Johnny Guitar

“Johnny Guitar” is the title track/theme song from the 1954 Western movie of the same name starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden. The theme was written by Peggy Lee and Victor Young.

In spite of a title that would seem irresistible to instrumental guitar bands, no versions exist by either the Ventures or the Shadows. A rendition that did get some world-wide traction was by a Swedish instrumental surf-rock band called the Spotniks (yes, I did say a a Swedish instrumental surf-rock band).