The Train Kept A-Rollin'

Johnny Burnette and the Rock 'n Roll Trio, 1956. Solo by Paul Burlison.

Burlison's distorted tone, reportedly from a dislodged amp tube, anticipated fuzz guitar by several years.

The Train Kept A-Rollin' features Paul Burlison's distorted guitar tone, reportedly caused by a dislodged amp tube, which anticipated fuzz guitar by several years. His playing is raw and aggressive, with a gritty, buzzing sound that adds a sense of danger to the song's driving rhythm. Burlison's riffs and solos are simple but powerful, laying groundwork for garage rock and hard rock, and the song was later taken up by The Yardbirds and Aerosmith. Listen for the rough, crackling tone and how it gives each note an edge, and for the way the guitar drives the song forward with relentless energy.

The Train Kept A-Rollin' by Johnny Burnette and the Rock 'n Roll Trio is featured in our Rock & Roll (#21), Rockabilly (#1) lists. The solo is played by Paul Burlison and the song was released in 1956.

In our lists

• Genre Champions — #28
• Beyond the Canon — #1
• The 25 Greatest Rock and Roll Guitar Solos — #21
• The 25 Greatest Rockabilly Guitar Solos — #1

Sources