Johnny Burnette - Rock-a-billy Boogie

[bettieboutique]

Love this song, brb, dancing my ass off... ;)

[TheAmargao]

Best rockabilly band ever

[Giantorno1]

Rock na veia

[flatgone]

This song starts out with a beat that drives so hard it sounds like a freight train heading directly towards you! Elvis was great but he NEVER rocked this hard!

[Buddy19591]

The best Music around! Rave on!

[excursaobsas]

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!



[aucksmix]

Burlinson has been pretty much ignored but was an incredible rock-a-billy guitarist. Very innovative, great tone from his Tele.

[TheSnidge]

@aucksmix This is actually session man Grady Martin on guitar not Burlison.Google Grady Martin Paul Burlison to get the lowdown.

[dburlison1]

@TheSnidge Actually two guitars on a number of the Nashville cuts..

[surfercrow]

@TheSnidge Thank you. I was about to reply the same. All you have to do is hear Bigelow 6-200 by Brenda Lee (which is absolutely Grady Martin playing the solo)...Same guitarist as here...No doubt. Case closed. Grady Martin was one of the best!!

[1996adamlagrave]

Bring the style back dont walk around in your pink nikes get your damn converses with your levis and white t shirts come on!

[killuminati63]

where is the sax lol !!!! sounds so dry !!

[DeceasedDeath]

sunrecords56, I don't know if that's true (that his height was a problem), but Dorsey was taller and he sometimes sang lead for the Rock'n'Roll Trio... I guess Johnny didn't want to give the lead singer's role to Dorsey, though. But there were other short artists in the 50's, like Charlie Gracie, etc, so I don't know why Johnny's (lack of) size would have been a problem.

[Ezdduf4kuZ]

Thankyou for postin'. I didn't know Johnny did some rockabilly....some of this rockabilly borders on mainstream r&r like this one. I know Johnny for several songs that made the top 40 playlist here including "Your're Sixteen" and "Gods Country and my Baby" which were both big hits here in the early sixties. I see to my right that Robert Gorden also did this same song...did Robert do the original? Anyway I'll check out Robert's version....the name is new to me..

[EbonyBunny1]

@Ezdduf4kuZ This is the original version, and they wrote the song. The song was actually written and performed locally from 1953, but not recorded until 1957. Had this song been recorded in 1953, the history of music would have changed, because it is truly this song that is the birth of R&R, but because it wasn't recorded when it was written, the song went down in history as just another Rockabilly song that all but rockabilly fans have forgotten.

[EbonyBunny1]

@Ezdduf4kuZ Also, it is from this song that the term Rockabilly comes from. It is actually miss named, because the true title of the song is Rock Billy Boogie, but because of how it sounds when he sings it, it sounds like he is saying Rockabilly and not Rock Billy.

[motorvating]

@EbonyBunny1

Not true.

Bill flag is known to have used the term Rockabilly in 1953, but it is accepted the term was already in use. Rock bill Boogie was about Billy and Dorsey's sons.

[EbonyBunny1]

@motorvating And it was in 1954, not 1953, when Bill Flag started using the term Rockabilly. It is widely accepted, but incorrect , that the term comes from Rock + Hillbilly. First of all, prior to 1955, Rock was never used to describe music. Rock and Roll was a term first used in the 1800's by sailors to describe the ship on rough seas. By the 1920's it was a euphemism in the black community for sex. By the 1930's it was used to describe dancing.

[EbonyBunny1]

@motorvating But Rock and Roll was never used to describe music, until around late 1954 early 1955 when Alan Freed first used the term Rock and Roll to describe music. So how can the Rock in Rockabilly come from a word not yet used to describe music. Like I said the first recorded time the term Rockabilly was used was after this song was written in 1953, a title from their kids Rocky & Billy Burnett. But because it was only played and not recorded on a record.

