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Guitar Man (song)
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Wikipedia article
"'Guitar Man'" is a 1967 song written by Jerry Reed, who took his version of it to number 53 on the Billboard country music charts in 1967.
Soon after Reed's single appeared, Elvis Presley recorded the song with Reed playing the guitar part, and it became a minor country and pop hit.
Elvis Presley versions
According to Peter Guralnick in his two-volume biography of Presley, the singer had been trying unsuccessfully to record the tune, but wasn't happy with the groove. He said something to the effect of: "Get me that redneck picker who's on the original tune", and his staff brought Reed into the studio - who nailed it on the first take (though this romantic account is contradicted by a studio tape of the session that documents the first, second and fifth takes which are available on video-sharing website youtube.com). The single spent one week at number one on the country chart.
Thirteen years later, "Guitar Man" was re-recorded in a new electric arrangement, with Presley's original vocal left intact, and it was the last of his eleven number-one country hits. The record also peaked at number twenty-eight on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 and was his last top-40 pop hit in the U.S.
'Personnel (Elvis Presley versions)'
Credits sourced from Keith Flynns research of RCA and AFM paperwork.
'1967 version'
* Elvis Presley lead vocals
* Scotty Moore rhythm guitar
* D. J. Fontana drums
* Jerry Reed acoustic lead guitars
* Chip Young rhythm guitar
* Harold Bradley rhythm guitar
* Charlie McCoy rhythm guitar
* Floyd Cramer piano
* Bob Moore double bass
* Buddy Harman drums
'1981 version'
Credits from Keith Flynns research of RCA and AFM paperwork.
* Elvis Presley lead vocals
* Jerry Reed electric lead guitars
* Jerry Shook guitar
* Larry Byrom electric guitar
* Mike Leech bass
* Jerry Carrigan drums
* David Briggs piano
Chart performance
Jerry Reed
Elvis Presley
References
Category:Songs about musicians
Category:1967 songs
Category:1967 singles
Category:1981 singles
Category:Jerry Reed songs
Category:Elvis Presley songs
Category:Songs written by Jerry Reed
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