20 FAVE INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS
TODAY........FROM 1961
1. HIDE AWAY – FREDDY KING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTT7AhEarbI
Hailing from Gilmer Tx Freddy (or “Freddie” as he’s sometimes billed) moved
to Chicago shortly before joining the Federal roster where the classic
“Hide
Away” blues instrumental was his second 45rpm release.Charted at #25
BBpop
and #5 BBr&b.Released on Parlophone in UK no chart success but plenty of
London r&b club exposure
2. LAST NIGHT – THE MAR-KEYS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yaPBIiNv38
Comprising Steve Cropper & Jerry Lee Smith (both keyboards),Packy Axton
(tenor sax),Wayne Jackson (trumpet),Floyd Newman (bar sax) Gilbert Caple
(tenor sax). Released on Satellite label in Memphis (this predates the
change
of name To Stax). Charted #3 BBpop #2 BBr&b
3. YOU CAN’T SIT DOWN – PHILIP UPCHURCH COMBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtna0PP3JIE
The two parter “You Can’t Sit Down” r&b instrumental first appeared on the
Boyd label where side 2 charted at #29 BBpop (after United Artists had
taken
over national distribution of the record). In fact later singles
appeared on the
main United Artists label getting more and more jazzy with each release.
The
record here appeared on HMV here but despite good airplay never charted
4.SAN-HO-ZAY – FREDDY KING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B89YC3rmeo
Memorable blues instrumental taken from the King LP “Let’s Hide Away And Dance Away With Freddy King” released on Federal single July 1961.
Charted
#47 BBpop #4 BBr&b. Not issued UK
5. LET THERE BE DRUMS – SANDY NELSON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4UFCs5eArg
Sandy Nelson makes a return to the US Top 10 after his initial hit “Teen Beat”
(see the 1959 post in this series). He’s now left Original Sound behind
and is
firmly pacted to Lew Chudd’s Imperial label. “Let There Be Drums” is actually
his SEVENTH single for the label (but the first of those singles to
chart—at #7
BBpop). On London label in UK this charted better still at #3
6. ONE MINT JULEP – RAY CHARLES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njO4y1KYZzE
Ray goes instrumental on this revival of The Clovers’ “One Mint Julep” r&b
hit from 1952 as featured on his LP “Genius + Soul = Jazz” on Impulse. Issued
as a single (on Impulse too) Ray took the number to #8 BBpop and #1
BBr&b
Released in UK on HMV but failed to chart
7. THEME FROM DIXIE – DUANE EDDY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLnnjygMCVY
The familiar strains of “Dixie” (given the “twangs the thang" treatment) signals the last Duane Eddy 45 to make Top 40 now until a label change
in 1962 and the “Paladin” theme. Charted at #39 BBpop in USA and #5 in
the UK where it appeared on London
8. SURFER’S STOMP – THE MAR-KETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErbmyyVcGi8
Originally on the Union label and originally spelt MAR-KETS this
Hollywood
instrumental group took this mild surf instrumental to #31 BBpop when
the
bigger Liberty label took over the reins. On Liberty too in UK but
didn’t chart
9. JIVE HARP – TIM WHITSETT & IMPERIALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48e6d60elz8
Great harp led number by Whitsett who had a long career in the US music business.Waxed for the tiny Trebco label in Mississippi it was picked up
for national distribution by Lew Chudd’s Imperial but failed to chart.
