Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures

Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures is a 1963 cross-over rock and roll album that brings singer Bobby Vee together with The Ventures. It features the Ventures, an instrumental quartet.[3] Two tracks were Ventures instrumentals, apparently intended to showcase their guitar work unhindered by vocals.[4] It was promoted by touring along with Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets.[5]

Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 1, 1963
GenreRock and roll
Length29:32
LabelLiberty (LRP 3289/LST 7289)
ProducerSnuff Garrett
The Ventures chronology
Surfing
(1963)
Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures
(1963)
The Ventures Play the Country Classics
(1963)
Bobby Vee chronology
Just for Fun
(1963)
Bobby Vee Meets The Ventures
(1963)
I Remember Buddy Holly
(1963)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Disc[2]

The album made its first appearance on Billboard Top LPs chart on June 1, 1963, and remained on the album chart for eight weeks, peaking at number 91.[6]

Reception

Bruce Eder of AllMusic called it "his hardest-rocking album ever", and stated that the album is "one great showcase for Vee's vocalizing and the playing of Nokie Edwards et al".[7] Billboard called it "one of the hottest in the teen album dance field".[8] The album was referred to as a "Rocking Cha Cha Beat" by Disc,[9] and Cashbox said "the distinctive vocal delivery blends smoothly with the instrumental stylings of the Ventures".[10]

The Liverpool Echo wrote that "[Vee] seems to have lost a little of his early vocal potency and The Ventures tend to bang and bash too heavily for comfort".[11]

Track listing

Side one

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Goodnight, Irene"Lead BellyBobby Vee and the Ventures2:14
2."Walk Right Back"Sonny CurtisBobby Vee and the Ventures2:51
3."Linda Lu"Ray SharpeBobby Vee and the Ventures2:42
4."Caravan"The Ventures2:47
5."What Else Is New"Robert Thomas VellineBobby Vee and the Ventures2:21
6."Candy Man"Bobby Vee and the Ventures3:32

Side two

No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."This Is Where Friendship Ends"Bobby Vee and the Ventures1:50
2."Honeycomb"Bob MerrillBobby Vee and the Ventures2:21
3."Pretty Girls Everywhere"
Bobby Vee and the Ventures2:05
4."Wild Night"The Ventures2:16
5."I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"Bobby Vee and the Ventures2:14
6."If I'm Right Or Wrong"Bobby Vee and the Ventures2:23

Charts

Chart (1963)Peak
position
US Top LPs (Billboard)91

References