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April 30, 2012

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What a special freaking moment...fortunate for us that YouTube exists.

This is a great clip! When I was in the Air Force stationed in Okinawa during the late 1960s, The Ventures came to the air base in Naha on their way home from Japan. That was one awesome evening on the 'Rock'! Everyone in the club was yelling, "play Walk Don't Run" and when they did,we all felt like were back home.

A VERY cool video indeed!!! And so right....it brought a huge smile on my face!! And Bob, What a thrill for the soldiers back then! (Great comment!!)

The intro here is provided by Don Wilson, who co-founded the Ventures with the late Bob Bogle. (Bob passed away in 2009, a year after The Ventures' induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.) Don turned 78 in February of this year (2012), and is still the best rhythm guitarist in the biz. I was lucky enough to see The Ventures live at the Crystal Ballroom in PDX about a year ago, and they sounded just a solid as ever after five decades in business!

Sundazed Records have reissued five of The Ventures '60's era Liberty/Dolton albums as domestic-product CD's for the first time: Surfing; Telstar/Lonely Bull; In Space; The Fabulous Ventures; and Walk Don't Run: Vol. 2. All use the original LP album covers, track order, and stereo mixes...all recommended! Telstar and In space have been on CD in the US since 1982, the others have been out of print since the mid-70's at least!

best, M. ;-}

Thanks Mike for all the info and thank you, Mr. Stump, for sharing such a wonderful video!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_T._Babbitt,_Jr.

Check out the General! He was way cool.....and a drummer to boot!

For much more on the Ventures, check out their website! Their online store is usually well-stocked with CD's, DVD's, posters, and much more! Many of the CD's and concert DVD's come from Japanese sources and are otherwise hard to find. There's also an online tribute book for Bob Bogle (and for longtime drum king Mel Taylor, who passed away in 1996; Mel's son Leon has filled the drum chair for The Ventures ever since. You'll see him giving way to the General in this video), which is still open for contriobutions...

Go to: www.theventures.com

Best, M. ;-]

Thanks once again for the "Great Memories!"

GOD bless all oue vets THANKS

My wife and I lived next door to the general and his wife at Chanute AFB, IL in 1965 and early 1966. They are two of the nicest folks we've ever met.

Wow brings back some great memories when we were young.

We are originally all the way from a totally different continent, Asia, but we still remember "The Ventures" from the Rock and Roll time in 1965 on North America. What a band and what country, "America uber alles"! as the Germans would say and may Rock and Roll live forever!!!

THE VENTURES, YES and the DRUMMER, YES!!!! So proud we are to live here.

TOO cool! Love it!

Oh the memories of those days when we danced to this song as we did others in the 50's and 60's. What a great way to recall those wonderful days of our youth. Thanks for the memories as Bob Hope used to say. Beverly

I would lhave liked to see Nokia there with you. It was great but I did miss him

Thanks General Babitt, for your service to our country and your great performance (You still have your "Chops"). I opened the show for the Ventures in the '90's at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, Ca. Still one of the fondest memories of my career!

what memory's. Thank you so much Venture's and our debt to you General Babitt. God bess all of you.

Oh my gosh..! I was just grinning all over. This is awesome!

Was fantastic......such wonderful memories...thank you!

Cool Video,Cool sound! We listened to this sound as kids on the radio in Africa where we were growing up!There was no TV or videos,so we just listened to the sound on the radio which was played again and again and so we remember it so much!At that time we had no idea who was playing this sound and we did not care.So it is a great priviledge to see the artists on video for the first time ever!Well done to all for bring back the memories and putting a face to the sound after all these years!

My husband served 21 years in the Air Force and I was so excited to forward him this video. The Ventures were big in our lives and the General was big in his!!

Thanks so much for sharing. As the wife of a retiree, I have to say--AF guys ROCK! :)

Remember it well, and played it a bazillion times on my hi-fi back in the 60s. My son may still have a copy of this; he saved a lot of my old 78s and albums. THIS is real music!! Love it!!

ole lord we miss the old Folly Beach Pier!!!

