The Ventures v The Shadows Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Ventures

Recorded by The Ventures in 1963 from their album "Surfing with the Ventures", did not chart well in the USA but was a minor hit in Australia. The record fared well in Australia as it did fit right in with the surf music craze which was happening in Australia at the time.

Answer: The Shadows

The Shadows' third number one hit released in 1962, holds the record for longest time at number in the UK during the 1960's for an instrumental. "Wonderful Land" written for the group by Jerry Lordan held the top spot on the UK NME Chart for eight weeks.

This record was in the Australian charts for seventeen weeks reaching number two, it made number one in New Zealand and was top ten throughout Europe. "Wonderful Land" stayed in the UK top fifty for nineteen weeks, fourteen in the top ten.

Answer: The Ventures

Written by Johnny Smith and originally recorded by him in 1954 the song was a smooth jazz influenced number. Hearing a version by Chet Atkins the Ventures recorded "Walk Don't Run" in 1960 which became their biggest chart success and their signature tune.

The song made the top ten in Australia, Canada and many European countries. In the USA the song made number two on the Billboard Hot 100

Answer: The Ventures

Written by Richard Rodgers in 1936 for the musical, "On Your Toes", "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" was released by the Ventures in 1964. The record made the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and lingered for ten weeks. The flip side of this release featured "Rap City" which was a rocked up version of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue".

The Shadows released "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" in 1969 but it did not make the charts.

Answer: The Shadows

Written by the Shadows' main men, Bruce Welch and Hank Marvin. "Foot Tapper" is just that, a catchy tune that reached the number one spot in the UK and top ten throughout Europe. It also made the top ten in Australia and New Zealand.

Answer: The Shadows

The Shadows recorded "Apache' in 1960 on the recommendation of the composer, Jerry Lordan, who reportedly did not like the original version by Bert Weedon. The Shadows' version hit the British charts and went to number one and stayed on top for 5 weeks.

The song was number one in France, Japan and New Zealand and top ten throughout Europe, in Australia it stayed on the charts for 19 weeks, peaking at number four. The record did not chart in the USA although in 1961 Jorgen Ingmann had a version make number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and this is the version most Americans of the era are familiar with.

There are many recorded versions of this song a vocal version by Sonny James charted in 1961.

Answer: The Ventures

Written in 1939 The Ventures had a top twenty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Perfidia" in 1960. This tune has been recorded countless times Desi Arnaz, Andrea Bocelli, Ray Conniff, Nat King Cole, Xavier Cugat, Freddy Fender, Ben E. King, Julie London, Trini Lopez, Glenn Miller, Nana Mouskouri, Linda Ronstadt (in Spanish and English), the Shadows with and without Cliff Richard, and many more.

The Ventures' rocky rendition is among the best of the instrumental versions.

Answer: The Shadows

"Atlantis" recorded by the Shadows in 1963. When it jumped into the top ten in Australia during July 1963 The Shadows became the first and to date the only musical act to have their first ten releases make the top ten. The song was a top ten hit in all their usual markets making them at that time the top selling musical group in the world outside the USA.

Answer: The Shadows

Dance On" by the Shadows was their fourth UK number one. The song made the top ten in many European countries, It was top ten in both Australia and New Zealand and top ten in Canada. Petula Clark recorded the song in both Italian and French making it to number five in Italy and number two in France. English vocalist Kathy Kirby hit the charts in the UK in September 1963 with an English lyric, this recording made number one in Australia for three weeks in October 1963.

Answer: The Shadows

The Shadows' second number one in the UK "Kon Tiki" was a top ten hit for them again in Europe. Released in 1961 "Kon Tiki" reached number two in Australia and number three in New Zealand The Shadows influence on Rock 'n' Roll in the period late 1959-1963, when the British beat groups arrived on the scene, cannot be understated. Outside the USA they reigned supreme, in January 1963 the number one song on the British chart was "Bachelor Boy" by Cliff Richard and The Shadows, followed by "Dance On" by The Shadows, then "Diamonds" by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan both former members of the Shadows, then "The Wayward Wind" for Frank Ifield, next "Summer Holiday" by Cliff and the Shadows and then came "Foot Tapper" by The Shadows. For the first fifteen weeks of 1963 the top spot was held by The Shadows with and without Cliff for 12 weeks. Lead Guitarist Hank Marvin has been the idol of many of the famous rock guitarists of our time. Hank has a Fender Stratocaster signature edition named after him.

Interestingly, when in 1965 The New Musical Express asked readers to nominate the best of the best musicians, results were; Lead Guitar - Eric Clapton, Bass Guitar - Jack Bruce, Drums - Ginger Baker and 2nd or Rhythm Guitar - Bruce Welch. The first three formed Cream, Bruce preferred to stay a Shadow.