Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Peter suggested after the Albatross comparison we could try another, the one instrumental that probably most of you in bands actually do.

Walk Don't Run

Nine versions this time and you will need to unzip but good fun, well I think so and we may get a surprise result.

Couple of rarities in here too. One version a hit in both US AND UK and 1 version a hit in UK only and 1 other version a hit in US only so 4 hit versions here.

Send your preference to me or post here if you prefer. As Jim thought there may have been confusion to be clear you favourite would be 1. version 3 2. version 9 and so one.

Of those who actually did download the last one only 77% did actually vote, so 23% didn't like any or could not open file.

Your choice of course if you want to have a go but I hope you do.
click here

Phew, that's a daunting task!!!
Not listened to all the versions yet but I think number 4 is actually 'pipeline' and not 'walk don't run'

from Rob

Looking forward to it Roy....... one of my all-time favourite instrumentals!

Crikey!! None of them match the Ventures version that I have, which has a drum roll intro followed by rim shots on the snare......

Hmmm...... OK, my observations:

1. OK but the 'doing' part in the lead is too 'doingy'!
2. Don't know who it is but IMO the mix is pretty shabby.
3. OK version - no idea who it is.
4. Pipeline.... the 'erk' version.
5. A more recent version - Shadows or Marvin?
6. Pipeline meets Walk Don't Run - for 'surfheads' only!
7. The closest one to the version that I have. Perhaps a Ventures remix?
8. Cool version.... I like it!
9. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in their finest hour!

Order of preference: 7,8,5,3,2,1,6,9

4 doesn't count..... was that a trick inclusion, Roy??

H

Aitch, sounds like you have the original Ventures/Dolton 1960 version. I've got it on 45; light blue/twin fish label. Flip side is "Home".

You're right about those rim shots. Mel Taylor had his snare tuned with an air impact wrench, methinks.

I'm a "surfhead", BTW.

Take it as a compliment, Paul. There's a bit of a surf revival happening in Sydney and if it weren't for the 'surfheads' there would be a lot of musos playing stuff that they really can't get into.

I'm not a total surfhead by any means but I do have (and listen to) a NOM CD!!

And you're absolutely correct, Paul.... my version is the 1960 Dolton Music one.

Rob and Howard bonus points for spotting the ringer!, it is listed as walk don't run on an mp3 someone sent me recently and is a real rarity.

A very famous act today but at time of recording could have walked down the street totally unnoticed, also not known for instrumentals a Real American Hero, who is it.

Track is from a bootleg called Lost Master Tapes.

Only person I could think it might be is Bruce Springsteen? He was in bands as a teenager in the sixties. Just a guess.

From Rob

You got it Rob

Great versions Roy.
my notes as I listened:
1. Good, very close to the original (which was not here) different chords in the middle.
2.modern recording, that's all I can say and the rhythm guitar sound is not so good.
3. Canned drums? Sputniks again?
4. Pipeline, live version? was not the original and the line was played wrong.
5. modern, very good band, very good version, no idea who it could be, was probably my favorite one
6. Walk Don't Run 64, Ventures,(first version I had), sounds like a Ventures outtake as it is not the original but sounds exactly like The Ventures doing a demo or something.
7. Is not the original either, I have the Dolton 45 from the early 60's with The McCoy on the flip side by the Ventures and have never heard this version, this one is too modern sounding to be the original. Is good though.
8, great version! my first guess was Chet Atkins but it a little too jazzy, great guitar player and band whoever they are.
9. Definitely Herb, you can't miss him.
I liked in this order: 5,8,1,6 (would have liked it much better if it were the original WDR 64)7,9, (2,3,4 were not real good to me.)

Thanks Bob interesting, as I have included as far as I know original versions of WDR and WDR 64.

In fact CD I took them states "This recording has been digitally transferred onto compact disc to obtain the best possible reproduction from the original master."

I have clearly been overzealous in uploading so many version as very few have actually downloaded the file but thanks for participating Bob.


I'll list who versions are by on Saturday and then no doubt the experts can debate.

I know WDR is not original sounds like a re-recorded version Roy, I just played it. WDR'64 sounds period correct, I have it on now. If that is the original version and it may be it was a lousy transfer as my scratchy old LP version sounds much better.

Bob

I have the track on a number of CD's perhaps it is a poor mix or lost something in conversion to mp3.

Normally CD's will state if a re-recording and normally I shy away from them.

None of these sound like the original version, drums at the start are different. no 7 appears to be the most similar to my ears.

my vote is 7,1,2, 5, 6, 3 do not really like 8 or 9

bit tricky to chose as by the time I had listened to a few I had forgotten what the first one sounded like!!!

from Rob