Shazam! And Other Instrumentals Written By Lee Hazlewood Various Artists (Songwriter Series)

£14.11

Genre:
Instrumentals
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDTOP 1466

Behind many of the great rock’n’roll instrumental acts of the late 1950s and early 60s was a great producer. The Fireballs had Norman Petty, the Champs had Dave Burgess, the Ventures had Bob Reisdorff, Sandy Nelson had Richie Podolor, Johnny & the Hurricanes had Harry Balk and, perhaps most significantly, Duane Eddy had Lee Hazlewood, who not only produced but also wrote many of his signature recordings. It took the emergence of Hazlewood and Eddy to turn what might have seemed a passing fad for rock’n’roll instrumentals into an identifiable genre. Previously, records without vocals tended to be regarded as novelties, but after ‘Moovin’ N’ Groovin’’ entered the charts early in 1958, followed by the Top 10 success of ‘Rebel-’Rouser’, such discs became a stand-alone category and soon every record company sought their own twangy guitar act.

Back in 2010 we issued a collection in our Songwriter series titled “Califia: The Songs Of Lee Hazlewood”. At the time we reported that a companion volume of Hazlewood-penned instrumentals was already in the Ace pipeline. True to our word, albeit five years down the line, here it is at last. Star of the show, naturally, is twangmaster Eddy with ‘Shazam!’, the menacing ‘Stalkin’’ and ‘This Town’, a lesser-known later 45 from Hazlewood’s time writing and producing gems for Nancy Sinatra at Reprise Records. Sinatra herself is represented by proxy via instrumental versions of ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ by Billy Strange and ‘Some Velvet Morning’ by the Afro-Blues Quintet.

The Rhythm Rockers, the Ventures and the Lively Ones also contribute versions of Eddy numbers, while key Hazlewood associates guitar wiz Al Casey, top Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine, renowned arranger/orchestra leader Jack Nitzsche and ace surf combo the Astronauts are also featured. Other highlights include the Mexican-flavoured ‘Muchacho’ by Lee Hazlewood’s Woodchucks, ‘Bo-Dacious’ by the Whisk Kids, ‘Desi’s Drums’ by Dino, Desi & Billy and Dick Dale’s axe-shredding recording of ‘Angry Generation’.

We’ve already started work on our next Lee Hazlewood project, so watch this space (but not for another five years, all being well).

Dave Burke, Mick Patrick & Alan Taylor

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Shazam! - Duane Eddy

  • 02 Preview The Stinger - Al Casey

  • 03 Preview Stalkin' - Duane Eddy

  • 04 Preview Salty - Tony Castle & The Raiders

  • 05 Preview Surfs You Right - Al Casey

  • 06 Preview Movin' - The Astronauts

  • 07 Preview Challenger II - Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars

  • 08 Preview Baja - Jack Nitzsche

  • 09 Preview Moovin' N' Groovin' - The Rhythm Rockers

  • 10 Preview Rebel-'Rouser - The Ventures

  • 11 Preview (Dance With The) Guitar Man - The Lively Ones

  • 12 Preview El Aguila (The Eagle) - The Astronauts

  • 13 Preview The Phantom Driver - Hal Blaine & The Young Cougars

  • 14 Preview The Hearse - The Astronauts

  • 15 Preview Angry Generation - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones

  • 16 Preview Muchacho - Lee Hazlewood's Woodchucks

  • 17 Preview Johnny October - The Challengers

  • 18 Preview Desi's Drums - Dino, Desi & Billy

  • 19 Preview This Town - Duane Eddy

  • 20 Preview Zapata - Jack Nitzsche

  • 21 Preview A Stranger In Your Town - The Vanguards

  • 22 Preview Bo-Dacious - The Whisk Kids

  • 23 Preview These Boots Are Made For Walking - Billy Strange

  • 24 Preview Some Velvet Morning - Afro-Blues Quintet

Delivery & Returns

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You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

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