Live In Japan '65
Recorded at the peak of the band's '60s popularity, this album is a collection of previously unreleased live tracks from Japan, where the Ventures have been stars for nearly 40 years; instrumental rock transcends every language barrier. The 29 songs collected here represent a virtual live greatest-hits package, cut on ancient, Buddy Holly-vintage three-track tape machines, including: "Caravan," "Pipeline," "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" and "Journey to the Stars." A cover of the Searchers' version of Jackie DeShannon's "When You Walk in the Room" is a generous tip of the hat to the British invasion groups who all but buried surf music in the mid-'60s. Fun, lo-fi and best of all--live Ventures!--Dave Provost