Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy

Album: Have Twangy Guitar, Will Travel (1958)

Charted: 19 6

Get the Sheet Music License This Song

songfacts ®

This was recorded in a Phoenix studio that had an echo chamber what was originally a large water tank. A speaker was placed at one end of the tank, the microphone at the other, and the guitar "twang" was piped in there.
Hand claps and shouts were provided by The Sharps, who later changed their name to the Rivingtons and hit with "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" and "The Bird's the Word." They even had a mild R&B hit with "Mama-Oom-Mow-Mow" afterwards. >>
Suggestion credit:
Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 2
Lee Hazlewood produced this track and helped refine Eddy's distinctive guitar sound. Hazlewood was a disc jockey in Phoenix before meeting Eddy and recording him in a grain silo, which produced the desired echo effect at low cost. Hazlewood went on record duets with Nancy Sinatra and also her hit "These Boots Are Made For Walking." His solo recordings became cult favorites, and were rediscovered by a new generation of fans when college radio stations started playing them in the '80s and '90s.
Eddy's first album was titled Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel. The guitarist recalled to Mojo magazine November 2010 the coining of the word 'Twangy:' "We were recording in Phoenix, starting my first album, and one of the guys said, 'Man, that guitar sounds twangy.' And (Hazlewood's business partner) Lester Sill fell down laughing. He'd never heard that word and it became a running joke. 'Is that twangy enough?' So we finished the album and called it Have Twangy Guitar Will Travel. To be honest I never really liked the word. I thought it was kind of corny and rather undignified, but at the same time so many people liked it I just shut up and went with it."
This was used in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump in a scene where Forrest (Tom Hanks) runs from his bullies and cuts across a football field. The coaches are so impressed with his speed, they put him on the team.

Please sign in or register to post comments.

Comments: 11

Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 14th 1957, the thirty minute weekly western series "Have Gun, Will Travel" premiered on the CBS-TV network...
The series ran for six years with a total of 225 episodes; Richard Boone {1917 - 1981} played the lead character, Paladin*...
And on September 1st, 1962 Duane Eddy's "The Ballad of Paladin" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #83; and on August 19th, 1962 it peaked at #33 {for 1 week} and spent 9 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1958 and 1986 he had twenty- eight Top 100 hits, with three making the Top 10, "Rebel Rouser" {peaked at 6 in 1958}, "Forty Miles of Bad Road" {reached #9 in 1959} and "Because They're Young", {his biggest hit, peaked at #4 in 1960}...
* His first name was never revealed; though some state it was 'Wire' because on his business card it was printed Wire Paladin.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 25th 1964, Duane Eddy performed "Son of Rebel Rouser" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
(See next post below for chart info)...
The day after this appearance on 'Bandstand' he celebrated his 26th birthday (he was born on April 26th, 1938).
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 29th 1963, "The Son of Rebel Rouser" by Duane Eddy entered the Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart for a two week stay, peaking at #97...
Five years earlier on June 24th, 1958 Duane Eddy's original "Rebel Rouser" entered the Top 100; eventually it peaked at #6 and stay on the Top 100 for 14 weeks...
Between 1958 and 1963 he had twenty-seven records make the Top 100; with three reaching the Top 10 (his biggest hit was "Because They're Young", it peaked at #4 in 1960).
Esskayess from Dallas, TxAlways loved his 'twangy' guitar. I also crack up whenever I see the word 'twangy.'
Don from Oneida, NyRebel Rouser was the sound-spark that initially inspired my interest in playing guitar and it also fostered my entire professional music career over the last 45 years. I have even recorded my own version of the tune with key changes, sans the sax solo and cowboy yelps. I have used his style for many instrumental tunes I have either re-done (like Rebel Rouser) or composed on my own.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyDoes anyone remember a song called "The Girl On Death Row"; it was released in the late 50s, vocals were by Lee Hazelwood with Duane Eddy playing a few cords in the beginning of the song and again as it faded out. {if interested, you can find this song on youtube}
Barry from Sauquoit, NyIn 1958 our town's only rock & roll station {WTLB in Utica, NY; an AM station of course} use to the play the "B" side as often as the "A" side. The title was 'Stalkin' and it had a great bluesy sound {you can find it on youtube}...
Niles from Belpre, OhDuane Eddy records are what made me buy my first electric guitar . ain't been sorry since
Farrah from Elon, NcThis is a super cool song!!! Duane Eddy is one of a kind.
Ray from Paris, TnThis, just like all the other Duane Eddy hits were personal favorites of mine. As I recall I personally bought 5 of his albums and made it a point to watch him on TV everytime I knew he would performing.
Joe from Huntsville, MoThis was used in the movie, "Forrest Gump", in the scene where Forrest runs out onto the football field and "meets" Bear Bryant.

see more comments

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Corey HartSongwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

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

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.