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THE DOOR TO YESTERDAY. ALAN WARNER. VOL. 5, NO. 2 REBEL ROUSERS. 2020. GUITAR INSTRUMMENTALS.

 

REBEL ROUSERS AND KILLER GROOVES GUITAR ROCK INSTRUMENTALS 1958-1963. the door to yesteready.

 

GUITAR HEROES DUANE EDDY AND DICK DALE. THE DOOR TO YESTERDAY.

 Back in the late 50’s and early 60’s, there was an intriguing wave 

of pop and rock instrumental singles and I was a big fan of many of them. 


Some of the instrumental groups were dominated by great sax players 

such as King Curtis and Lee Allen; similarly there were 45’s featuring 

supremely talented organists including JimmyMcGriff and 

Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez and we must never forget 

the drum solos of Sandy Nelson and Cozy Cole. 

In addition to all these were guitar rock workouts, among them

 both singles built around solo guitarists plus the substantial 

combinations of guitar groups.


Here, in alphabetical order, are 23 momentous American 

and British guitar rock hits of the late 50’s and early 60’s… 

  

Turn up the volume! 



APACHE 

(Jerry Lordan)  

by The Shadows

Pro: Norrie Paramor 

(ABC-Paramount: 1960)

 https://youtu.be/QhIs1k8yuPU 

 The Shadows backed up Cliff Richard’s early UK hits 

and this was the first of a string of their own local instrumental 

smash hits featuring their guitarists Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch 

& Jet Harrisalong with drummer Tony Meehan. Issued on EMI’s

UK Columbia label, 

APACHE exploded in the summer of 1960 and spent five weeks 

there at #1,turning lead guitarist Hank Marvin into a household name. 

Tune was successfully covered on the Billboard chart

by Danish guitarist Jorgen Ingmann.


BECAUSE THEY’RE YOUNG 

(Wally Gold/Don Costa/Aaron Schroeder)

by Duane Eddy & The Rebels

Pro: Lester Sill & Lee Hazlewood 

(Jamie: 1960)

 https://youtu.be/bKm2_67xtVs 

A version of the Theme from the 1960 of the same name 

starring Dick Clark, Michael Callan and Tuesday Weld. Duane 

was the American guitar hero who perfected his echo-laden 

thunderous sound with the bass strings of his Gretsch guitar.


BULLDOG 

(George Tomsco) 

by The Fireballs

Pro: Norman Petty 

(Top Rank International: 1959)

 https://youtu.be/Icj7xQnNfscv 

This and its predecessor TORQUAY were first-rate instrumentals 

both written by the group’s lead guitarist George Tomsco. They were 

recorded in Norman Petty’s Clovis, New Mexico, studio. Later in ’63, 

singer Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs hit #1 on the Hot 100 

with SUGAR SHACK.


DIAMONDS 

(Jerry Lordan)  

by Jet Harris & Tony Meehan

Pro: Dick Rowe 

(London: 1963)

https://youtu.be/j0XWlVLTEys 

Bass player Jet Harris and drummer Tony Meehan had left 

the Shadows and hit #1 in the UK with this tune in January ’63.

 Jimmy Page played acoustic rhythm guitar. DIAMONDS was 

covered here by drummer Buddy Harman.


FORTY MILES OF BAD ROAD 

(Duane Eddy/Al Casey) 

by Duane Eddy, His ‘Twangy’ Guitar & The Rebels

Pro: Lester Sill & Lee Hazlewood

 (Jamie: 1959) https://youtu.be/OE5PcKFHw-M 

Co-authored by fellow guitarist Al Casey. 


(GHOST) RIDERS IN THE SKY 

(Stan Jones) 

by The Ramrods 

(Amy: 1960) 

https://youtu.be/5pKGw47QkMg 

An instrumental version of the 1940’s cowboy song 

RIDERS IN THE SKY written by Stan Jones. 

The Ramrods’ single reached the UK Top 10 in February ’61.

 

GUITAR BOOGIE SHUFFLE 

(Arthur Smith)  

by Bert Weedon

Pro: Dick Rowe 

(UK Top Rank: 1959) 

https://youtu.be/E0F42laslesThis 

was admired UK guitarist Bert Weedon’s biggest seller – a

 cover of American group The Virtues’ 1959 update of Arthur Smith’s 

1948 Hit Parade favorite GUITARBOOGIE. Arthur also wrote 

FEUDIN’ BANJOS which years later was adapted by Eric Weissberg

 as DUELING BANJOS. 


LET’S GO TRIPPIN’ 

(Dick Dale)   

by Dick Dale & The Del-Tones

Pro: Jim Monsour 

(Deltone: 1961)

 https://youtu.be/M6mMNzUSJzc 

Dick was the king of the surf rock guitar.


MEMPHIS 

(Chuck Berry)

by Lonnie Mack

Pro: Carl Edmondson 

(Fraternity: 1963)

 https://youtu.be/mrUvUFKTWzA 

Lonnie Mack’s own brand of twangy guitar injected into this version 

of Chuck Berry’s “Memphis, Tennessee” which hit the Top 5 here in July ’63.


MISIRLOU 

(Nicholas Roubanis/Fred Wise/Milton Leeds/Jose Pina/Sidney Russell) 

by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones

Pro: Jim Monsour 

(Deltone: 1962) 

https://youtu.be/V4eEqN4HY7Q 

Dick’s surf rock revival of the 1940’s Egyptian melody 

was significantly used by Quentin Tarantino in the opening of his

 1994 movie “Pulp Fiction”. 


