Review: The Ventures - Play The Greatest Surfin’ Hits Of All-Time

The timeless quality of this music always resonates. With The Ventures themselves re-recording it, the sound is not just better, but it's a testament to their enduring legacy. The clean, precise guitar licks, enhanced by today’s technology, breathe new life into the old. Except for one of the 18 tracks, recorded in 1981, all were re-recorded from 1996-2000, preserving the essence of the original compositions. 

From the first notes of “Walk Don't Run '64,” the power and clarity of the sound are undeniable. It bursts off the disc, grabbing your attention, and this energy carries through every track that follows, keeping you engaged and excited.

What other group could claim the title of defining surf-instrumental more than The Ventures? Their influence is undeniable, and their music is a proud part of the genre's history. After over 40 years, it's no surprise that they are the proud owners of several of these model surf-instro classics, a legacy we, as fans, can also take pride in. 

This, indeed, is the definitive surf instrumental collection. It does not get any better; each song gets the respect it deserves when the best instrumental band in the world pays tribute to each song.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

December 24, 2002

Tracks:

01. Walk- Don't Run '64 (Smith) - 2:28 

02. Penetration (Leonard) - 2:08 

03. Mr. Moto (Delvy/Johnson) - 2:07 

04. Out of Limits (Gordon) - 1:59 

05. Lonely Surfer (Nitzsche) - 3:30 

06. Baja (Hazlewood) - 2:35 

07. Let's Go (Duncan/Duncan) - 2:17 

08. Diamond Head (Hamilton) - 2:15 

09. Pipeline (Carman/Spickard) - 2:22 

10. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Rodgers) - 2:14 

11. Bombara (Biondi/Tran/Vehle/Weed/Weisman) - 2:15 

12. Hawaii Five-O (Stevens) - 1:47 

13. Surf Rider (Bogle/Wilson) - 2:24 

14. Ninth Wave (Bogle/Edwards/Wilson) - 2:23 

15. The Cruel Sea (Maxwell) - 2:27 

16. Surfin' and Spyin' (Caffey) - 2:18 

17. Perfidia (Dominguez/Leeds) - 2:09 

18. Wipe Out (Surfaris) - 3:52