Top 10 Duane Eddy Songs

Photo: Raph_PH [CC BY 2.0

Our Top 10 Duane Eddy Songs list takes a look at one of the first great guitarists in classic rock history. Duane Eddy’s twangy guitar sound played a pivotal role in the popularity of rock and roll instrumentals in the 1960s. Duane Eddy released his first single in 1955, entitled “I Want Some Loving.” In 1958 Duane Eddy released his first album entitled Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel. The album contained some of Duane Eddy’s biggest hits, including “Rebel Rouser, Ramrod, and Cannonball.”

Duane Eddy’s most prolific period was the 1960s. However, Duane Eddy released a fair amount of music in the 1970s and has continued to release music into the 2010s. Along the way, outside of releasing his own albums, Duane Eddy produced records for other artists and also pursued an acting career, appearing in five films during the 1960s.

Our Top 10 Duane Eddy songs list is a celebration of our favorites. We hope you enjoy listening to these great tracks.

# 10 – Yep

We open our top 10 Duane Eddy songs list with the classic track “Yep.” There is no better way to start out a Duane Eddy songs list than with a track that opens up with that killer guitar sound. Some Duane Eddy songs featured more Eddy upfront than others. This one is all about Duane Eddy. The great song “Yep.” was released in 1959. Duane Eddy and Lee Hazlewood wrote the song. “Yep.” was released on the Duane Eddy album Especially For You.

# 9 – Ramrod

Continuing with our top 10 Duane Eddy songs list, we turn to the great track “Ramrod.” This was a killer guitar rocker that inspired Bruce Springsteen’s “Ramrod,” released in 1980 on The River album. They are two different songs, but you can hear how much of an influence this one played on Springsteen’s tune. Duane Eddy’s “Ramrod” was released in 1958. The song was issued on the ‘Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel album. “Ramrod” was written by Al Casey.

# 8 – Because They’re Young

There were so many sides to Duane Eddy’s music. There were the all-out guitar rock barn burners. There were television show soundtrack-type songs. Some of the tunes were dance-oriented, and then there were the ones that mixed it all up. Duane Eddy’s “Because They’re Young” was one of those songs that defined all those 1960s genres in one classic tune.”Because They’re Young” was released in 1960. “Because They’re Young” was issued on the album $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang. The song was written by Aaron Schroeder, Don Costa, and Wally Gold.

# 7 – Dance With The Guitar Man

If there ever was a Duane Eddy dance tune, this was the one. Duane Eddy’s “Dance With The Guitar Man” defined the sound of the early 1960’s. “Dance With The Guitar Man” was released in 1962. It was issued on the album Dance With The Guitar Man. The song featured backup vocals by the American girl group The Blossoms.

# 6 – Gunsmoke

Gunsmoke was television’s longest-running show. Duane Eddy’s guitar riffs drift in and out of this haunting presentation of mid-19th-century television. Duane Eddy’s performance of the theme from Gunsmoke was released on the album Lonely Guitar. The album was issued in 1964 on RCA Records.

# 5 – Ghost Riders In The Sky

While many classic rock fans know the great song “Ghost Riders In The Sky” from the Outlaws’ iconic 1970s version, most people do not realize that Duane Eddy cut a great version of “Ghost Riders In The Sky” in 1996. Duane Eddy’s version was released on the album entitled Ghostrider. “Ghost Riders In The Sky” is an old song written by Stan Jones in 1948. It almost feels wrong to call it a song rather than a musical theme, which has become incredibly popular over the past 70-plus years.

“Ghost Riders In The Sky” has been covered by many artists, including The Blues Brothers, The Outlaws, The Ventures, Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, REM, The Tubes, and countless others from the 1950s until the 2010s

# 4 – Forty Miles Of Bad Road

One of our favorite Duane Eddy Songs was released with our favorite title on the album. Duane Eddy’s “Forty Miles Of Bad Road” was issued on the album $1,000,000.00 Worth of Twang. The album was released in 1960. Before the song “Forty Miles Of Bad Road” was released on the album, it was released as a single in 1959.

# 3 – Cannonball

The classic Duane Eddy song “Cannonball” was released on the album ‘Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel. Duane Eddy’s debut album, ‘Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel, was loaded with tracks that would become legendary Duane Eddy songs. If there is one Duane Eddy album that you should own for your classic rock collection, it’s ‘Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel.

# 2 – Rebel Rouser

Choosing which of the following two songs would land in the number one spot on our top 10 Duane Eddy songs list was tough. They are both incredible recordings that show off that trademark Duane Eddy twangy guitar sound at its finest. “Rebel Rouser” was released on the classic Duane Eddy album Have Twangy’ Guitar Will Travel. The song would hit number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958. It would become the second-highest charting hit of his career.

# 1 – Peter Gunn

Everyone knows the “Peter Gunn Theme.” It’s one of those riffs that have become ingrained in pop culture over the past fifty years. Duane Eddy’s recording of “Peter Gunn” is one of the best covers of the song ever released. The song was written by Henry Mancini. Peter Gunn was the theme song to the television show “Peter Gunn.” Duane Eddy’s cover charted both in the United Kingdom and the United States. Eddy’s guitar playing is brilliant in the piece.