The low, twangy, and reverbed tone of
Duane Eddy's late-'50s and early-'60s guitar instrumentals is now such an established sound that it's easy to forget how novel it was when
Eddy first rolled onto the scene. This 26-track set touches some of the high points from those early years, including the wonderful "Rebel Rouser" and the cough-syrup-slow rumble of "The Desert Rat."
Eddy is probably best heard in small doses, since after too many of his instrumentals in a row it all starts to blend together into one big echoing stew, but there's no denying that he is one of the most influential, if a bit unsung, guitarists in the history of modern rock and country. ~ Steve Leggett