[EbonyBunny1]

@motorvating People, in the south where the song was played, thought he was saying Rockabilly and not Rock Billy. Because it was a sound never heard before, people started using the title of this song to describe other songs, written after this one that had the same type of sound. Had this song been recorded in 1953 when it was written, the history of music would be different today.

[1950sRockabilly]

@EbonyBunny1 It comes from Hillbilly and Rock n Roll. Rockabilly = a Hillbilly singer playing rock, because all Rockabilly singers started with Country music.

[EbonyBunny1]

@1950sRockabilly No it does not, that is a myth, the term comes from this song. The first use of the term Rockabilly started right after this song was written in '53. Because of the fact is was sung locally for 4 yrs before being recorded, people thought he was saying rockabilly and not rock billy. The title of this video the up loader said Rock-a-billy Boogie even though the tile is Rock Billy Boogie. 60 yrs later people still incorrectly call this song Rockabilly Boogie.

[jackbenimble8855251]

I like old rockabilly!!!

[tunkki321]

Oh crap how fresh this sounds today. Havent heard this "real thing" for over 2 decades.

[EdzPl]

This song is too cool........imagine hearing it in a local honky tonk on a thurs nite. Top entertainment wen u performed mostly just for the love of it....

[sunrecords56]

Studio material was great But being so short he was a poor stage act he looked like a 7th grader when holding his guitar.

[amerikanprincess]

This is so ahead of its time, I'm imagining Robert Gordon listening to it, shaking his head, and saying, "I love this... but I don't know if I can do it..." :) And it's so perfect, it hasn't been matched since. Much has happened in the music this spawned, but its equal has not been recorded. Not even by Robert Gordon.

[rocknrollrebel1000]

rock n roll is all about having a good time wether it be with friends or a girl i thing elvis,gene,and johnnys music can say moe i ever could. im 15 and trying to keep this style and music alive.

[cattalkrecordhop]

As I was growing up I enjoyed all forms of music from Elvis to Black Sabbath, but as I reached my mid-teens, I heard this track and was so blown away by it, that I have spent the rest of my life as a Rockabilly and the 50's life style. Thank you Johnny, Dorsey and Paul.

[killuminati63]

@cattalkrecordhop i think you should check out the reverend horton heat hes amazing !!! ( if you haven't already that is )

[fredfungalspore]

tuff song i play it in 32 deuce jef beck should do a cover

[Anselmopr100]

mama mia como é bom.

[horus11121]

We are one human FAMILY, horus11121

[MrRockabilly1962]

this song is the nuts pure rockin

[pbchad83]

some good rockabilly

[fredfungalspore]

This is without a doubt the best tuff tough song that are have ever heard .He is the best. i have a 32 deuce and play this song flat out I ASK JEFF BECK TO PLAY THIS SONG NEXT TIME HE DOES ROCKABILLY SESSION

[OkJohnnyLetsGo]

true rockabilly. teddyboys forever

[pitzernaldo]

Esta guitarra tem a potência da bomba H !!!!!! Não é a toa que Jeff Beck apontou este guitarra solo do Johnny Burnette como o primeiro guitarrista que ele tentou emular o som.

[yrmop]

De la vraie musique avec quelque chose dedans.

[drivingjack]

C'est vrai! C'était en première rock n 'roll, le jour plus tôt.

[drivingjack]

@yrmop C'est vrai! C'était en première rock n 'roll, le jour plus tôt.

[mcaston1104]

This the precursor to Psychobilly.

[pascal80rebelles]

le top du rockabilly................

[arschka]

This IS stuffffff!

[Rafsrocka]

he seems robert gordon singing  this song

[karnermm]

@Rafsrocka I love Robert Gordons stuff but this was about 20 years before him!

[arielpebbles10]

U really do nice hairstyle

[gibsongold1970]

this is the real deal.real shit.not fake ass fruitloop garbage.rock on!

[missmanju123]

such a great rockabilly tune....johnny burnette...one of the best!!!!

