Ann-Margret "I Just Don't Understand"

[axel]

I wonder if this tune played a key role in the creation of the "60s sound". It's from 1961, written by Marijohn Wilkin, mother of Bucky Wilkin of Ronny & the Daytonas, and produced by Chet Atkins. It has all the ingredients of a moody beat tune. There's a cool, genre epitomising beat version by The Cresters, similar but less haunting, and the Beatles also played it at a BBC session.
What's even more astonishing than the overall 60s mood is the heavy fuzz guitar sound at the beginning and from the second verse onwards. It sounds almost "psychedelic" and definitely more 1966 or '67 than anything from 1961. On the 45 it sounds a lot more biting than on the youtube clip.
I wonder who played guitar and if Chet Atkins did more "adventurous" productions like this in the early 60s. Does anyone know anything more about the story behind this production?
Besides, what a babe she is!

 

[Frantic]

Billy Strange on fuzz. This is the 1st use of the fuzz pedal ever on a recorded song. Anything earlier is just distortion

 

[axel]

Thanks, Joey. You know your stuff. So I hit the bull's eye regarding the fuzz. Is this common knowledge? I thought the first fuzz pedals were officially built in 1962. Was this one maybe self-built? Did Billy Strange use it on any other recording in that period?

 

[Westex]

Came in a nice picture sleeve.

 

[MopTopMike]

Thanks, Joey. You know your stuff. So I hit the bull's eye regarding the fuzz. Is this common knowledge? I thought the first fuzz pedals were officially built in 1962. Was this one maybe self-built? Did Billy Strange use it on any other recording in that period?

I believe Billy used a home-made pedal, from what I recall reading about his days as a session guitarist.

 

[captainsalty]

i don't think it played a key role or anything close, but this (mighty fine) song sure chanells the same folk/ traditional sources that later "garage" bands used (st. james infirmary comes to mind).
interesting that a fuzz is present at this early date. it sounds like directly played into the console. anybody knows more about this?

 

[axel]

i don't think it played a key role or anything close, but this (mighty fine) song sure chanells the same folk/ traditional sources that later "garage" bands used (st. james infirmary comes to mind).

Regarding the US garage bands I think British Invasion and Surf were the major sources. Not so much the folk stuff. Although the mood of the "punk ballads" certainly has a folky vibe.
But the British bands drew from all kinds of sources. Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders doing Curtis Mayfield songs for example. I think when the Beatles started recording with George Martin they were having a close look at what was popular in the States at the time, and were trying to recreate those sounds with a four-piece guitar outfit, soul and girlgroup sound especially (the Stones even did "Da Doo Ron Ron"). And then a few solo acts like Del Shannon. I think John Lennon even copied his singing style. This is pure Lennon 1963 (he never sounded like that in Hamburg or on the Decca sessions):

My guess is that "I Just Don't Understand" played a similar role. The British groups were obviously aware of the song.