Famous and popular songs by The Ventures
Let me introduce some songs by The Ventures, a band that could be called the pioneers of American surf music.
Their slightly laid-back electric sound really conveys the relaxed atmosphere of the seaside.
They’re a legendary band said to have influenced the music scene that followed, on par with The Beatles.
Their signature technique is the tremolo gliss-down—sliding while applying tremolo—which is famous from tracks like “Diamond Head.” In Japan, this technique is often nicknamed “tekete-ke.”
However, it’s also said that the first to use this technique was Dick Dale, another pioneer of surf music.
Now, let The Ventures’ tunes make you feel the ocean.
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The Ventures’ classic and popular songs (21–30)
Ellie My LoveThe Ventures
Known as Japanophiles and hugely influential in the Japanese music scene, The Ventures here take on “Itoshi no Ellie.” Even without vocals, the guitar-driven version of this song is really cool, isn’t it? The Ventures’ sound will continue to shine forever, no matter how many decades pass.
PipelineThe Ventures
A signature song by The Ventures, an instrumental band that still energetically tours Japan.
In Japan, it’s known for its “teke-teke” style—guitar picking with a glide down—that you can fully enjoy in this track.
You can also appreciate the band’s appeal, which has had a major influence on Japanese musicians such as Yuzo Kayama and Yuko Nagisa.
Walk, Don’t RunThe Ventures
A cover song by an American guitar instrumental band that has long enjoyed immense popularity in Japan, and one of their signature classics.
It is also one of the earliest surf rock masterpieces to hit the U.S.
Billboard charts.
It’s performed at virtually every live show.
Diamond Head ~ PipelineThe Ventures
The Ventures, a representative band of guitar instrumentals and surf rock, sparked a huge craze in Japan during the Showa era.
For guitarists, a song where the guitar is pushed this far to the forefront is impossible to ignore.
The tightly chopped phrases and tones, the nuanced use of muting and dynamic touch—these are top-tier techniques, and the subtlety they create makes this song exceptionally satisfying.
Diamond HeadThe Ventures
The Ventures’ “Diamond Head,” which has influenced many modern artists, refers to the Diamond Head volcano in Hawaii.
This spot is known as a popular landmark, and listening to the song evokes images of Hawaii’s beautiful ocean and the majestic Diamond Head.
Slaughter on Tenth AvenueThe Ventures
Surprisingly, the original is an insert song from the musical On Your Toes (1936).
Included on the album Knock Me Out! and released as a single, it reached No.
35 on the U.S.
charts.
It starts with a striking intro, then shifts into a lively guitar-driven melody, culminating in a humorous interlude—a structure that makes it far more upbeat than the title suggests.
A track that showcases their exceptional arranging skills.
Blue ChateauThe Ventures
You can clearly see that Group Sounds were greatly influenced by The Ventures.
The boom is said to have started with The Ventures’ visit to Japan, but up through the early Blue Comets period, the sound still seems to have been fairly restrained.
After that, they imitated The Ventures’ subtle way of handling notes.