Blue Jean Bop

Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, 1956, from Bluejean Bop!. Solo by Cliff Gallup.

Gallup gets space for some of his most fluid runs on the title track of Vincent's debut album.

Blue Jean Bop gives Cliff Gallup room to show off the fluid, inventive style that made guitarists study his records for decades. On his Gretsch Duo Jet, his lines glide quickly and smoothly, mixing jazz-influenced runs and chromatic passing notes with rockabilly twang. He uses the vibrato arm and quick slides to add shimmer and movement, so even fast passages sound relaxed rather than frantic. Next to many of his peers, Gallup sounds strikingly sophisticated, and players from Jeff Beck onward have named him as a major influence. Listen for the way his runs flow across the fretboard without losing the song's swing, and notice how the echo lets the final note of each phrase hang for a beat.

Blue Jean Bop by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps is featured in our Rockabilly (#13) list. The solo is played by Cliff Gallup and the song was released in 1956.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Rockabilly Guitar Solos — #13
• The Best Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps Guitar Solos — #3

Sources