Pop Archives

The Leemen - Johnny Guitar (1960)

(Peggy Lee - Victor Young)
Australia Australia
#5 Sydney #34 Melbourne #18 Brisbane #9 Adelaide #16 Perth

Instrumental by Lonnie Lee’s backing band. In the film it had lyrics written and sung by Peggy Lee.

Red Herring Department: In 1959 a record on the Planet label, Melbourne, My Baby Dolly, was released by "Johnny Guitar with the Henri Bource All Stars and the Moontones" (listed at The First Wave [.pdf]). The identity of "Johnny Guitar" is unknown but Henri Bource, saxophonist and flautist, was one of Australia’s earliest rock’n’rollers, and he was later a member of The Thunderbirds. In 1964 he was the victim of a shark attack, an incident he made a documentary about in 1969 (see listing at Australian Soundtracks).
But I digress…

Suggestion from Terry Stacey.


Peggy Lee - Johnny Guitar (1954)

(Peggy Lee - Victor Young)
USA USA
Original version: soundtrack

With the Victor Young Orchestra.

The title song of Nicholas Ray’s 1954 film starring Joan Crawford and Sterling Hayden. Lyrics by Peggy Lee. See IMDb entry.

Released on a single on Decca label.


The Spotniks - Johnny Guitar (1962)

(Peggy Lee - Victor Young)
Sweden Sweden

Single on Karusell by popular Swedish instrumental band led by Bo Winberg, B-side of Hava Nagila (#13 UK, the highest charting of four UK singles 1962-63).

Further reading: 1. Spotniks at Instromania. 2. Spotniks at All Music Guide.

Thanks to Dave Overett.