One of the characteristics that people often think of when they think of rockabilly music is the famous “hiccup” vocal styles. Elvis, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, and many others used this technique to varying degrees when recording their seminal rockabilly songs. But rockabilly music wasn’t always about the vocals. Several great rockabilly instrumentals also take their place in rockabilly history.

• Bill Justis, “Lewd”: “Raunchy was rock and roll’s first instrumental hit, reaching No. 2 on the US charts in 1957. It was recorded by Sam Phillips at his Memphis Recording Service studios and released on his Phillips record label. The record sold more than a million copies and set the stage for future instrumental rock hits. The sound of the sax on this recording is off-putting. Off-putting but beautiful!
• Link Wray and his Wraymen, “Rumble”: Link Wray is one of the icons of 1950s instrumental rock and roll, and “Rumble” is as evil as it gets. Actually this is a very simple song and the guitar work is not that complex but it has tons of attitude and no one could dare to complain! If there is an instrumental that defines rock and roll, this could be it.
• Duane Eddy, “Rogue Troublemaker”: Eddy is another of the crown princes of instrumental rock. “Rebel Rouser” is also another characteristic tune of the genre. Starting with Eddy’s reverb-filtered tremolo guitar sound, this is a precursor to ’60s surf guitar sounds. He then launches into another nasty-sounding sax solo, ending with a key change. You haven’t heard too many key changes in rockabilly music and this is one of the most famous!
• Joe Maphis and Larry Collins, “Hurricane”: Larry Collins was the mischievous younger brother of the Collins children. Larry and Lorrie were literally just kids when they started making hit records. While most of his songs featured Lorrie’s voice, it was often little Larry, a guitar wizard at the ripe age of 10, who stole the show with his stage antics and dazzling work. of guitar Country star Joe Maphis, also an amazing guitar player, was Larry’s mentor and they would often play together on his double neck guitars. Sometimes both touched a mast of the Sami guitar. “Hurricane” is as wild as it gets and squeezes more notes into under three minutes than any other song I can think of. These guys prove that “shredding” didn’t start with Eddie Van Halen!
• Arthur Smith, “Guitar Boogies”: For those who insist that rockabilly music began in 1954 with Elvis, I present this gem from Arthur Smith. Recorded in 1948, it’s pretty close to rockabilly if you ask me! This is a wonderful guitar based song with the main work done on an acoustic guitar instead of the thrumming electric guitar that appears in most rockabilly songs. If it’s not rockabilly, then it certainly is roots rockabilly!

Those are just five instrumental tunes that prove rockabilly wasn’t just about the vocals. Rockabilly’s instrumentation and virtuosity often didn’t get their due, perhaps because the music evoked such a carefree, fun-loving vibe that people forgot to realize how good those musicians really were. These rockabilly instruments, along with many others, give players a chance to show off!