Walk, Don't Run (song)

Infobox Single
Name =Walk, Don't Run


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist =The Ventures
Album =
B-side ="Home" (Blue Horizon & first Dolton pressings)
"The McCoy" (later Dolton pressings)
Released =June 1960
Format =
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label =Blue Horizon (USA)
Dolton (USA)
Writer =Johnny Smith
Producer =
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single ="The Twomp"
(1959)
This single ="Walk, Don't Run"
(1960)
Next single ="Perfidia"
(1960)
Misc = "Walk, Don't Run" is a 1960 single by the Seattle-based instrumental rock band The Ventures. Although written and first performed by Johnny Smith in 1955, 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 in the Summer of 1960. 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), and that 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. Another cover version by John Barry reached #6 in Great Britain in the "Record Retailer" chart in the autumn of 1960. Other cover versions include those by The Shadows and Steve Howe (on the album "Quantum Guitar").

References