20 FAVE INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS
TODAY........FROM 1960
1. APACHE – THE SHADOWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeBaxJWKeOM
A BRITISH record tops one of my favorites charts!! Yes,you’re not
dreaming or
seeing things. The easily-the-best version of the famous Jerry Lordan
penned tune (pissing all over the dire later Jorgen Ingmann version that
was the US hit) tops my 1960 favorite instrumentals listing.On Columbia
it topped the UK chart for 5 weeks.Failed to chart in USA on
ABC-Paramount
2. WALK-DON’T RUN – THE VENTURES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLcGPF8hQF0
Best American instrumental of the yeae IMO kick starts the long career
of the four man West Coast Ventures guitar team.Originally on Blue
Horizon it was re-released on Dolton where it rose to #2 BBpop and #13 BBr&b..In UK on Top Rank the record made #9 but would likely have done
better still without a high charting cover from The John Barry Seven
(yes the SAME John Barry as the “James Bond” guy)
3. ELMO’S SHUFFLE – ELMORE JAMES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72OGZlGJgyw
Recorded January 4 1956 in Chicago with Elmore James (gtr) Raymond Hill
(ten) Johnny Jones (pno) Eddie Taylor (bs) Odie Payne (dr). Went
unreleased for several years until rescued from the vaults for the Crown
LP compilation “Blues After Hours” (see the YT video for cover picture)
in 1960
4. OOH POO PAH DOO – PART 2 – JESSE HILL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wlsl3uhWKY
One of the very best “Part 2’s” there ever was as Mr Jesse Hill flips
his great “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” r&b classic on Minit over for a terrific instrumental version on Side 2 of the original single. Charted #28 BBpop
#3 BBr&b. On London in UK did not chart
5. SHAZAM! – DUANE EDDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdxTfuwiF1E
Named after the magic word little Billy Batson used to shout in order to
change him into the mighty Captain Marvel in the old comics (yes we got
them over here too!) this is one of Duane’s best IMO taken from his
movie “Because They’re Young”. Charted #45pop in USA on Jamie but did much better in UK on London where it peaked at #5
6. PERFIDIA – THE VENTURES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7zmxxYaFs
Revival of the melody recorded by Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra in 1939
(and a tune famously heard in the 1942 classic “Casablanca” movie) as featured on the Ventures LP “Walk Don’t Run”. On Dolton it charted #15 BBpop..Now on London in UK it did better yet climbing to # 5.
7. (GHOST) RIDERS IN THE SKY – THE RAMRODS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9R_S2GeVQ
I’m always surprised that Duane Eddy never came out with this one in our
time period—a tune that seems tailor made for him. Here the four man instrumental unit from Connecticut give the old 1949 Vaughn Monroe hit
the guitar instrumental treatment on the Amy label. #30 BBpop in US
whilst on London in UK it reached #7 here
8. WILD WEEKEND – THE REBELS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuaczoqX09w
Yeah we know this was by “The Rockin’ Rebels” on Swan and was a big 1963 hit but this was the first release of the number---as by “The Rebels” on the Marlee label in 1960. Same exact recording.Did not chart on Marlee
release but the Swan reissue went #8 BBpop #28 BBr&b. Released in UK (in
1963) on Stateside did not chart despite good airplay
9. PEPE – DUANE EDDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG-4h6ZgxO4
Goodly sounding theme from the not so good 1960 movie “Pepe” starring Cantinflas and a whole host of Hollywood “A” listers translated into a pretty good Duane Eddy performance---his last Top 20 appearance in US
until 1962 (#18 BBpop). On London in UK it did much better peaking at #4
10. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – AL CAIOLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsbnsaCUgrg
Here’s a movie theme tailor made for Duane Eddy that slipped thru his
fingers and ended up being a hit for Al Caiola on United Artists. One of
my favorite movie themes from one of the greatest Westerns ever made.