[hydfawr]

Fuck the Politics Ladies. Just dig it!!!

[jafigueroa41]

Telecaster SOUND !

[froilan1062]

LOVE THIS DAAM SONG

ROCKABILLY FOREVER

[wins151]

First time i hear this very good you can hear the C Beery style with the guitar in it great how he changed music for ever thanks now i now what rock-a -billy is this is years after R&R came out Ike & Bill was doing true R&R well b4 this it's like jazz R&R the name came from a jazz record and Rock-a-billy came from this.

[EbonyBunny1]

@wins151 Actually this song predates anything Chuck Berry did. This was written & performed live from '53-'57, but wasn't until '57 it was recorded. The title isn't Rock-A-Billy Boogie, but Rock Billy Boogie. It's from this song that the term Rockabilly comes from, because it sounds like he's singing Rock-A-Billy & not Rock Billy.

[wins151]

@EbonyBunny1 Thanks yes maybe so but you got to consider that the orginal arrangement may of changed between 53-57 To have more of that guitar sound remeber they would of moved with the times as things

changed C B out about 55.

Also yes true about Ike's R 88 song their is a tail going about that song that Ike and co forgot or broke the amps on the way to studio that's why the first 88 song had no guitar lol maybe not rue but Bill's did and that sounded more like R&R as we then know it.

[EbonyBunny1]

@wins151 They could have changed the arrangement from the way it was originaly done, to when they finaly recorded it in '57, I don't know. But I have heard other recordings of theirs, from 1953, with that same driving beat. I read they developed that RnR sound hanging out with Howling Wolf in Memphis. But as much as I love C Berry, his original songs were just copies of songs done previously.

[EbonyBunny1]

@wins151 Listen to Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five - Aint That Just Like A Woman from 1946. All Chuck Berry did was basically change the words to what became a RnR classic Jognny B Goode 1955. Maybelline was an old country song called Ida Red

[wins151]

@EbonyBunny1 Yes i listen to the song Ida Red and no all i could hear is maybe CB took some of the guitar sound just infulence not copied them that is a untrue to make CB look like he copied his songs like EP that is been banded about because of EP lack of orginality untrue you can't tell me where they are the same also L Jdan yes he used the same intro but changed it a bit but he also done a cover of that song the only cover i ever heard him do to be fair B Boys done that to one of CB songs

[EbonyBunny1]

@wins151 When you say Ike, if u mean Ike Turner's Rockey 88 '51, that's still really a blues song & not really a RnR song, but it's leading up to what became RnR a few yrs later.

[0Mosh]

Speed this shit up, its punk rock. It is EXACTLY the same as punk rock. It just uses less distortion and longer guitar solos.

[sharkabilly]

Definitely in the top 5 Rockabilly artists of all time. 

[dburlison1]

If you want to see and hear how Paul Burlison played the distortion/octaves on the trio classics ..ck out a recent youtube entry of P. Burlison playing with DJ Fontana and the Burnette cousins ast age 71 (ck ou last song "HoneyHush")..search Paul Burlison ..go down to "Rock and Roll Trio"...

[MSPATRIOTA4]

Autentico...

[jbakerm]

In my mind, this song has one of the greatest guitar leads of all time.

[eldorado62]

Great stuff. America really had it's shit together way back then. Today, you sit back and wonder just what the hell happened. America's like a whole different country.

[Devkerr]

@eldorado62

it's called globalism, America isn't one anymore its been cut into pieces and left to rot

[TheExquisiteMusic]

@eldorado62 Its simple really. We let the blacks stay in the US whenever the President thought it wise to give them their freedom. He should have told them to go back to their real homeland. This music would still be thriving if it wasn't for their music that I hear walking down the street everyday.

[oramikleepunk]

@TheExquisiteMusic Grow up racist!

[TheExquisiteMusic]

@oramikleepunk Not a racist, I'm a fucking Idealist!

