The Ventures- Underground Fire

DSCN2365I bought this at the last Infinite Record show at the Hilton.  I think it was $5 but can not remember.  Could have been less.  I am on the fence about going to the next show this Sunday at the Southwest Freeway Hilton.  I still have a backlog of  records I have yet to listen to.  If I can get a list of things I am looking for together, then I may go.the_ventures2

This was the first album after the departure of guitarist Nokie Edwards in 1968 and the arrival of Gerry McGee.  Released in 1969, it differs from their early 60’s trademark surf twang.  Shortly thereafter, the band’s popularity would wane in the early 70’s.  They would have multiple resurgences over the years. They would also remain popular in Japan. Because the site is messing up the captions, above is the classic lineup while below is the lineup in the 90’s with McGee.

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The Ventures Web Page

This album features one side of orginals and one side of rock and roll covers.  In regards to the first side, the title track, “Embers in E Minor”, “Sea of Grass”, and “Country Funk and the Canned Heat”  are all pretty rocking.  The other side is ok.  Again, recreating contemporary tunes does not have the same appeal as their early 60’s material.  That is not to say it is bad though. There was nothing that really grabbed me as groundbreaking. Tracks include “Born to Be Wild”, “Sunshine of Your Love”, “Light My Fire”, ‘The Weight” and Arthur Brown’s “Fire”.DSCN2366

For a sample, here is “Embers in E Minor” from the originals side of the record. 138107_web_Preview-Ventures1-5-col-Color

Satisfactory record.

 

 

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