Mystery Train

Elvis Presley, 1955, from Non-album single. Solo by Scotty Moore.

Moore's chugging, echo-laden rhythm-lead playing drives a remake of Junior Parker's Sun record.

Mystery Train shows how Scotty Moore could make one guitar sound like a whole rhythm section. He plays a chugging, train-like pattern that mixes bass notes, chords and short lead fills, keeping the momentum going in a trio with no drummer on the record. The slapback echo gives his notes a quick double hit, adding a sense of speed and space. His break is less a solo than a continuation of that driving part, full of rolling licks that push the song forward. This blend of rhythm and lead became essential to rockabilly guitar. Listen for the constant motion in Moore's playing and how the echo makes three musicians sound bigger and more urgent.

Mystery Train by Elvis Presley is featured in our Rockabilly (#5) list. The solo is played by Scotty Moore and the song was released in 1955.

In our lists

• The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #12
• Beyond the Canon — #33
• The 25 Greatest Rockabilly Guitar Solos — #5
• The Best Elvis Presley Guitar Solos — #4

Sources