Personnel: Don Wilson, Jerry McGee (guitar); Bob Bogle (bass guitar); Mel Taylor (drums).

Recording information: Japan.

Arrangers: Taylor; D. Wilson; Don Wilson; Mel Taylor; Bob Bogle.

Stars on Guitars is a collection of the Ventures performing virtually every popular surf guitar instrumental that has ever been released, along with several other rock instrumentals. The group sounds quite good as they plow through these songs, saving the first disc for the covers while the second disc is made up of music from two of their previous live releases. They go all over the map here, covering everyone from the Rolling Stones to Dick Dale with their typical moody guitar and bizarre arrangements. The reliance on keyboards does hurt the record on the first disc, but they overcome that problem with their sheer weirdness. Their covers of '80s superhits "Axel F" and "St. Elmo's Fire" need to be heard to be believed. Although they may no longer be the surf rock giants they once were, the Ventures can still contribute very unique and unusual music that tends to float closer to the Residents than any other recognizable reference point. ~ Bradley Torreano

Genre:

• Pop / Rock

Music Categories:

• Oldies: Rock 'N' Roll