I to was in the USAF & a Venture fan. My VERY FIRST album was "Walk -- Don't Run." But out of the 12 albums I still have, I can't find Walk -- Don't Run. I even bought the CD with Walk -- Don't Run on it & to my surprise, Walk -- Don't Run is still not in stereo! Still, it's great misic. Thanks Bill.

Reminds me that I met a guy surfing at Seal Beach about 15 years ago named Don Kutyna. We were learning then and used to see each other on the weekends. He didn't tell me what he did, except that he was in the Air Force. Long story short -- he got transferred to Colorado Springs where he became a 4 star general, commander in chief of Norad. He later on became the only military person on the Challenger commission.

WOW,WALK DON'T RUN,GREAT SONG,HAVE NOT HEARD IT IN 50 YEARS.JOHN--CT.WAS AT CHANUTE,LITTLE BEFORE THE GENERAL.

I AM IN CT.FRIEND FROM FL. E-MAILED ME ,GET ON THIS SITE.WOW-----WOW

I was wounded in Vietnam and spent time in the hospital on Okinawa in 1968. When I became ambulatory I saw a USO show with the Ventures. I sat in the front row. Being from Seattle it was great to hear live music from home. And let's not forget the Hawaii Five O theme music. A belated thank you for the great entertainment you guys provided.

I spent 26 years in the Air Force, and never met a general who didn't deserve to be a general. George Babbitt is a classy guy, and he makes me proud to wear the same uniform. Now the Ventures....well that's better than four stars! Go George!

We loved the Venturers
While shooting pool there
At my girl's home one H.S. summer
We'd gather, my friends & I,
Strut around the table while
Listening to these gods of guitar

FOND MEMORIES

Brought a tear to my eye....

what a cool video. I learned to play guitar from listening to the Ventures. I still have most of their early vinyl LPs . .the first six I think. Back in 1960/61 learning how to play Ventures music was a given if you wanted to play rock & roll here in Portland Oregon.Saw them live at the Greenwood Inn in Beaverton sometime in the 80's . .before Mel died and it was a great show.

I saw the Ventures in Japan sometime between '65-'67 with my girlfriend Reiko and sat eleven rows from the front. When I go to YOUTUBE to look at that concert I keep looking for myself but to no avail. I think I even bought a shark skin suit (without lapels) and wore beattle boots after seeing them perform. ha! Good memories and the music I listen to today.

Makes me want to dance and enjoy memories and all. Thanks to those vets....Nancy Prkins Dunn ex Navy

I remember the ventures since high school and when I was in the Marines in Vietnam. Always a great time to here them play.

AW Reet!
Beautiful.

You all still have it!!! Great job!!

This brings back many memories. I should have never sold my drums!

i grew up listening to the ventures. in my house thats all that was on the stereo

Because of walk dont run, I learned how to play guitar!!!
I play an original 59 jazzmaster and this song is one I play where ever my band plays, a real crowd pleaser. I have the original Dolton 1st album with George on drums, Nokie, Bob and Don. The Ventures I feel have always been under-rated and the guitar licks are classy and tasteful. lot of energy and toe tapping surf tunes. Good job guys and thanks from one of your dedicated fans. You are all 4 star generals !!!

so truly impressed..General Babitt
Only goes to show what young people can go on to become
Anyone out there ever see the booking foto of Mr. B. Gates from Holbrook Az ???? He looks like any other garden variety hippie kid in the 60's....I think he was apprehended by law enforcement for hitchking or some other major offense
Just goes to show....APPLAUSE FOR GENERAAL BABITT !

Great!!!!!!!!Enough Said


Saw The Ventures in Bangkok '68 R & R. Had all their 8 tracks on my Muntz stereo.

What a great presentaion of Guitarists!All of these remoind me of my youth

Maybe it's just me, but i still think his greatest servie to our country was probably the drumbeat to "Walk Don't Run"...that's worth 4-stars in anybody's book!

My husband of ALMOST 60 years was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota in the early 60s. This brought back lots of memories of those times! God bless you all ,you still sound great!