OUT OF LIMITS 

(Michael Z. Gordon)

the Marketts  

Pro: Joe Saraceno

Arr: Ray Pohlman 

(Warner Bros: 1963)

https://youtu.be/AhUxaSvZp8s  

Became a Top 3 single here in February ’64 

after title was changed from OUTER LIMITS 

following a dispute with TV’s “Twilight Zone” 

creator Rod Serling over the use of a four-note motif.


PENETRATION 

(Steve Leonard)

by The Pyramids

Pro: John Hodge 

(Best: 1963) 

https://youtu.be/i7gC5-82Cl8 

A California band known for their bald heads 

and this 1964 Top 20 track loosely based on 

The Chantay’s PIPELINE.


PERFIDIA 

(Alberto Dominguez/Milton Leeds)

by The Ventures

Pro: Bob Reisdorff & Josie Wilson

A Blue Horizon Prod. 

(Dolton: 1960) 

https://youtu.be/pyUcnoracMM 

A Mexican melody which, with an added English lyric, 

was initially a 1941 hit parade seller by 

Glenn Miller & His Orchestra with vocals by 

Dorothy Claire & The Modernaires. 

This version by The Ventures reached #15 here 

on the Hot 100 but was even bigger in the UK 

where it hit #4.


PIPELINE 

(Bob Spickard/Brian Carman) 

by The Chantay’s

Pro: Downey Records 

(Dot: 1963) 

https://youtu.be/4fc57tYou4U  

Another surf rock classic, 

this one by the California group featuring 

three guitarists of whom Bob Spickard played lead. 

Produced by Bill & Jack Wenzel’s indie label Downey.


RAM-BUNK-SHUSH 

(Lucky Millinder/Henry Glover/Jim Mundy) 

by The Ventures

Pro: Bob Reisdorff & Josie Wilson

A Blue Horizon Prod. 

(Dolton: 1960)

https://youtu.be/MtJxAmXwn-A 

A 1952 instrumental by bandleader 

Lucky Millinder, the tune became a 

1957 chart success for organist Bill Doggett.


REBEL-‘ROUSER 

(Duane Eddy/Lee Hazlewood)

by Duane Eddy & His ‘Twangy’ Guitar

Pro: Lester Sill & Lee Hazlewood 

(Jamie: 1958) 

https://youtu.be/xskC4E2jmss 

Duane’s very first smash hit, 

reaching #6 on Billboard’s Hot 100 

in July ’58.


RUMBLE 

(Milt Grant/Link Wray)

by Link Wray & His Ray Men 

(Cadence: 1958)

https://youtu.be/wvxFOQqLzw4 

Standout pulsating fuzztone guitar blast!


STICK SHIFT 

(Henry Bellinger)

by The Duals

Pro: H.B. Barnum 

(Star Revue/Sue: 1961) 

https://youtu.be/9CNcehcJayc 

Also remembered for its effective use 

of an auto sound effect.


THE STINGER 

(Al Casey/Lee Hazlewood)

by Al Casey

Pro: Lester Sill & Lee Hazlewood 

(United Artists: 1959) 

https://youtu.be/f2rhT2o08kQ 

Later Al Casey 45’s included 

JIVIN’ AROUND and SURFIN’ HOOTENANNY.

THE VENURES. THE DOOR TO YESTERDAY. REBEL ROUSERS. GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS. 2020

 WALK - DON’T RUN 

(Johnny Smith)

by The Ventures

Pro: Bob Reisdorff

A Blue Horizon master 

(Dolton: 1960). 

https://youtu.be/WW21rcHiVU0 

The record that started the Ventures’ ball rolling. 

Guitarists were Bob Bogle, Don Wilson and Nokie Edwards 

plus drummer Howie Johnson. 

They reworked it as a surf instrumental 

WALK-DON’T RUN ’64. 

Originally written and recorded by jazz guitarist 

Johnny Smith, the tune was discovered by 

Bob Bogle on a Chet Atkins LP.


WEREWOLF 

(Terry Wadsworth/Gary Hodge)

by The Frantics

Pro: Bob Reisdorff 

(Dolton: 1960) 

https://youtu.be/HfqTpIrmNsU 

A Halloween-themed favorite.


WHEELS 

(Jimmy Torres/Richard Stephens)

by The String-a-Longs 

(Warwick: 1960) 

https://youtu.be/DlI36K0KOQs 

Written by two of the group’s guitarists, 

the single hit #3 on the Hot 100 in March 1961.


WIPE OUT 

(Ron Wilson/Bob Berryhill/Jim Fuller/Jim Pash/Pat Connolly) 

by The Surfaris

(Dot: 1963)

https://youtu.be/0hLeQCnTGq8  

Another California group blessed with three guitarists. 

On WIPE OUT, Jim Fuller played lead and drummer 

Ron Wilson set the powerhouse rhythm track. 

Originally intended to be the B-side of the group’s “Surfer Joe”.  

The group’s manager Dale Smallin provided the crazy laugh intro. 

of theBritish TV rock show.“Ready Steady Go”.

 


As in all my postings,

the recordings listed and referenced above 

are in no way intended as definitive collections.


Please send any comments or suggestions to

 thedoortoyesterday@gmail.com


Rock on.


Alan Warner


© Alan Warner, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material 

without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is 

strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Alan Warner with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.







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