When I wrote up Robert Gordon last week, he covered a song by this artist. Love his voice and the intensity of Sun Records. His voice is what made me listen right off the bat.
Riley grew up in rural Arkansas in the 30s and 40s. He soaked up hillbilly music, blues, and raw Southern grit. By the time he drifted into Memphis in the mid-1950s, he already sounded like someone who’d lived hard and fast. Sam Phillips loved his edge and his delivery that felt like it could veer off the rails at any moment. He cut a string of in-your-face singles, Flyin’ Saucers Rock & Roll, Trouble Bound, and of course, this 1957 song, Red Hot. Records that were made with urgency and no restraint.
It has been said that Riley was every bit as talented as his Sun peers, but timing and luck never quite lined up, leaving him almost-famous. This song should have been his ticket, but instead it became a cult classic, passed down among rockabilly obsessives. He was on the same label as Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison. Riley was competing in a house full of once-in-a-generation talent, and someone had to draw the short straw.
I love the sound of him swinging hard at the big time with his records. To hear his recordings, he gave everything he had. Decades later, this song it still jumps out of the speakers like it wants another chance, and it deserves one. History isn’t just about the winners; it’s also written by the ones who swung just as hard and never got the crown. I tend to lean toward that crowd.
The song was written by his labelmate Billy “The Kid” Emerson in 1955.
Red Hot
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat), yeah
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat)
Well, she ain’t got no money
But, man, she’s really got a lot
Well, I got a gal, six feet four
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feets out the door, but
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat), yeah
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat)
Well, she ain’t got no money
But, man, she’s really got a lot, yeah, alright
Well, she walks all night, talks all day
She’s the kind of woman who’d have her way, but
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat), yeah
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat)
Well, she ain’t got no money
But, man, she’s really got a lot, woah, alright
Well, she’s the kind of woman who lounges around
Spreads my business all over town, but
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat), yeah
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat)
Well, she ain’t got no money
But, man, she’s really got a lot, woah, alright
Well, she’s a one-man’s woman, that’s what I like
Not a wishy-washy woman, change her mind every night, but
[Chorus]
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat), yeah
My gal is red hot
(Your gal ain’t doodly-squat)
Well, she ain’t got no money
But, man, she’s really got a lot
…
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I remember the version by Robert Gordon and Link Wray, from ’77.
But you knew that…. duh….
Hey I liked it as well! John…when I first heard Gordon sing it…I didn’t realize how close he sounded to Riley
“Swung hard and never got the crown”. You talking about the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays Max? Haha… I’m reading between the lines …
The baseball gods will get you for that one deKe LOL.
And someone said “fair warning” lord gonna strike that poor boy down….
lol…
A cruel curve ball burn DeKe!
Yea…I wasn’t touching that one!
Doodly-squat (or its common variant, diddly-squat) is a colloquial slang term meaning absolutely nothing, a tiny amount, or something that is worthless, often used for emphasis in negative contexts. His girl being 6 foot four inches, “sleeps in the kitchen with her feets out the door” is a very funny line.
Yes I like that as well. I used to use Diddly squat every now and then.
I’ve done doodly squat more often than not!!!
Doodly squat is diddly squat with a bo diddley beat.
That works
Naw!!! If it works it ain’t doodley. Which is close to Dudley and that’s dooing right.
(Yes, I shall stop now.)
lol…carry on!
You ain’t saying nuttin’
And saying it with style and grace, I might add. Although I think Grace wants to go back to her friends.
🙂
Totally love this guy. Always wondered why he didn’t do better at the time. But as you say with a roster like that everyone can’t be at the forefront.
That is what I was wondering as well….you can tell he put everything he had into it. Thats what was heartbreaking… it reminded me of Janis or Springsteen…how they give you everything but it didn’t work.
He was not at a loss for energy that’s for sure.
Randy, the reason why this song was never a hit is preposterous and obvious. Can you imagine how many drunken swings would have been made at how many cover bands had the lyric “Your gal ain’t doodly squat” was performed every night?
(I warned you the reason was preposterous.)
Lol. That’s an incredibly astute and hilarious observation.
when I first glanced at the title I read it as ‘Bill Haley’. Doesn’t sound that far off something Haley might have done though!
Yea…except this guy has a more cutting voice…it something that Haley would have done though.
I bust out in voice for the first few lines of this one quite often.
Just the two lines, CB, that’s all you need. 🙂
Yes and I commit 100%
Now that would be an entrance. This one surprises me…I thought it was written by Robert Johnson…different variation I guess.
I told you about a buddy who went nuts for this song. I played the Gordon/Link version and then he pointed me to this one.
Thats right…I remember that. I liked the Flying Saucer cut so much…that I went back to Riley on this. When Gordon was doing his vocal…I hear some Riley in there.
I had a bunch of rockabilly to talk about to you and Riley was one of them. Robert Gordon carried the torch with passion for the music and the guys and gals that came before him.
This guy really impressed me CB…I go on and on about it but like Janis and Springsteen…he gave everything he had and you can tell. I respect that so much more than just mailing it in.
No kidding. When singers commit its pretty easy to tell because it usually moves us. Van is another one of many that i like
Good point on Van…
Allow me to be serious for a moment and say the reference to Billy The Kid Emerson is a link to a song in Ry Cooder’s repertoire and that ain’t doodly nothing.
Not squat but nothing…
Yeah, its a shame someone has to sit and warm the bench, so to speak.
That is true…and he did but he had some pretty good hitters around him
Never heard of him. Very good with energy to burn.
Thats what I liked about him
lmao on the lyrics! “she ain’t got no money” reminds me of that song, “First I Look at the Purse”
I’m new to Billy Riley but I immediately like “Red Hot” and the two other songs you called out. Also, you gotta love the name of his backing band The Little Green Men!
He was the whole package…but he just didn’t get over the hump…fun songs
That is a distinctive voice – so gravely.