Charted #35 BB pop #24 BBr&b.In the UK it charted at #29 (would have
done better if not for a hit UK cover by The John Barry Seven---yes
those guys again!! (see #2 entry above)
11. ROCKING GOOSE – JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV79ktgOIlw
Now on the Big Top label the five piece Johnny & The Hurricanes combo
from Toledo with the torrid rocker “Rocking Goose” that charted #60
BBpop but that did much better on the UK chart (on the London label)
reaching #4
12. DISH RAG – NAT KENDRICK & THE SWANS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_visCs08s-c
Following up their 1959 “(Do The) Mashed Potatoes” an incognito James
Brown & co.with a soul workout here that despite some shouting still
qualifies as an instrumental IMO. Released on Dade label did not chart
in USA. In UK on Top Rank it was non charting too
12. GONZO – JAMES BOOKER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj8oesodm7A
New Orleans’ own James Booker (alias “Little Booker”) on the organ here with the memorable “Gonzo” on the Peacock label played often in some of
the London r&b clubs back in the day. Charted #43 BBpop #3 BBr&b . Over
here in UK it appeared on Vogue label non-charting
13. SHOT ROD – CONNY & THE BELLHOPS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI18UII6Cok
Originally released on Damon label but I prefer the more solid
re-recording on “R” label altogether the much better,more driving and
above all MORE ROCKING version. I’ve mentioned here before that it was
also the version we found literally THOUSANDS of copies of in some
warehouse in USA.Nearly everyone in Europe that has this 45rpm probably
got it from us as did quite a few US rock ‘n’ roll fans too.
14. BECAUSE THEY’RE YOUNG – DUANE EDDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leh-DJ3fzfo
For obvious reasons some fans avoid this one (the theme to the movie in
which Duane stars). The string arrangement is not to everyone’s
taste—but that didn’t stop it becoming Duane’s biggest hit of the year both in US and UK. On Jamie it charted #4 BB pop and #17 BBr&b.In UK on
London it was Duane’s biggest ever hit over here--#2 (and for several weeks--kept from #1 by “Apache”)
15. BEATNIK FLY – JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI8OMrO1Y_Q
Their swan song on the Warwick label (they will switch to Big Top for
their next single after this one) updates the old “Jimmy Crack Corn
bluetail fly” song into a pretty good rockin’ instrumental
workout.Charted at #15 BBpop.On London label in UK it charted at #8
16, MADISON SHUFFLE – BUSTER BROWN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipmC308b7Oc
Excellent instrumental followup to his great “Fannie Mae” recorded in
New York City and released on Bobby Robinson’s Fire label circa April
1960 (flipped with “John Henry”). Both sides were included in Buster’s 1962 Fire album “New King Of The Blues”. No UK release on “Madison Shuffle”.
17. CHURCH KEY – THE REVELS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fusj7QxEXTg
Not to be confused with the Philadelphia group of that name (who did the
great “Dead Man’s Stroll”) these are a troupe of California guys who bring us the catchy instrumental “Church Key” on Impact label with the added assistance of one Barbara Adkins providing the mysterious “laugh”.
No chart action no UK release
18. ASIA MINOR – KOKOMO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPiGG66WFdQ
Catchy piano workout from Mr “Kokomo” (alias Philly’s own Jimmy Wisner) adapting Grieg’s “Piano Concerto In A Minor” to the more lucid “Asia Minor”. Issued originally on the small Future label in Philly it
transferred to Felsted where it took off reaching #8 BBpop. Released on
London in UK did not chart
19. LAST DATE – FLOYD CRAMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpJ_gvfPldE
RCA contracted artist and session pianist. Played on many,many RCA
sessions including lots for their #1 artist---Elvis of course--where
Floyd appears on many,many sessions from the “Heartbreak Hotel” one in
1956 thru “U.S Male” in 1968.His biggest hit came in 1960 with the memorable “Last Date” for RCA that
claimed the #2 BBpop slot. It also claimed #3 spot on the BBr&b chart.On
RCA in UK non charting (but he did well in 1961 here with the "On The
Rebound" followup)
20. IN THE MOOD – THE HAWK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRntFi05PI
From a January 1960 session for Sun Records in Memphis here’s Jerry Lee
Lewis going incognito as “The Hawk” in an all instrumental piano workout
on the great old Glenn Miller number “In The Mood”. Session musicians include Roland Janes (gtr) J.W Brown (bs) James Van Eaton (dms).
Released August 1960 on Phillips International. No UK release
BUBBLING UNDER
21, STEADY – JERRY McCAIN
22. MAN OF MYSTERY – THE SHADOWS
23. DOWN YONDER – JOHNNY & THE HURRICANES
24. BEATNIK BEAT – PAUL GAYTEN
25. KOMMOTION – DUANE EDDY
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