Released on Liberty's Dolton subsidiary in December 1960, Walk, Don't Run became a big seller, peaking at number 11 on Billboard and earning a gold record for The Ventures (the first of three) for over 500,000 copies sold.

[1] As a result, four employees from Liberty's stockroom (with two wearing sunglasses) were posed as if they were falling or tripping over instruments with model Barbara Grimes walking in front of them.

[2] In 1969, the album was reissued by Liberty (having discontinued the Dolton label two years earlier but kept the original stereo catalog number), featuring an updated photo of the group.

By that time, the lineup consisted of Don Wilson, Bob Bogle, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor and John Durrill, though only the former two appear on the album.

In his review for Allmusic, critic Bruce Eder wrote the album "is surprisingly good, considering that it was recorded in a huge rush during an era when all concerned couldn't help but know that rock & roll albums (apart from those by Elvis Presley) generally didn't sell very well; indeed, the fact that this is so good speaks volumes about the class and talent of the group at this early point in their history.