Not released UK
10. STICK SHIFT – THE DUALS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxOxhVdreU0
Not to be confused with the earlier Duals group from New Jersey these
Duals were a Los Angeles based duo with a very early hot rod
instrumental first released on the Star Revue label before being picked
up by Juggy Murray’s Sue outfit in NYC. Charted #25 BBpop. Released on
London in UK but failed to chart
11. THE FRIGHTENED CITY – THE SHADOWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlveYiNvkJw
Theme to the popular 1961 British movie of the same name featuring a
young pre-
Bond Sean Connery in a taut little crime thriller that did very well at
the UK box office. Released on Columbia the Shadows record followed
their other hits into the UK chart where it peaked at #3. Their first
single on Atlantic in US (like all their other US releases) did not
chart
12. STRANGER ON THE SHORE – MR. ACKER BILK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOu64oPh0XA
An out-of-character slow haunting piece by British Somerset-born
clarinetist Bilk originally titled “Jenny” that was speedily retitled
when it was chosen as the theme for a new early evening BBC-TV serial
titled “Stranger On The Shore”. Released on Columbia it topped the UK
chart in January 1962 and later did the same in the USA when released on
Atco. It also made #7 on the BBr&b chart (!)
13. LET’S GO TRIPPIN’- DICK DALE & THE DEL-TONES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwptLeJO5ss
Not their first record but certainly the first record from the surf-rock
combo to grace the charts.Released on Deltone label the catchy
instrumental peaked at #60 on the BBpop chart. Not released in UK
14. TUFF – ACE CANNON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xikvxYWGN_Y
Hailing from Grenada Mississippi John Henry Cannon more commonly known
as “Ace Cannon” was an alto sax playing session man at Sun records in Memphis where he recorded an early version of the Bill Justis number “Cattywampus”—only now retitled “Tuff”. Re-recorded later for Hi “Tuff”
charted in 1961 #17 BBpop
and #3 BBr&b
Here’s the Bill Justis original version as “Cattywampus” with Vernon Drane (sax)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUNgbPPdR2w
15. MR. MOTO – THE BEL AIRS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86kvja40Vko
Catchy Ventures styled guitar based instrumental---take no notice of the
1962 date in the YT clip. I had it as 1962 myself and included it in the
Fave Instrumentals list for that year on here. It’s actually from
DECEMBER 1961 (it was covered in that month by none other than oldtimer
star Vaughn Monroe. On Arvee it did not chart and was not issued in UK
16. BONANZA – AL CAIOLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6IoGpPMGQY
From the hit TV series (on both sides of the Atlantic) here’s the catchy theme tune as played by Al Caiola & company recorded for United Artists.
Sold well enough to score a #19 BBpop hit. Released on HMV in UK but in
spite of good sales did not chart
17. RAM-BUNK-SHUSH – THE VENTURES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eiSpge8itk
Previously released by both Lucky Millinder and Bill Doggett (see the
1957 post in this series) this number became the third release for the
group on Dolton when it was released in early 1961. Charted #29 BBpop.
Issued on London in UK but no chart action
18. QUITE A PARTY – THE FIREBALLS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfYiN1YvUz4
Having left the Top Rank label the Fireballs are firmly ensconced at the Warwick label who release “Quite A Party” in April 1961 where it scores
a #27 BBpop hit. Released on Pye International in UK it scores a #24 hit
19.ON THE REBOUND – FLOYD CRAMER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rATiKnnBE7U
Very catchy piano workout from the famous session pianist who played on
many RCA
classic recordings including memorable Elvis items . Its my personal
favorite of his hit singles (beating the slow “Last Date”) charting at
#4 BBpop and 16BBr&b. On RCA in the UK it reached #3 on UK chart
20. SWANEE RIVER ROCKET – JIMMY ELLEDGE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34OVrW4vJlk
From one very catchy piano workout to another. In the USA this neat
little piano piece was Elledge’s first RCA single release but here in UK
they combined it with his US followup hit version of Willie Nelson’s
“Funny How Time Slips Away” classic as one RCA single.
BUBBLING UNDER
21. MOVIN’ – BILL BLACK’S COMBO
22. BUMBLE BOOGIE – B.BUMBLE & THE STINGERS
23. NIGHT BEFORE – THE MAR-KEYS
24. NUT ROCKER – JACK B. NIMBLE & THE QUICKS
25. IMAGE – HANK LEVINE
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