[OkJohnnyLetsGo]

@TheExquisiteMusic yeah mate you just need to lighten up a little bit, that's all you gotta do. just lighten up

[Shoknifeman]

@TheExquisiteMusic Ummmmm.....Blacks invented rock, maybe you should go back where you came from

[UKromany]

@TheExquisiteMusic You really are an ignorant cretin!

[Niurzgius]

Someone forgot to mute Justin Bieber on the tv whilst listening to this.

[SheepOnDrugz]

actually he sings "rocky billy boogie" not rock-billy or rock-a-billy... the record company production people interpreted it wrong from listening... THEY heard 'rockabilly'. that's how the name started, and it stuck.

[brotherdoug63]

The guys broke the mold on this record. I can only imagine what was going on in that conversation outside the studio before this was recorded. Paul Burlison was the best guitarists I have ever heard from that 45 that was released.

[vintagereproguitarra]

@brotherdoug63 PB wasn´t playing .. it was Grady Martin .. sleeve notes were untrue.

[dburlison1]

@vintagereproguitarra Actually both Grady Martin and Paul Burlison on this one..

[gretschabillyuk]

ROCKABILLY AT IT'S BEST....R.I.P JOHNNY..

[MrLuzeks71]

thank you haven't heard it for long time......best time of my life!!!!

[frankiehiyo]

More than likely Session Musicians: Johnny Burnette: Vocal. Grady Martin: Lead Guitar. ( Possibly):Paul Burlison: Second Guitar. Bob Moore: Bass. and Farris Coursey: drums.

[Harmonicajello]

@frankiehiyo What are you on about? On theBear Family issue of "Rockally Boogie: The Classic 1956-1957 Recordings" it states that this was recorded on 4 july 1956 at the Bradley Studio, 804 16th Avenue South, Nashville Tennessee. Johnny Burnette: vocal/guitar; Dorsey Burnette: bass; Paul Burlison: lead guitar; plus Murray M (Buddy)Harman Jnr: drums. If Burlison was good enough to have played with Howlin' Wolf he would not have needed a 'session man' to play his licks for him...

[frankiehiyo]

@Harmonicajello

ROCK BILLY BOOGIE (J.Burnette-D.Burnette-G.Hawki­ns-A.Mortimer) July 4, 1956 - BRADLEY FILM & RECORDING STUDIO, 804, 16th Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee

Johnny Burnette : vocal

Bob Moore: string bass

Thomas Grady Martin : elec. lead guitar

Farris Coursey : drums

[Harmonicajello]

@frankiehiyo Well, why are there two different pieces of data? It amounts to blatant lying on the studio's part, one way or the other. If your information is correct you've made me a disillusioned person and i apologise.

[frankiehiyo]

@Harmonicajello No apology necessary.

At the 1956 recordings at the Pythian Temple, New York. Paul Burlison played on Two classic tracks: Tear It Up and Oh Baby Babe.Plus a couple of other songs. At Quonset Hut (Owen Bradley) it was the rule with many singers that to get the best result band musicians were replaced by studio musicians. The "A-team". Grady Martin (Guitar), Bob Moore (bass), Buddy Harmann (drums) and Boots Randolph (saxophone). Only the singer was allowed to participate.

[Harmonicajello]

@frankiehiyo Well Thanks for the information & for guiding me tothe J & D Burnette discography. Must say i feel let down by the studios & rcord label now, after all, they're not politicans. Why should they lie?

[dburlison1]

@frankiehiyo P. Burlison's son here....Actually there are two guitars on the above song and others recorded by the trio in Nashville in 1956...The fuzz./ distortion riffs are P. Burlison, as he played on others... all the songs were picked out by the trio and not the A-Team...Owen Bradley never said it was only his team on the Nashville cuts and neither did Moore or Martin..Dorsey and my dad were present and played on the Nashville cuts..to say otherwise is pure misguided speculation..

