The Ventures - Honky Tonk (1960)

From Walk Don't Run (1960)

[pierrebenoit-jq]

There will never be any one like the Ventures again, except maybe for Los straitjackets. R.I.P. Gentlemen...

[dennishipsley]

There was a garage band in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. that sounded just like these guys called The Continentals. Lead guitarist was a guy named Mike Vetro who was excellent. Bass player was Mike Day who played a Gibson EB-3 bass instead of a Fender. Brent Leckie played drums on a beautiful set of red sparkle Ludwig drums and Ed McClung was rythm. Great band in the early to mid 60's.

[georgematthews]

Never have cared for many covers, but this is one of the best!!😊

[elbandido]

I never heard this song before from the ventures truly another soothing rockin roll jam

[ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

i bought 3 of their greatest hit CD`S - and 1 for the car and 1 i gave away - and 1 for home ! and listen to them on youtube !

[andyrock]

This is the first version I heard and my fav from a tape I bought in truck driver school

[robertdunham]

This and Sandy Nelsons...Let there be drums.. were my first albums..

[mosrite]

Re: album cover. I recall some interview Bob /Don had done in Dutch radio??? where Don laughed about how they got the recording guys to pose on cover. Not sure about the Gibson where it came from. As stated in this thread, Ventures first used all fenders early 60s, then switched to Mosrite mid 60s. Later returned to fenders. Towards end they switched to their Wilson models. Interesting history.

[jensenbell]

I respect your knowledge and will continue to research... I know one thing for sure... I love this 1960 disc with all my heart.

[GarySanOly]

The funny thing about this album cover, not one of the people shown in the photo are The Ventures they were touring at the time; the guys on this album cover are varied employees of Liberty Records, also misleading is the Gibson ES-355 in the picture The Ventures used all Fender equipment at the time.

[jasonooi]

This is the version that I liked best, the original! Am also trying it out on my guitar. Tks .

[weinerschnitzelrock]

I was fooled. I always thought Bob Bogle played this, but now am informed.
Yes Nokie did a lot of the leads. In re-listening -- what you say in your post makes very good sense. Credit to Bob Bogle shuffling the talent deck to get the sound and give the V's "legs" to survive the "one hit wonder" stigma
of many instrumental groups. (Bob sounds wonderful on the pieces he plays).

[bruiser]

It was Bill Doggett who did the original. Billy Butler on guitar.

[woodywoodward]

I still have this one, I wore it out.

[dirtyduck]

i have this album and a few others in mint condition

[jensenbell]

@minsytown - with respect - I got my info from Bob Bogle when discussing this record with him more than once in the 90s. So I guess the two members' memories differ... rut-roh! :-)

[GarySanOly]

@Carlos45703030; I like this version best; I heard Don Wilson play lead on this in Japan too, a little different. Don told me he and Bob Bogle used to switch off on lead on this song and most others but Don did most of the vocals, this was when they were playing more Rockabilly and before Nokie.  This was around 1958-9 they were performing as a duet before they were known as The Ventures. They added George Babbitt as their drummer.  He left went to UW and and went on and retired as a 4 Star General from the USAF.  I guess it could be said all were successful in their own rights.

[ronaldt]

Not on Greatest Hits cd for some reason. Played a lot on eight track way back then!!!

[beyondobscure]

This sounds exactly like "Kansas City".

[kennithtubbs]

This use it kiss my ass if you can't play this