If I was gonna get movin’, now was the timeSo I packed up my bags and my Gretsch ’59
When I heard the Stray Cats in the early eighties, I thought I had it on the wrong station. It didn’t exactly fit in with Sheena Easton, Andy Gibb, Barry Manilow, or Dan Fogelberg. What I heard sounded like it came out of 1956, and I loved it. The echo, upright bass, and big Gretsch guitar were there. A 1950s revival had happened in the 1970s, and it started in the 80s with the Stray Cats, but the other rockabilly bands would not reach such high chart positions as they did.
After the Stray Cats brought rockabilly back to radio, Setzer took a wild detour into big-band swing with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, proving that big pompadours and horn sections could coexist. This song is from his 1996 album Guitar Slinger. The song is about a rocker greaser who could out-race, out-play, and out-cool anyone in town.
Setzer has always been a guitarist storyteller, and here he channels every Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, and Link Wray riff he ever loved into one blast. The song kicks off with surfy reverb, blaring horns, and a beat that feels like a V8 engine coming to life (I just had to put a car reference there). Johnny Kool is the spirit of every hot-rod rebel who ever revved an engine down a road.
“The Legend Of Johnny Kool” might not have hit the charts, but it shows what makes Setzer special. He never plays rockabilly as a museum piece; he plays it like it’s still dangerous and fun…and it still is!
(The Legend of) Johnny Kool
I had one cup of coffee and a cigaretteThen I rolled out of bed with my shirt soaking wetIf I was gonna get movin’, now was the timeSo I packed up my bags and my Gretsch ’59
It’s a hard life, loveBut when push comes to shoveIt’s the only life for Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolPlays his guitar and he sang like a foolDon’t let the big boys grind you down
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolHe was a rebel that broke all the rulesEveryone can’t stop talkin’ aboutThe legend of Johnny Kool
It was darker than black, not a star in the skySo I revved on the engine and let that Mercury flyWith the wind blowin’ by at a 105I was trying like hell just to keep it alive
It’s a hard life, loveBut when push comes to shoveIt’s the only life for Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolPlayed his guitar and he sang like a foolDon’t let the big boys grind you down
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolHe was a rebel that broke all the rulesEveryone can’t stop talkin’ aboutThe legend of Johnny Kool
Rumor had it now, this cat had it allHe was loud, he was wild, and he sure rocked the hallSome guy grabbed my arm and I jumped on the stageAnd I was rockin’ with a guy who was twice my age
It’s a tough life, loveBut when push comes to shoveIt’s the only life for Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolPlayed his guitar and he sang like a foolDon’t let the big boys grind you down
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolHe was a rebel that broke all the rulesEveryone can’t stop talkin’ aboutThe legend of Johnny Kool
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny KoolHe’s a rebel, Johnny KoolHe’s a legend, Johnny KoolEverybody can’t stop talkin’ aboutThe legend of Johnny Kool
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