Perfidia", "Diamond Head" (a giant hit in Japan) and a rollicking version of "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" which appeared on their excellent "Live In Japan" album. The CD compilation even features some of the Venture's cover tracks -- check out the unusual "Road Runner". You also get, for the first time in any form, "Dick Tracy", a song the group wrote for a pilot TV series which never took off. Walk-Don't Run: The Best Of is a great introduction to the instrumental guitar scene which flourished in the early '60s.