[frankiehiyo]

@dburlison1 This is not a slight on your dad, far from it. Apparently it was the norm for Owen Bradley to use top quality session musicians on many recordings. It would be the same for many singers, including Buddy Holly and Johnny Caroll. The idea was to get as good a professional recording as possible. Yes, there are two guitars on some of the recordings. I believe Paul played lead on some recordings, and second guitar, on some others. Be proud that your dad was a pioneer of the sound.

[dburlison1]

@Harmonicajello P. Burlison's son here...Appreciate your comments...To set the record straight.. There was actually two guitars on This song, Also "Train Kept Rollin" and "Honey Hush" , Not sure about the other Nashville cuts..However, I'm sure my dad was playing the low riff fuzz/distortion on the above songs as he claimed..Grady Martin never created this sound before or after the Trio album..

[Harmonicajello]

@dburlison1 Well that's just great! If Paul Burlison claimed he was playing then it's good enough for me. It's really getting my back up the way some people are maligning him so. I will not have my heroes be portrayed dirt in this way. Thanks.

[AbsintheDream]

Man this song is great, Listening to this really highlights the lack of balls in modern music

[BlueSuedeTom]

Nothin' Rocks like "Rockabilly" Rocks!

[takoma5]

Johnny Burnette one of the ultimate rock n roll heroes..just listen to this!!

[seeburg13]

CLASSIC TUNE GREAT TO DANCE TO...

[clean3]

Grady Martin was one of the top session guitarists in the Nashville 'A'-team.....the lead break here is quintessential Grady....far too deft for Paul Burlison; he is all over classic records including Orbison's 'pretty woman' and much of Horton's better rockabilly material....should be a household name; died 2001 RIP Grady.

[tootsiesdad]

This is THE quintessential rockabilly anthem.

[TheSnidge]

Great guitar on this track by Grady Martin-just one guitar with bass by Bob Moore.

[dburlison1]

@backthisway P. Burlison's son here..Actually two guitars here also..P. Burlison playing the distortion guitar licks as he did on " Train Kept Rollin" and "Honey Hush"

[backthisway]

@dburlison1 Yep - I agree there are 2 guitars here - makes sense now. The solo that starts at approx 0.40 seconds is Grady Martin, Paul is playing that low riff behind .. yep .. I hear that too.

[dburlison1]

@backthisway Thanks for listening..I don't play a guitar..but I don't see how this recording court have turned out any other way than having two guitars..In 1956..I don't see how anyone can say that this GM twice with an over dubbing...the simple low riffs are really not GM's style...

[ralphcraddock]

the definitive version of this song.

all others pale in comparison.

Brilliant!!!!!!!!

[spooge1234]

this music would be great if there werent so many greasers. fucking pussies.

[xxPOISONEDcupcakeXX]

@spooge1234 mmm, not trying to start a war here, but "greasers' is just a stereotype and,mmm well, there arent many of them. and also, enjoy the music, who gives an eff if there are greasers or not.

[borntrippin]

Long live rock n roll

[dburlison1]

P Burlison's son here..Actully..P, Burlison and Grady Martin..P burlison playing the deeper fuzz tone octaves and G Martin playing the treble licks..two gutars as on "Train Kept Rollin" and " Hone Hush"

[TheSnidge]

Guitar on this record by Grady Martin-great stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lilian710]

shinshinkan  shorin ryu

[dburlison1]

P.Burlison's son here...listen to the fuzz tones on this song,"Honey Hush",Train kept a Rollin" and you will hear two leads..my dad on these deeper fuzz tone octaves and gm on the more treble note,,gm did not have four arms to play on 1956 single tracks..There was no rockabilly energy in Nashville until my dad came there in 56..

[future4you]

Gene Vincent and the blue caps?

[dburlison1]

The start of Rock n Roll..at that time no artists to compare with..

[spooge1234]

@dburlison1 haha what about Chuck Berry? he was before this.

