Moovin' 'N' Groovin'

Album: Have Twangy Guitar, Will Travel (1958)
Charted: 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Duane Eddy's first single was a tune that he wrote with Lee Hazlewood, an Arizona disc jockey whom the guitarist had met while hanging out at a radio station as a teenager. Eddy and Hazlewood would go on to collaborate on a string of hit instrumental hits, including "Peter Gunn Theme," "Boss Guitar" and "Rebel Rouser."
  • Some music scholars cite this as the first true example of Surf music, partly because The Beach Boys borrowed the opening riff for their tune "Surfin' Safari." "Yeah, they used it," Eddy told Spinner with shrugs and a chuckle, "and I never cared. That's just music, sharing little bits of melody and all, no big deal. You know, Bobby Darin asked me about using the title, Moovin' 'N' Groovin', in his song 'Splish Splash.' No problem, I told him."

Comments: 2

  • Robert from ArizonaBrian Wilson ripped off the intro for "Surfin' USA."

    However, after a little digging, I found that Duane didn't create the opening riff, which was written in late 1955 or early 1956 by Chuck Berry as the intro to "Brown Eyed Handsome Man."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 24th 1958, Duane Eddy performed "Moovin' 'N Groovin'" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Four months earlier on March 2nd, 1958 it entered Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart at position #91, the following week it was at #72, its peaked position on the chart, and in its 3rd and final week on the chart it was at #86...
    And on the same 'Bandstand' show he performed "Rebel Rouser", it stayed on the Top 100 for 14 weeks, peaking at #6...
    Mr. Eddy celebrated his 76th birthday three months ago on April 26th, 2014.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.