Walk, Don't Run (song)
Encyclopedia
"Walk, Don't Run" is an instrumental composition written and first performed by jazz
guitarist Johnny Smith
in 1955. The tune is essentially a counter-melody
to the chord changes of the old standard, "Softly, As in the Morning Sunrise".
The Seattle-based instrumental rock
band The Ventures
released their version of the tune as a surf rock single in autumn 1960, which quickly became a hit. In the UK, the tune was covered by the John Barry
Seven, whose version, while only peaking at #11 on the Record Retailer
chart, compared to the Ventures' #8, outcharted them to reach the Top 10 on other UK charts, such as that of the NME
.
The Ventures' version is believed to be one of the first surfing songs
to make the Billboard Hot 100
chart, peaking at #2 and reaching #3 on the Cash Box magazine
chart for five weeks in August and September 1960.
The band's original drummer, George T. Babbitt, Jr.
, who later retired as a four-star Air Force general, left the band before "Walk, Don't Run" was released. The Ventures' website lists "[t]he drummer on Walk, Don't Run [as] Skip Moore, not Howie Johnson as many assume. Skip was given the choice of $25 or ¼ of the money the record would make for playing on the session. He took the $25". The Ventures made an updated cover version of the song in 1964 called "Walk, Don't Run '64
" (which has a guitar riff similar to "Misirlou
"), which made it into the Top Ten in the US that August.
Chet Atkins
recorded a popular rendition of the song that preceded the Ventures' hit by three years. Other cover versions include those by The Shadows
, JFA
, Zapatón and Steve Howe
(on the album Quantum Guitar
).
In July 2003, the song was recorded by Ventures' guitarist Nokie Edwards
and The Light Crust Doughboys
for the album Guitars Over Texas. This version is known for its jazz-inflected second verse and the use of keyboards in place of rhythm guitar.
In August 2010, the song was used for Local on the 8s
on The Weather Channel
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
guitarist Johnny Smith
Johnny Smith
Johnny Smith is an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist.-Early years:...
in 1955. The tune is essentially a counter-melody
Counter-melody
In music, counter-melody is a sequence of notes, perceived as a melody, written to be played simultaneously with a more prominent lead melody. Typically a counter-melody performs a subordinate role, and is heard in a texture consisting of a melody plus accompaniment...
to the chord changes of the old standard, "Softly, As in the Morning Sunrise".
The Seattle-based instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
band The Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
released their version of the tune as a surf rock single in autumn 1960, which quickly became a hit. In the UK, the tune was covered by the John Barry
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
Seven, whose version, while only peaking at #11 on the Record Retailer
Record Retailer
Record Retailer was a trade newspaper for the UK record industry. It was founded in August 1959 as a monthly newspaper covering both labels and dealers. Its founding editor was Roy Parker...
chart, compared to the Ventures' #8, outcharted them to reach the Top 10 on other UK charts, such as that of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
.
The Ventures' version is believed to be one of the first surfing songs
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
to make the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, peaking at #2 and reaching #3 on the Cash Box magazine
Cash Box magazine
Cashbox magazine was a weekly publication devoted to the music and coin-operated machine industries in the USA which was published from July 1942 to November 16, 1996...
chart for five weeks in August and September 1960.
The band's original drummer, George T. Babbitt, Jr.
George T. Babbitt, Jr.
General George T. Babbitt is a retired United States Air Force four star general who served as Commander, Air Force Materiel Command , from 1997 to 2000....
, who later retired as a four-star Air Force general, left the band before "Walk, Don't Run" was released. The Ventures' website lists "[t]he drummer on Walk, Don't Run [as] Skip Moore, not Howie Johnson as many assume. Skip was given the choice of $25 or ¼ of the money the record would make for playing on the session. He took the $25". The Ventures made an updated cover version of the song in 1964 called "Walk, Don't Run '64
Walk, Don't Run '64
"Walk, Don't Run '64" was an updated Ventures recording of their 1960 hit "Walk, Don't Run", written by Johnny Smith. The remake features a guitar style more similar to that of "Misirlou", and is notable for starting with a "fade-in"...
" (which has a guitar riff similar to "Misirlou
Misirlou
Misirlou , is a popular Greek song with popularity in five styles of music: Greek rebetiko, Middle-Eastern belly dancing, Jewish klezmer, American surf rock, and international orchestral easy listening .- History :...
"), which made it into the Top Ten in the US that August.
Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
recorded a popular rendition of the song that preceded the Ventures' hit by three years. Other cover versions include those by The Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
, JFA
JFA (band)
JFA is a hardcore punk band formed in 1981, with roots in Arizona and in Southern California skateboard culture. The original members include Brian Brannon , Don "dred" Pendleton , Michael Cornelius , and Mike "Bam-Bam" Sversvold . Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls also played bass for a while...
, Zapatón and Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
(on the album Quantum Guitar
Quantum Guitar
Quantum Guitar is an instrumental progressive rock album released by Steve Howe in 1998. Steve uses several different guitars, acoustic and electric.-Track listings:All tracks composed by Steve Howe; except where indicated....
).
In July 2003, the song was recorded by Ventures' guitarist Nokie Edwards
Nokie Edwards
Nokie Edwards is an American musician and member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is primarily a guitarist, best known for his work with The Ventures...
and The Light Crust Doughboys
Light Crust Doughboys
The Light Crust Doughboys is a quintessential American Western swing band from Texas organized in 1931 by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas. The band achieved its peak popularity in the few years leading up to World War II...
for the album Guitars Over Texas. This version is known for its jazz-inflected second verse and the use of keyboards in place of rhythm guitar.
In August 2010, the song was used for Local on the 8s
Local on the 8s
The Local on the 8s or Local Forecast is the portion of programming where viewers see current weather conditions and local weather forecasts for their respective area on The Weather Channel in the United States...
on The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel
The Weather Channel is a US cable and satellite television network since May 2, 1982, that broadcasts weather forecasts and weather-related news, along with entertainment programming related to weather 24 hours a day...
.
Selected recorded versions
- 1955: Johnny Smith
- 1957: Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
- 1960: The Ventures
- 1960: The John Barry Seven (featuring Vic Flick on guitar)
- 1964: Die Sputniks
- 1965: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
- 1972: Pink FairiesPink FairiesPink Fairies were an English rock band active in the London underground and psychedelic scene of the early 1970s. They promoted free music, drug taking and anarchy and often performed impromptu gigs and other agitprop stunts, such as playing for free outside the gates at the Bath and Isle of Wight...
- 1977: The ShadowsThe ShadowsThe Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
- 1981: The Penguin Cafe Orchestra
- 1993: California Guitar TrioCalifornia Guitar TrioCalifornia Guitar Trio is a band of threeguitar players founded in 1991. Paul Richards of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bert Lams of Brussels,...
- 1998: Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
- 1999: Johnny A.Johnny A.Johnny A. is an American guitarist/songwriter, born in Malden, Massachusetts.Growing up in Boston as a young child, he became interested in music, starting with drums at age six. Upon being exposed to The Beatles in 1964 , Johnny bought a $49 Lafayette Electronics guitar. In the late seventies, he...
- 2003: Nokie EdwardsNokie EdwardsNokie Edwards is an American musician and member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is primarily a guitarist, best known for his work with The Ventures...
and The Light Crust DoughboysLight Crust DoughboysThe Light Crust Doughboys is a quintessential American Western swing band from Texas organized in 1931 by the Burrus Mill and Elevator Company in Saginaw, Texas. The band achieved its peak popularity in the few years leading up to World War II... - 2011: El Cuartito