[dburlison1]

@spooge1234 Chuck Berry was great,and was a rocker before many..However, Rockabilly , as the name implies, is an upbeat version of country /blues songs..Check Berry and Little Richard are actually in a class by themselves..

[ZUXAZZ]

@dburlison1 Like Jerry Lee Lewis as well - but it's tsill hammering away! GO! CATS, GO!

[sonoracuba]

yeeaaahh that rocks

[rockabilly970]

wicked track cherrs

[ZUXAZZ]

Robert Gordon is alright, but you can't beat the real thing! Am I right?

[ZUXAZZ]

GO CAT GO!

[MarcoAG100]

Do you REALLY like Rock-aBilly?

Just visit:  w w w .LosGatosRockabilly . com *WONDERFUL MUSIC !!!

[ZUXAZZ]

Okay! I didn't know that. Thank you :o)

[ZUXAZZ]

Well... If this is trio - who's playin, the drums???

[sitrep12]

on the back of the album, it says johnny himself played the drums.

[TheRockabillybabe]

...one of the best songs ever...

[ZUXAZZ]

@TheRockabillybabe I love you!

[arielpebbles10]

sick ass song

[Weidenberg]

You`re such a stupid smart ass!

[TheTerrorzwerg1991]

bin zwar eig. der hip hop und techno hörer ab der das geht auch ab. halt 50er jahre richtig geil!! HOTRODS!!! ever

[Weidenberg]

Darauf kannst du wetten. Hör dir mal Bill Haley an. Das groovt auch heute noch nach 55 Jahren. Long live Rock and Roll.

[santinostar]

Great

[au05232003]

that's an understatement but it'll work lol!

[roger131067]

ace song

[MrRockaelvis]

fantastic guitar ,fantastic voice , fantastic song viva de nuevo johnny burnette auuu yeeaahh

[mumsgeburtstag]

ohh year, I want dance!

[ArrivaLaFranja21]

any ladies want to dance??

[B1o2o3m4e5r6a7n8g9]

I heard much better songs. Nothing good or special

[KingFan100]

fantastic song

[wonittwice]

Cant stop playing this, amazing, how can you keep still to this when that beat is a pumping???? Brilliant!!!!

[karateslaginnek]

yup i feel it!!!!!!!!!!!*********10

[crackerHero]

dont fuck with the south

[spooge1234]

@crackerHero i shit on the south.

[crackerHero]

then git out!!!

[Weidenberg]

@crackerHero

I just fuck with women:=) best wishes from good ole germany

[crackerHero]

we all fuck girls but i meant something else Deutsche

[Weidenberg]

@crackerHero

In the south there is still much too much racism. Be ashamed!

[crackerHero]

people of all nations and color are constantly stereotyped and even the southern way of life will always be dubbed as "racist" by idiots and non whites who use that word as a defence for thier own stupidity

[nzoneaffe]

rhythm like a train

[titi661966]

ça c'est du rockabillie

[TheSunRecords]

Talking about a classic song.... guitar solos, lyrics... everything.

[m1947n]

That! s the way to rock nd roll

[marcuslager]

WHAT A SOUND.

[dkfelix]

Funny that Johnny and Dorsey's sons were named Rocky and Billy!

[EbonyBunny1]

@dkfelix That's because the song was titled after their names them in 1953, but not recorded until 1957. It's actually titled Rock Billy Boogie not Rock A-Billy boogie, it just sounds like he is saying Rack-A-Billy, and it is this song where the term Rockabilly comes from. The word rockabilly is NOT a combination of Rock and Hillbilly like you will read in many places, but from this song Rock Billy Boogie. If you listen closely you can tell he is really saying Rock Billy and not rockabilly.

[belzazzar]

Wow! This sure is great timeless music!

[honkeytonker]

you got good taste in music then......rip it Johnny!!!!!

[greaser101chick]

I LOVE DIS SONG....