Poll

The Ventures were never popular in Europe because:

Few people had herd of them compared to The Shadows.
2 (28.6%)
Hank Marvin played better than Bob, Gerry, or Nokie.
0 (0%)
A pink strat looked better than a Mosrite.
0 (0%)
It was easier to learn to play like Hank than like Bob, Gerry or Nokie.
1 (14.3%)
Ventures records were unavailable in Europe.
1 (14.3%)
The Ventures never toured Europe.
1 (14.3%)
The Ventures were an instrumental cover band.  None of their originals were hits..
1 (14.3%)
All of the above.
1 (14.3%)

Total Members Voted: 6

Voting closed: August 10, 2012, 02:47:27 pm

Author Topic: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows  (Read 3558 times)

Offline wstagner

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New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« on: July 11, 2012, 02:47:27 pm »
Please take part in our fun little poll.  Results will be intresting.

Today, July 14th, we added a question AND allowed you to change your vote.
So, if you've already voted, you might want to check how you voted and optionally change your vote.

Happy voting!
« Last Edit: July 14, 2012, 05:57:09 pm by wstagner »

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Offline arnoldvb

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2012, 03:49:24 pm »
Although I voted "few people heard of them compared to The Shadows," I also think the fact that they never toured the UK was also a big factor.

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2012, 03:52:21 pm »
Why do you think they didn't tour there?

Offline arnoldvb

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #3 on: July 12, 2012, 09:21:34 pm »
Have no idea, Walt.

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #4 on: July 12, 2012, 09:48:42 pm »
I think it was similar to why the Shadows didn't toor the US.  Their records were not readily available in the USA so there was no reason to tour here.  Kind of a catch 22 situation.  The Beatles were popular in the UK 3 years before we'd even heard of them here.  It was likely their record company that got things going for them here.  I doubt Dolton/Liberty records had the resources let alone the European distribution.

But, I'm just guessing.

Offline tabalt11

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2012, 08:19:54 am »
Clever poll idea Walt. 

For me #'s 2 & 3 are definetly out.   Leaning
more to # 4 than anything else but be aware
I got a good chuckle out of a couple of the choices.
« Last Edit: August 13, 2013, 01:09:00 am by tabalt11 »

Toogplaast

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2012, 04:12:08 pm »
Walt - Cliff & The Shads did a small US tour in the early 60's (1960 I think). I'm still surprised that The Shads and Cliff were not popular in the US after that with their unique sound. The Tornados managed it with Telstar, but never able to tour there because of a dispute regarding the singer they were backing at the time called Billy Fury. I was not alive in the 60's but I know that there were UK issues of most of The Ventures records so it should not have been a problem acquiring their records back then.

Malcolm.

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2012, 04:25:47 pm »
Ok, so what's your take on their lack of UK/Europe popularity back then?

Toogplaast

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #8 on: July 14, 2012, 04:56:05 pm »
I would say that it was probably because of the popularity of The Shadows - even before  Apache they were popular and well known, etc. as well as their success starting with Cliff in 1958. Also The John Barry 7 had the big hit with WDR which masked the Ventures version.

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #9 on: July 14, 2012, 05:21:58 pm »
Kinda like this guy "killin' it" for the Shads stateside:


Offline cockroach

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2012, 02:13:59 am »
Blimey, you Americans are brave raising this issue... ;D

Hope you don't have too many of the Shads fans reading this topic on this site!!

Many Shadows fans are brutally partisan, often really putting the Ventures down.

There used to be an old saying;  'comparisons are odious'...and another saying....'better to let sleeping dogs lie'!

p.s      me?  I'm a British born migrant to Australia, been down under for nearly 50 years, but I love BOTH bands and all the others too- including the Atlantics from Australia, who had a huge hit here in 1963 with their tune Bombora...and they are also still playing with three of the four original members...

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #11 on: July 15, 2012, 09:43:23 am »
HaHa....brave, NO!
Brazen, YES!
Instigator, YES!

I visit the Shads 4um daily and I'm well-aware of what you say.  I'm like you, I appreciate BOTH bands as I see them quite as different entities within the genre.  I didn't have much appreciation for the Shads until I got my hands on the live 89 DVD.  I much prefer live recordings of bands.

We have our "snobs" w/in the Ventures camp as well.  4 example...Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee comparison. The Fender vs. Mosrite comparison.  The Mel Taylor, Joe Barile, Leon Taylor comparison.

We all have our preferences.  That's what recordings were made for.  Pick your faves and just lissen.

You've given me an idea for next months poll tho, so thanks a bunche!

Offline cockroach

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #12 on: July 16, 2012, 08:43:47 am »
I agree Walt, I also think the only real way to hear anything is a live performance...

So many tricks are possible when recording (those session players, and drop-ins and even more so with digital equipment) that watching and listening to a live performance is  the best way to see and hear who can really play and who can't...although with the tricks available for live shows now (pitch correction for vocals, off stage techs modifying instrument sounds etc for example) even live shows can be a bit suspect!

Let's face it , all of the Ventures past and present, and all of the Shadows, were and/or are good musicians, and their gear was always good stuff (even if we couldn't afford it), and they played good well written tunes..why argue endlessly about details?

Too much anorak stuff kills enjoyment of the MUSIC...which is presumably why we're all here!

Offline wstagner

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Re: New Poll--Ventures vs. Shadows
« Reply #13 on: July 16, 2012, 10:34:44 am »
I agree.  And sometimes it's not good to get too close to your musical heroes.  You might not like what you sea! ;)

Offline oldflogger

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NEW POLL - WHY WAS JAMES BURTON MORE FAMOUS THAN THE VENTURES.

Television my friend. Ricky Nelson and the "The Ozzie and Harriett Show" put James Burton on the map in the UK with all of his string bending, and Quote Hank Marvine, "All of the steak he was eating."
oldlfogger