I played the drums from 1962 to 1980, and in may early years, I [played every Ventures songs there were.,,,,,,After the "Ventures" era, I played heavy progressive metal music. My set was much larger than his (20 drums, 14 cymbals-all Zildjian of course, and I used 13 microphones so that I could be heard,Double Bass Drum, naturally, My favorite was the "Ventues" version of the classic "Wipe out" what a great era and what a great time I had!)Memories will never be forgotten evan though I had polio, then 40 years later "post polio syndrome. then a heart attack and while I was on the operating table I has several strokes all in a row, I couldnt awake from the surgery for 3 weeks, but here I am! I strongly agree that my drumming saved my life!Thank you "Ventures" you made me ROCK everyone's world !!I am a sculptor now ! jack weidler

This is one of the best emails that I have received in recent weeks. It is a very real uplifting experience in spirit and at the same time it will bring smiles to your face. The tribute was outstanding. Being old enough to remember the Ventures in my old Plymouth Fury along with a reverberation unit on back speakers. As a fellow retired military officer, congratulations sir. It was a great tribute to General George Babbitt and the Ventures as a fantastic musical group.

The Ventures inspired me to learn to play guitar way back in the 1960's when I was 17 years old. This was my all time favorite instrumental. Warching this video made me dig out my electric Silvertone guitar and play that arrangement once again.
BTW., I'm now 65 years old..

Big John NYC

THE GREATEST INATRUMENTALIST GROUP, OF ALL TIME. I ASSOCIATE THEIR RECORDINGS, WITH THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, WONDERFUL , BEAUTIFUL, GIRLS IN H.S., AND AT OUR SCHOOL DANCES.

WALK DON'T RUN IS GREAT, BUT I BELIEVE THEIR MASTERPIECE WAS "S L A U G H T E R O N T E N T H A V E N U E "

I HAVE PLAYED GUITAR SINCE 1954. THERE IS NO BETTER SOUND THAN 3 ELECTRIC GUITARS, AND A MASTER DRUMMER, TIME KEEPER, HEART OF THE BAND.

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER GROUP, LIKE THE VENTURES. I AM SO GLAD I HAVE EVERYTHING THEY RECORDED.

TO TAKE A JIMMIE SMITHE ORGAN MASTERPIECE RECORDING OF SLAUGHTER ON TENTH AVE, A 7 MINUTE RECORDING, AND HAVE THE VENTURES CONDENSE IT INTO LESS THAN A THREE MINUTE RECORD, IS A STROKE OF GENIUS.

I LOVE THE MUSIC OF THE VENTURES, TREASURE THE MEMORIES, AND THANK GOD FOR THE GROUP.

WATCHED THEM AT THE "ARANETA COLLISEUM" WAY BACK .....GREAT INSTRUMENTAL BAND ! RAW HIDE IS MY MOST LIKED ....

What fond memories this brings me back to. That's why I picked up a guitar so many years ago.

A friend sent a link to this today and what a surprise! I had no idea that Gen Babbitt was the original drummer. Their instrumentals were fantastic at the time of little transistor radios. And every high school band played at least one of their selections. I'm a retired Air Force Chief and really enjoyed seeing Gen Babbitt reliving his glory days with the Ventures!

Wonderful! Brings back memories of high school years, and college years.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES OF THE PAST BUT STILL NICE TO HEAR TO THE PRESENT DAY. EXCITING AND MARVELOUS!!!!!!

I always will love this song...Great memories of dancing in our livingroom with my parents when we were kids--we all love 'The Ventures'. I didn't know of the original drummer until I received this video or his service to our country. God Bless to that and to the United States of America.

George Babbitt was one fine Air Force officer. I worked for him in his last assignment before retiring. Wasn't a bad drummer either.....

I had the honor of working with General Babbitt to prepare him for this concert performance. I was he Drum Instructor when we were both station at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. He is one of the nicest, warmest people I have met, and his wife is a wonderful soul too. Knowing the Babbitts was once of the best parts of my Air Force career, and spending sundays at Quarters One working on Drumming with General Babbitt was an honor and a pleasure.
He spoke about returning to Washington state when he retired from service, and we often talked about him starting a band when he moved there. General....I hope you and Mrs Babbitt are enjoying your post Air Force lives.
Sammy K
www.slamminsammyk.com

thank you ipad for changing some of my words and ruining my grammar! SK

Saw the Ventures play live in 1966 at the Navy Relief Festival in Corpus Christi, Texas. The were my FIRST EVER ROCK CONCERT! I still love their music and my local classic rock band plays a couple of their tunes... including "Walk Don't Run"! This was pretty cool!

