Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA The Ventures - Knock Me Out
 | Three cool tracks are found in this Invasion/Go-Go period Ventures album. A little surf amid the fuzz. |
Picks: I Feel Fine, Love Potion No. 9, Tomorrow's Love, Oh, Pretty Woman, Mariner No. 4, When You Walk In The Room, Gone, Gone, Gone, Slaughter On Tenth Avenue, She's Not There, Lonely Girl, Bird Rocker, Sha La La
Track by Track Review
I Feel Fine Rock (Instrumental)
Beatles cover... next. It lacks the oomph of their original, and has no particular magnetism either.
Love Potion No. 9 Rock (Instrumental)
A sad cover of the Robins' aka the Coasters' hit. It just doesn't work without Richard Berry's bass voice.
Near Surf (Instrumental)
This is a really pretty song, often overlooked by those covering the lads. Only Eddie and the Surfbeats and the Fabulous Planktones have seen fit. Romantic feel, aquatic scenery, and a unique fluid melody line. It's not actually a Ventures original, but was written by Ron Story and issued by his band the Travelers.
Oh, Pretty Woman Rock (Instrumental)
Aside from the Holy Sisters Of The Gaga Dada, no one has cover Roy Orbison's glorious hit well. This is quite pedestrian.
Rock (Instrumental)
Launched on the success of "Telstar," this is a too-close imitation, but without the mean wall of sound from Joe Meek.
When You Walk In The Room Rock (Instrumental)
Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk In The Room" is a solid song requiring her earthy voice and country drawl. Fuzz guitar and all, this sorta works, but doesn't have the same drama and emotional intensity that her great recording does.
Rock (Instrumental)
Sorta like "Tequila" in a country store, "Gone, Gone, Gone" bounces along with a nice little piano, but is just not very interesting for very long. Too much of a jam.
Slaughter On Tenth Avenue Surf (Instrumental)
This is the original rock interpretation, and surf to boot. Its hot, powerful, dramatic, and downright infectious. Totally wonderful. This is remarkable, both for its adaptation to the surf idiom, and because of it's power. Wonderful.
She's Not There Rock (Instrumental)
The Zombies, covered instrumentally. Fuzz guitar and piano. Just OK. I'll take I Cosmonauti anytime over this pretentious track.
Rock (Instrumental)
Intense loud guitar whammy and twang in a slow format. This is really nice. Not surfy at all, but a fine adaptation.
Rock (Instrumental)
"Bird Rockers" is an organ and fuzz guitar number with an interesting melody line, but too much sameness throughout.
Sha La La Rock (Instrumental)
Jeepers - Spencer Davis Group, chorus and all. I don't think so.