The Ventures/The Fabulous Wailers

This album celebrates the 50th anniversaries of two bands that formed in Tacoma and continue to record and perform to this day – an amazing statement when considering how many bands have come and gone since 1959.

“Two Car Garage” finds the Ventures and Fabulous Wailers re-doing songs they previously recorded. At times members of one band join the other on the new recording.

This album brings up things about the two groups that may not normally come to mind. While the Ventures are the most successful instrumental rock group of all time, the Wailers had some instrumentals as well, such as “Tall Cool One.”

It begins with “I Hear You Knockin’ Keep a Knockin,’” a Wailers tune. It is easy to hear the basic foundation of rock ‘n roll here, as well as a strong Chuck Berry influence in Bob Spaulding’s guitar solo.

The Ventures’ “Surf Rider” reminds us that saxophone is not too prominent in rock music anymore. Dino Saldo’s sax playing blends well with the guitar parts. Sax really takes control on the band’s next tune, “Rebel-Rouser.”

“Wailin’” by the Wailers is a rollicking number. The sax solo is icing on the cake.

When the Wailers play “Out Of Our Tree,” the riff sounds similar to “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones. The swagger in the vocals also recalls Mick Jagger on “Off Of My Cloud,” a good reminder of how much influence these guys had on the British Invasion bands.

A bit of country influence can be heard in the guitar solo and riff of the Ventures’ “Let’s Go.”

The Ventures play “Tequila.” One of the guitar lines at the beginning sounds like the original version, while the other is doing something different, a nice effort at doing something different with an old classic. Saldo gets a great sound out of his saxophone. While the Ventures are known as a surf guitar band, it is good to listen to how important sax can be to their overall sound.

“Needles And Pins” was written by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche. Don Wilson of the Ventures and Kent Morrill of the Wailers trade off on lead vocals. This is great pop/rock tune.

Hearing Morrill tickling the ivories on the Wailers’ “Beat Guitar” is a real treat. Tenor saxophone by Kim Eggers adds a nice touch.

“California Sun” was not written by the Ventures and many bands recorded it, but it is a perfect example of the sound they are known for around the world.

“Wipe Out” was written by the Surfaris, a Southern California group from the early 1960s. Countless bands have played it, but the Ventures are probably more associated with it than anyone else by this point. This is an obligatory number for a retrospective collection like this. Just as saxophone shines on some of their tunes, here Leon Taylor’s drumming rises to the occasion, getting powerful when called for and being restrained when guitars are pushed up in the mix.

The Wailers close things out with a new rendition of “Louie, Louie,” a version that sounds modern while still capturing that youthful energy the song had 50 years ago.

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