“Wheels”
Another tune I learned from the aforementioned Blackie Cool record. For years I thought this was an old folk song of vague origin perhaps popularized by Chet Atkins at some point. I felt my theory strengthen when a Grand Old Opry clip from the 1960s featuring the McGee brothers surfaced.
But it wasn’t until very recently I found out this was actually a pop(!) hit from 1961! #3 on the billboard 100 no less. Released in 1960 by The String-A-Longs during that glorious pre-Beatles era when instrumental tunes were popular and south bay bands ruled. As a bonus, the guitar was quite often played like a legit and grown up instrument back then. What a time to be alive . . . I guess for me this counts as a modern pop cover.
The tune is just great fun to play in general but it’s also one of my favorite types of songs: one that only has two chords. Of course, you get just about every variant of A and E7, but that’s what makes it fun. Jennie uses both hands on the accordion but Tom only needs one for that Tuba. Video 17 of 2017.
1 окт 2024