Theme from “The Magnificent Seven”

You know this one. From one of the greatest film scores ever, this particular theme was used in commercials for Marlboro cigarettes starting in 1963. In my arrangement I tried to imagine how the Ventures or a surf-rock band might present it.

Theme from Bonanza

Not much explanation needed here. If you were around, you remember the show and the famous theme.

Because They’re Young

Duane Eddy’s biggest-ever hit was with this tune in 1960. It is the theme from the movie of the same name: a 1960 film from Columbia Pictures, starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-starred Tuesday Weld, Michael Callan, Warren Berlinger, Roberta Shore, Doug McClure, and Victoria Shaw. Duane Eddy and James Darren had cameo roles as themselves.

Wham

This tune was Lonnie Mack’s 2nd top-40 hit in 1963, although it did not climb as high as his first, “Memphis”.

The Ventures included this in volume three of their 2006 “60s Rock Instrumental Collection” series.

In Memoriam: Lonnie Mack & Memphis

As a long-time student of guitar who believes in giving full credit to those who shaped our instrument, I had to pay tribute to Lonnie Mack. This version of “Memphis” is based on his hit from 1963. The Ventures also recorded a version based on Lonnie Mack’s approach on their 1967 album, “Golden Greats”.

 

 

“In the Shadows” Playlist

Here is a playlist with all 25 songs from my “In the Shadows” project: 24 covers and 1 original tune all in sixties guitar rock style.

Theme from Rawhide

This is my instrumental arrangement of the theme from Rawhide, which was a very popular Western TV show starring Clint Eastwood. It was on the air from 1959 – 1966. Composed by Dimitri Tiomkin, this theme is very recognizable, originally performed as a vocal (with lyrics by Ned Washington) by Frankie Laine. It also figured humorously in the original Blues Brothers movie.

Forty Miles of Bad Road

This was a top-ten hit for twang-master Duane Eddy in 1959.

Shazam

This is a song written by Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood and originally recorded by Eddy. The song reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart and #45 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960.

Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter

This is my instrumental cover of “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” .The best-known version of this song is by Herman’s Hermits, who took it to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1965. It was originally sung by actor Tom Courtenay in “The Lads”, a British TV play of 1963. This version was released as a single on UK Decca. Interestingly, Herman’s Hermits version was never released as a single in the UK.

 

FBI

This was a 1961 top-10 hit in the United Kingdom for the Shadows. My arrangement is not a literal cover.

 

 

In the Shadows #20: The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

This was a #3 hit for Bobby Vee in 1962. I’ve borrowed some of the original footage for my video. It seems pretty racy for 1962.

Honky Tonk

Written and originally recorded by Bill Doggett, this tune is a staple for instrumental guitar bands.

Sukiyaki

This is my instrumental cover of “Sukiyaki”. The original recording of this song was the Japanese-language version performed by Kyu Sakamoto. The song was written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei and composer Hachidai Nakamura. Ei wrote the lyrics while walking home from a Japanese student demonstration protesting the continued US Army presence in Japan, expressing his frustration at the failed efforts.

It was a number 1 hit in the USA in 1963. The title “Sukiyaki” ( a Japanese hot pot dish with beef) does not appear in the song’s lyrics, nor does the dish have any connection to the song; it was used only because it was short, catchy, recognizably Japanese, and more familiar to English speakers.

 

The Ventures included a cover on their 1963 album, “Let’s Go!”.

In the Shadows #17: Ferry Cross the Mersey

Not many people know that this great song was actually written to be the title track of a movie. Beatles manager Brian Epstein also managed Gerry and the Pacemakers, and put the film together to feature them much as he had with the Beatles and “A Hard Day’s Night.” I’ve borrowed some footage from the trailer and the film for this video, along with some footage of a TV performance.