Bobby Vee Meets the Ventures is a 1963 cross-over rock and roll album that brings singer Bobby Vee together with The Ventures. It features the Ventures, an instrumental quartet.[3] Two tracks were Ventures instrumentals, apparently intended to showcase their guitar work unhindered by vocals.[4] It was promoted by touring along with Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets.[5]
The album made its first appearance on Billboard Top LPs chart on June 1, 1963, and remained on the album chart for eight weeks, peaking at number 91.[6]
Reception
Bruce Eder of AllMusic called it "his hardest-rocking album ever", and stated that the album is "one great showcase for Vee's vocalizing and the playing of Nokie Edwards et al".[7]Billboard called it "one of the hottest in the teen album dance field".[8] The album was referred to as a "Rocking Cha Cha Beat" by Disc,[9] and Cashbox said "the distinctive vocal delivery blends smoothly with the instrumental stylings of the Ventures".[10]
The Liverpool Echo wrote that "[Vee] seems to have lost a little of his early vocal potency and The Ventures tend to bang and bash too heavily for comfort".[11]