Raunchy (instrumental)

Raunchy (instrumental)

"Raunchy" is the name of an American rock and roll instrumental hit from 1957. It was recorded by Bill Justis and his band in Memphis, Tennessee, and co-written by Justis and Sid Manker.

"Raunchy" may have been the first song to use the twangy solo lead guitar format, which was developed by others and became a staple for the next few years. Justis played the saxophone and Manker played the lead guitar. Released on Phillips International Records, it charted in the U.S. at #2 Pop and #1 R&B.

The lead guitar work was rudimentary in comparison with later instrumentals. In later years Justis rerecorded an improved definitive rendition with a stronger guitar.

Competing with the Justis release in 1957 were other versions of "Raunchy," by Billy Vaughn and Ernie Freeman. Freeman's version was his biggest solo success, reaching #4 on the Pop chart and #1 on the R&B chart in 1957.

Soon after the hit, guitarist Duane Eddy, with producer Lee Hazlewood, took it upon themselves to develop that style to an ultimate degree. Far from a light lead guitar sound, they greatly enhanced the reverberation in their recordings. Eddy started with the big hit "Rebel Rouser" in 1958, but later made a recording of "Raunchy" for the RCA Records album Twangin' the Golden Hits in 1965.

"Raunchy" was recorded by many groups in the following years, either on singles or albums. They included The Ventures, Bill Black, Tom and Jerry (guitarists), Al Caiola, Billy Strange, Bill Smith Combo aka Tommy & the Tom Toms (Chess #1780), and The Incredible Bongo Band.

In 1958 a then fourteen-year-old George Harrison performed the song to John Lennon (and Paul McCartney) on the top deck of a bus, and was so note-perfect Lennon decided to let him into his band, The Quarrymen, which later became The Beatles, despite earlier reservations about Harrison's age.

Years later, while working on the Beatles Anthology project in 1994, the three surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, played this song during a jam session. Video