T/S: Santo & Johnny vs. The Ventures

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Both excellent instrumental acts known primarily for one particular self-composed hit ("Sleepwalk" for S&J; "Walk Don't Run" for The Ventures), as well as a catalog of covers. I am torn.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Saturday, 19 August 2006 21:21 (nineteen years ago)

The Ventures'"Walk Don't Run" wasn't self-composed, it was a cover (I think jazz guitarist Johnny Smith did it originally? I forget now). Anyway, I'd go with the Ventures by default (meaning that I only have a handful of S&J singles, but a whole mess of Ventures albums, so I cain't judge).

― Rev. Hoodoo (Rev. Hoodoo), Saturday, 19 August 2006 21:31 (nineteen years ago)

Shit, you're absolutely right - it was Johnny Smith.

― Tiki Theater Xymposium (Bent Over at the Arclight), Saturday, 19 August 2006 23:19 (nineteen years ago)

Rev. Hoodoo, I love you

S&J for me

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Sunday, 20 August 2006 06:25 (nineteen years ago)

for those of us who have seen "Living For Kicks", Santo and Johnny have to win.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Sunday, 20 August 2006 11:39 (nineteen years ago)

for those of us who haven't, tho, The Ventures be teh bees knees

― tiit (tiit), Sunday, 20 August 2006 11:48 (nineteen years ago)

Both wonderful, but I prefer The Ventures. They *did* write (3-4 songs per album, usually), and holy crap, could they play. Check out 'Live in Japan 1965' (http://www.reverbcentral.com/reviews/v/ventures0900.html). Drummer Mel Taylor is an absolute monster on that album.

― Dan Heilman (The Deacon), Monday, 21 August 2006 17:37 (nineteen years ago)

I recently realized that the version of Pipeline I've known my whole life is The Ventures', and not The Chantays' original.

Santo & Johnny will always hold a special room in my heart for Sleepwalk.

With that, I think maybe The Safaris might've made a good candidate for a tough call. Wipeout is beyond iconic.

― Sir Dr. Rev. PappaWheelie Jr. II of The Third Kind (PappaWheelie 2), Monday, 21 August 2006 17:54 (nineteen years ago)

Well, I've never heard any S&J aside from the hit; but even so, I doubt that they could overcome my sentimental attachment to the Ventures. Telstar/The Lonely Bull was probably my first "favourite album" (at age 6-7-8) and also my first exposure to "Tequila" and "Green Onions" and other famous instrumentals. And (even tho they were 10 years out of date even then), those guitars (and the absence of recognizably HUMAN voices surrounding them) sounded so weird to me that, 30+ yrs later, I've never totally outgrown my infatuation with the damn things.

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

nine months pass...

Anyone care to drop comments on The Ventures' Pops in Japan alb? (the first one of that title, i.e.)

― t**t, Wednesday, 23 May 2007 14:51 (eighteen years ago)

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