The Ventures

The most popular and influential rock instrumental combo of their day, the Ventures pioneered a sound that anticipated surf music with their emphasis on clean guitar twang and a precise rhythm section that added a punchy kick to their melodies. The group's trademark style proved to be surprisingly adaptable, and they released dozens of thematically programmed albums in the 1960s and '70s, as well as scoring hit singles such as "Walk Don't Run" and "Hawaii Five-O." The 1990 collection Walk Don't Run: The Best of the Ventures is a superb introduction to their catalog, featuring 25 tracks from their '60s releases, while Live in Japan '65 is an outstanding document of their live show, and 1963's The Ventures Play Telstar, The Lonely Bull is an archetypal example of their albums from their classic era.