What a wonderful memory. I own 13 of the Ventures albums and still listen to them occasionally on my first and only Dual turntable. My favorite album was "Another Smash" with Ginchy, Lullaby of Leaves, Lonely Hearts, Wheels, Ghost Riders, others. And after my Air Force years i worked at Wright Patterson AFB, OH as a civilian and retired while Gen Babbitt was commander of AFMC. I'm now 70, where have all the years gone?

Iwas at that concert,held at Independence Hall,Wash DC
AS a young military wife, and an avid concert goer, took advantage of the free concert as part of AirForce summer concert series.with my girlfriend, drove to DC, only 30 min ride, and ran as soon as doors open to get front row seats.
still one of my memorable concerts.

This is just a fantastic video. I have played drums for over 30 years and I relly believe that the magic moment for the General was when he said that he was able to play with his band again after 36 years even after all that happened during that time. I know exactly how he must have felt sitting behind his trap set, being able to reconnect with his old band mates and play a song with them that he helped to develop into the hit that it was (and still is). What a great experience for him that must have put him in a fantastic space! From one drummer to another: NICE job, General!

Looks like our parents were wrong about Rock and Roll.

Brings back many memories

I grew up on rock and roll. If Tom Brokaw's World War II generation was the greatest generation then the rock and roll generation was a very close second. Long live rock and roll and long live the Ventures.

From 1958 to 1965 I was a drummer in a rock and roll band named the"Abstracts" in the Kansas City area. In 1962 I had the honor of jamming with the Ventures in a Kansas City night club where band members gathered after gigs. I don't remember General Babbitt being the drummer. It is really ironic that I also became an Air Force officer and gave up the opportunity of being a professional musician. I retired from the Air Force with twenty years service as a Lt Col. General Babbitt likely has 35 years of active duty. This is pretty common for four star generals.

I am seriously old these days (81) and was in my 30s when the Ventures did "Walk, Don't Run." I loved it then and still love it! Their music, guitars punctuated by drums, remains unmistakable to anyone who heard it in those early years. Thanks for the information about their original "All Star" General. (I did not know that.) My late husband was USAF on a B-36 out of Walker AFB during Korea and was also a harmonica virtuoso. This was one of his favorite tunes, and he would have loved the connection to USAF. Thanks so much.

Great memories....I still have the Walk Don't Run Album, which should be worn out by now as I have always called it "my music to clean house by"! Put that album on the old stereo and boy did I rock n' roll fast thru the house. Thanks for the great music & video, and thanks for General Babbitt's service to this country.

I've often thought that we never know how many lives we've touched. All of these guys have touched so many, including mine. You inspire us to do our best in all we do. Thanks so much. General Babbitt, you deserve so much respect in so many ways.

I was stationed at Kadena from Jun 64 to Dec 65, AF46130 (ammo bee bee stacker). A few of us airman started a rock'n'roll band called "The Thangs". We played the clubs and always played a few Ventures. I still have a reciept for $100.00 for playing a gig at the Kadena Airman's club. That was more than the AF paid me in a month. Loved the "Rock" and the Ventures.

I REMEMBER GOING TO A PLACE CALLED "THE SPANISH CASTLE" TO DANCE IN THE EARLY 1960'S. THE CASTLE WAS BETWEEN SEATTLE AND TOCOMA, WASH. ANYWAY THEY PLAYED THERE AND WERE VERY GOOD TO DANCE AND LISTEN TO. LOTS OF GOOD MEMORIES.

Brought back some great memories!!

I saw The Ventures live at Mount Pleasant High School in Wilmington, DE in 1966 (I think). They were wearing Beatles suits! One of the best concerts I've ever seen. I still have all their original vinyl albums on the Dolton label. Thanks for posting this.

Cannot get the sound and the speed test does not work either.
[email protected]

I WAS STATIONED AT A STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND AIR BASE FROM 1964 TILL 1967. WE USED TO LISTEN TO THE VENTURES IN OUR BARRACKS ON LONG PLAY ALBUMS.GLAD TO KNOW THEY ARE STILL WITH US.

