$1,000,000 Worth of Twang explained

$1,000,000 Worth of Twang
Type:compilation
Artist:Duane Eddy
Cover:$1,000,000 Worth of Twang.png
Alt:Photo of the artist stood behind three stood-up guitars and one banjo lying down. His name, the album title, the track list, and the record label's logo are printed around him.
Released:1960
Genre:Instrumental rock, rock and roll
Label:Jamie
Producer:Lee Hazlewood, Lester Sill

$1,000,000 Worth of Twang is a compilation album by guitarist Duane Eddy.

Chart performance

The album was released in 1960 on Jamie Records (catalog no. JLP-70-3014). It entered Billboard magazine's pop album chart on December 26, 1960, peaked at No. 10, and remained on the chart for nine weeks.[1] It was one of only two Duane Eddy albums to enter the top 10, the other being Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel.[1]

The popularity of the album led to the 1961 release of "$1,000,000 Worth of Twang, Vol. II".[2] [3]

Reviews

At the time of its release in November 1960, music reviewer Gee Mitchell wrote: "'$1,000,000 Worth of Twang' (Jamie) stirs up action aplenty on things like 'Rebel Rouser', 'Moovin' and Groovin',' and 'Because They're Young.' But, better turn the volume down a notch or two."[4]

AllMusic gave the album a rating of four-and-a-half stars, with reviewer Cub Koda calling it a "solid best-of collection".[5] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music also gave the album a rating of four stars.[6]

In January and February 2017, the ARChive of Contemporary Music featured "$1,000,000 Worth of Twang" in its window with web site commentary by head archivist Fred Patterson. Patterson described the album as "our own idea of what is worth a million dollars . . . a compilation of Duane Eddy's biggest hits up until 1960, hanging in our window to remind folks about the important things in life. Yes. Twang!"[7]

Track listing

Side A

  1. "Rebel Rouser" [2:02]
  2. "Cannonball" [1:52]
  3. "The Quiet Three" [1:57]
  4. "Bonnie Came Back" [1:59]
  5. "Because They're Young" [1:59]
  6. "Theme for Moon Children" [2:15]

Side B

  1. "Moovin' 'n Groovin'" [2:03]
  2. "The Lonely One" [1:40]
  3. "Forty Miles of Bad Road" [2:10]
  4. "Some Kind-a Earthquake" [1:17]
  5. "First Love, First Tears" [2:05]
  6. "Kommotion" [2:25]

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Billboard Book of Top 40 Albums. Billboard Books. Joel Whitburn. 1995. 100. 0823076318.
  2. News: Record Review. Courier-Post. Robert J. Ritchie. December 30, 1961. 14. Newspapers.com.
  3. News: Album Reviews. Billboard. December 18, 1961. 26.
  4. News: Teen Idols Take Over Ne Discs. Dayton Daily News. November 11, 1960. 26. Newspapers.com.
  5. Web site: $1,000,000 Worth of Twang. AllMusic. December 25, 2020.
  6. Book: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Omnibus Press. 2011. 978-0857125958.
  7. Web site: Million Dollar Twang. ARChive of Contemporary Music. October 9, 2022.