Number One with an Axe! A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits, Volume 2, 1960-64

By Michael Rays

Guitar-wise, what happened between Buddy Holly and the Beatles?

Michael Rays continues his look at the guitar's role in America's #1 hit songs, this time looking at all the top hits from January 1960 through December 1964. He ranks each #1 hit on four guitar-centric criteria: riffage, rhythm, fills and solos. Each song has a video link so you can watch, listen and enjoy. The Beatles, the Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, Roy Orbison... they're all here! It's a great trip down memory lane.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Rays
• Release date: Oct 31, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370091621

Michael Rays

Michael Rays grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated from Northwestern University and served nine years in the Navy, flying the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. Michael lives in Billings, Montana with his wife and daughter.

Book preview

Number One with an AXE!

A Look at the Guitar’s Role in America’s #1 Hits

Volume Two: 1960-1964

By Michael Rays

Published by Michael Rays at Smashwords

Copyright 2016 Michael Rays

Also by Michael Rays, published at Smashwords:

Six-String Sleuth: A Guitar Player’s Guide to Figuring Out Song Chords

Guitar Odyssey

Guitar Odyssey 2: Talkin’ Dirty

Number One with an AXE! The Fifties

Number One with an AXE! Volume 3, 1965-69

Number One with an AXE! Volume 4, 1970-74

Number One with an AXE! Volume 5, 1975-79

Number One with an AXE! Volume 6, 1980-84

Number One with an AXE! Volume 7, 1985-89

Headers: Scores & Headlines from Brazil 2014

Number One with an AXE! is a look at the role of the guitar in America’s #1 Billboard hits. Guitar gadfly Michael Rays listens to, comments on and scores each #1 hit in terms of four guitar-centric criteria: riffage, rhythm, fills and solos. The result is an exploratory history of the guitar at the pinnacle of American pop music.

It’s time to take a look at the early sixties! What treasures await...?

Table of Contents

Riffs on Guitar Odyssey

Ode to Guitar Players

Methodology Used

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

Facts & Statistics

About the Author

Riffs on Guitar Odyssey

Back to Table of Contents

…you quickly get into the spirit of the project and it becomes great fun to read.

- darkerthanblue.wordpress.com (Deep Purple blog)

Rays creates a chronicle of growth that will immerse and inspire fellow guitar players who have their own 'impossible' playing goals and aspirations…

- D. Donovan, Senior eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

…a surprisingly entertaining read.

- Last Best News

…Michael Rays has crafted a literate, interesting, funny and, oddly, moving account of his six-string journey…

- Missoula Independent

You learn, as Rays did in real time, that the journey towards achieving something, even if it seems simple at first blush, can be trying, surprising, and fulfilling with ample happy accidents in between.

- Guitarkadia.com

Ode to Guitar Players by Michael Rays

Back to Table of Contents

What meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’?

A batch of basic chords strummed ‘round the fire

An introverted teen who’d be a star

woodshedding endless blues licks on a Squier?

A young gal voicing jazz chords warm and pure

An old man finger-picking on the porch

A classicist, with tones that long endure

or metal shredders carrying the torch?

A drunken punker, fast and out of tune

an aging rocker holding onto youth

a bold flamenco player ‘neath the moon

a studious composer seeking truth?

Thus meaneth one who says ‘I play guitar’:

‘I’ve joined the journey infinitely far.’

Methodology Used (aka