RAUNCHY - the 3 1957 versions

All 3 were on the US Billboard charts, with Bill Justis being the originator. These are from the original vinyl singles for the most authentic sound.
1) 0:00 - Bill Justis - #2 Pop, #1 R&B.
2) 2:22 - Ernie Freeman - #4 Pop, #1 R&B.
3) 4:36 - Billy Vaughn - #10 Pop.

This is very historical, and a lot can be written. I think it was the FIRST Rock&Roll instrumental with the "Big Guitar" sound. Justis' was a basic rendition and it has been developed a lot farther as the years went by. It has been reissued in electronically-created stereo. Justis himself rerecorded it at least 3 more times in the next couple decades. I found his single recently and assume this is the original label.
Of these three my favorite is Vaughn's. The guitar comes out best.
Freeman doesn't hold the last guitar note in the line. He hits it twice.
I think the song was best done by Duane Eddy in 1965 on the album Twangin The Golden Hits. I hope to do a second set with that one. He holds the second guitar note and slides it a bit, which is the effect that's needed.

In case of copyright problems I invite you to contact me directly and arrange cooperation.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rock&roll
• instrumental
• Raunchy
• Justis
• 1957
• 1950s

[Oldiesmann]

Amazing that three different artists could all have a top 10 hit with the same song in the same year. That would never happen these days.

[lildarkhorse]

This is the song that got George Harrison into The Beatles. He played it for John Lennon and boy was he floored!

[althazarr]

Nice to hear these three versions together. I'm about to post the Bill Justis version on a Canadian Quality label 78 rpm.

[TheChrisbes]

Thanks.My favourite one is Bill Black's, but I love BJ's

[Dickneeds]

Both Freeman & Justis were big here on the East Coast. Vaughn was not but the flip Sail Along Silvery Moon was huge. Freeman more R&B, Justis more Rockabilly and Vaughn just pop.

[ausfan100]

Ernie Freeman's version wins hands down in my book. Any instrumental with Ernie Freeman on keyboards and the great Plas Johnson on sax can't be beat. Add Earl Palmer on drums and Irving Ashby on guitar. Freeman's version really rocks compared to the other two versions which are a bit sluggish in comparison.

[dyskover]

the billy vaughn version is by far the best....guitar is rudimentary, but the sax and the backbeat, and the keyboards are great...

[AntiqueRadiodoc]

Interesting note on the east / west versions. I prefer Ernie Freeman's version (I was raised out west!) Love that sax & the "rinky-tink" piano too.

[TheSkaggs54]

@Jpr422 you and i both my friend you and i both!!

[6grad7]

Love it!! I can listen to this over and over!!

[jpr422]

Oh, if only it were possible to take a time machine back to the 50's.