Search - Duane Eddy :: Because Theyre Young

Fully twangin' originals

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 02/14/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There are many Duane Eddy compilations on the market, often available very cheaply, but many say in the small print something like "tracks may have been re-recorded by the original artist to ensure high quality". One wonders how many times Duane Eddy has gone into a studio for a few hours to knock out his greatest hits with a couple of anonymous sidemen, and why this would make better sense commercially to anyone than licensing the original tracks. The originals have passed into history and have a value as artifacts that is unique and that re-recordings can never have, however good. 



Duane Eddy is long overdue for an extensive reissue programme and a comprehensive compilation spread over two or three CDs. Meanwhile, this useful collection contains 19 fully twangin' original recordings from his Jamie period up to 1961, with Lee Hazlewood in the producer's chair and the Rebels kicking up a storm. Although mostly comprising his hit singles, beginning with his first, Moovin''n' Groovin, and including Because They're Young, the theme from the film in which he also had an acting role, as well as the Peter Gunn theme, there are also couple of tracks from his 1960 album Songs Of Our Heritage on which he swaps his usual Gretsch, with its heavy duty strings fed through an echo chamber, for a conventional guitar.



There is nothing from his RCA, Colpix or Reprise periods of the late 60s and early 70s but there are two later British hits included: Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar was written for him by Tony Macauley and saw him back in the UK Top Ten in 1975 with the Rebelettes providing some vocals. He was back on Top Of The Pops in 1986 when Art Of Noise revived his Peter Gunn Theme and invited him to provide the guitar lead. The version here is the full length 7.27 version, longer even than the extended CD single version, and makes an excellent finish to the CD"

Rare, hard to find, Duane Eddy tunes

D. J. Mccourt | 04/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most Duane Eddy CDs contain 'Rebel Rouser', 'Because They're Young', and the hit single verson of 'Peter Gunn'. This one has all of those along with a 7 minute version of 'Peter Gunn' that is by far the coolest, hipist verson ever made. It also contains, 'Play Me Like You Play Your Guitar', a song with an awful title but beautiful lyrics - 'If he played me like he plays that old guitar he's always strumming, ran his fingers though my hair, I'd play a love song too'. The combination of Duane's guitar and the beautiful voices of the Rebelettes is absolutely marvelous. The CD is rounded out by numerous Duane Eddy standards such as, 'Forty Miles of Bad Road' and 'Dixie'. If you love great guitar work, you'll love this album."