Thunderbird (master)

~ Recording by Sonny Burgess & Billy Lee Riley

Annotation

Instrumental.
This is a striking case of a worldwide fallacy, when one is mistaken for another. Of the two instrumental tracks of the same length released on single Sun 304, the fastest (and most popular) is "Thunderbird". However, in the vast majority of later compilations, these recordings are confused with each other: "Thunderbird" is mistitled "Itchy", and "Itchy" is mistitled "Thunderbird".

Annotation last modified on 2020-03-10 06:55 UTC.

Appears on releases

#TitleLengthTrack ArtistRelease TitleRelease ArtistRelease Group TypeCountry/DateLabelCatalog#
Official
1.1Thunderbird2:17Sonny BurgessThunderbird / ItchySonny BurgessSingle
  • US1958-08-10
Sun Record Company304
1.11Itchy (instrumental)2:16Sonny Burgess and Billy Lee RileySun Rockabillys, Vol. 2: Carryin' OnVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Sun Record Company6467 027
1.9Itchy2:13Billy RileyRed Hot RileyBilly Lee Riley and The Little Green MenAlbum + Compilation
Charly Records, Sun Record CompanyCDX 9
1.7Thunderbird2:15Sonny BurgessSonny Burgess Vol. 3Sonny BurgessAlbum + Compilation
Sun Record CompanyLP 1039
1.11Itchy2:18Billy Lee RileyClassic Recordings 1956-1960Billy Lee RileyAlbum + Compilation
Bear Family RecordsBCD 15444
2.24Itchy2:19Sonny BurgessClassic Recordings 1956-1959Sonny BurgessAlbum + Compilation
  • DE1991-07-29
Bear Family RecordsBCD 15525 BH
1.23Itchy2:19Billy Lee RileyRockin’ With RileyBilly Lee RileyAlbum + Compilation
Charly Records, Sun Record CompanyCD SUN BOX 3
1.16Thunderbird2:19Billy Lee RileyFlying Saucers Rock ’n’ Roll (Les Génies du Rock, Vol. 33)Billy Lee RileyAlbum + Compilation
Éditions AtlasRK CD 433
1.22Itchy2:16Sonny BurgessHittin’ That Jug! The Best of Sonny BurgessSonny BurgessAlbum + Compilation
AVI RecordsAVI-CD 5006
3.1Thunderbird2:19Sonny BurgessThe Complete Sun Singles, Volume 3Various ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Bear Family RecordsBCD 15803
3.6Thunderbird2:19Sonny BurgessRockabilly RulesVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
  • GB2012-08-06
Metro Tins (sublabel of Union Square Music, releases in tin case packaging)METRTN041
2.15Thunderbird2:19Sonny BurgessOriginal Rock InstrumentalsVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation
Documents (German, Membran Entertainment Group)233504
1.11Thunderbird2:18Billy Lee RileyRocksBilly Lee RileyAlbum + Compilation
  • DE2019-07-05
Bear Family Productions Ltd. (Bear Family Records since 2013)BCD 17597
1.23Thunderbird2:20Sonny BurgessRed Hot! The Very Best of Sun RockabillyVarious ArtistsAlbum + Compilation

Relationships

producer:Jack Clement
bass:Jack Clement (on 1958-07-22)
drums (drum set):J.M. Van Eaton (on 1958-07-22)
guitar:Sonny Burgess (rockabilly artist) (on 1958-07-22)
J.C. Caughron (on 1958-07-22)
harmonica:Billy Lee Riley (on 1958-07-22)
piano:Charlie Rich (on 1958-07-22)
recorded at:Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, United States (on 1958-07-22)
recording of:Thunderbird (on 1958-07-22)

Related works

Thunderbird

composer:Albert Burgess (rockabilly artist)
Billy Riley
Jack Clement