Moovin' 'N' Groovin'

Album: Have Twangy Guitar, Will Travel (1958)
Charted: 72
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Duane Eddy's first single was a tune that he wrote with Lee Hazlewood, an Arizona disc jockey whom the guitarist had met while hanging out at a radio station as a teenager. Eddy and Hazlewood would go on to collaborate on a string of hit instrumental hits, including "Peter Gunn Theme," "Boss Guitar" and "Rebel Rouser."
  • Some music scholars cite this as the first true example of Surf music, partly because The Beach Boys borrowed the opening riff for their tune "Surfin' Safari." "Yeah, they used it," Eddy told Spinner with shrugs and a chuckle, "and I never cared. That's just music, sharing little bits of melody and all, no big deal. You know, Bobby Darin asked me about using the title, Moovin' 'N' Groovin', in his song 'Splish Splash.' No problem, I told him."

Comments: 2

  • Robert from ArizonaBrian Wilson ripped off the intro for "Surfin' USA."

    However, after a little digging, I found that Duane didn't create the opening riff, which was written in late 1955 or early 1956 by Chuck Berry as the intro to "Brown Eyed Handsome Man."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 24th 1958, Duane Eddy performed "Moovin' 'N Groovin'" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Four months earlier on March 2nd, 1958 it entered Billboard's Top 100 Sides chart at position #91, the following week it was at #72, its peaked position on the chart, and in its 3rd and final week on the chart it was at #86...
    And on the same 'Bandstand' show he performed "Rebel Rouser", it stayed on the Top 100 for 14 weeks, peaking at #6...
    Mr. Eddy celebrated his 76th birthday three months ago on April 26th, 2014.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.