This is unblievable. I was stationed at Chanute AFB while he was there 64 and 65 and I too learned to play guitar listening to The Ventures. I knew every song they did note for note. If I only had known Gen. Babbitt was their drummer I would have bugged him to death trying to get him to come to the airmens club to play. I used to entertain the airmen every night playing them Ventures tunes on guitar in the barracks long after lights out. I was in the 3348 sqdn.

Thanks for the Memories im 58 and have been playing guitarand have been a professional for 45 years,I loved the Ventures walk dont run was the firstsong I learned in its complete form and I also bought every relese of that song walk dont run 65. the lp,s of them live ect.I was a big fan one question? where are the signiture Mosrite guitars that had that real knarly sound,real rock guitar,now thereplaying strats?still great viedo.

Really Cool Video!!!! Brings back alot of memories!!

Though couuntry is my favorate, I well remembered and enjoyed the Ventures and the beat they brought to our world. It was a time of 'peace and love' amongst my generation and after hearing them once again I say "Rock on Ventures" and "Keep the Beat of Peace" General Babbitt. God bless music and the many ways it has always effected our world with it's various beats of rhythm.

I always have love this song!! Brings great memories!! Wondeful video!!! Thanks General Babbitt!!!


Good job General! You make us Veterans proud!

From Ohio, A Big Thank You General.
May God continue to Bless you....!
We all thank the Vets. Without you
where would we be...!
Let us hear from you again.
Posted by V.Derrenkamp / October 16,2012

This was absolutely WONDERFUL. Music - what a gift for all to enjoy. Thank You...I wasn't very old when this came out, but sure listened to the radio when the song was being played....Thanks for the memories. Wreatha/Esterhazy, Sask. Canada

watching the general you could actually see him, if just for the moment, turn young again. Beautiful.

Fantastic great things & music can bring! How wonderful this video is!

Gotta love a drummer that everyone in the room has to salute!

I was at that show with The Ventures at the beginning of a short tour in February/March 1998. It was at DAR Hall in Washington, DC with the Air Force Band. Daisy Jackson organized the concert for us. Great lady. A couple of weeks later, we had a show in Dayton, OH where the General was stationed at the time so we got to see him in his official capacity as well. Great memories. The band is still going strong and just got back from their annual tour of Japan: 48 shows this summer to celebrate the anniversary of their first visit to Japan in 1962!

type to slow to post, THANKS TO ALL VETS

What a gift for those of us who grew up and learned to play the guitar around The Ventures. Walk Don't Run was the first full song (I could play the intro to Peter Gun) I learned to play and went on to learn so many others. For those with good memories, The Ventures put out two instructional LP's, each for one of their songs. The first one was for Walk Don't Run. Can't remember the other, but what great albums. Nookie used to play at The Cowboy Poetry Festival, sitting in with various groups and a lifelong friend of mine happened to see him and tell him about me and my love for their group and my guitar playing. Nookie asked for my phone number and called about a month later. It was such an honor and a thrill to talk to one of my early idols. A true gentleman.

Wow !! super job Hats off to the General and all our vets and Hats off to the Ventures..

I'm 65 and this video made my eyes mist. I've loved the Ventures since I started playing guitar when I was 14. How could you ever get tired of listing to Walk, Don't Run. Barry T.

Go General go... rock on!

Great video. Anyone remember their Mosrite guitars? When I first heard the Ventures back in the 1960's that's what they were playing. Made a big impression on me at the time. Looks like they are using Fender guitars in this video.
Matt

How do I pin this on Pinterest?

My wife and I, and about a dozen friends, attended a Ventures concert in South Korea in 1972 or 1973 that was held at one of the universities there. (I think that it was Yongsei, but I wouldn't swear to it.) It was a great concert, but the surprising thing about the concert was that the large audience which was probably 95% Korean obviously was intimately familiar with the music of The Ventures. Great concert; great audience, and a great night we still remember forty plus years later

Great video! I was only about seven years old when this came out, but I had 4 older siblings, so I liked what THEY liked.

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