6/12/11 – The “Red Hot” Cat Fight!

Friday Night Cat Fight Podcast

“Red Hot”

The Friday Night Cat Fight takes on one of the most rockin’, hot burnin’ rockabilly sides of all-time, “Red Hot.”  But the tune didn’t start out as a rockabilly barn burner.  It began as a cheerleader’s chant “Our team is red hot,” which was turned into a mid-tempo R&B tune by its writer Billy “The Kid” Emerson.  He cut his original for Sun Records in 1955, the same label that would issue Billy Riley’s immortal version in 1957.  Also in ’57, the great Bob Luman cut a cover of “Red Hot” for Imperial Records.  We round off this week’s competition with Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs 1966 stab at it, which went to #82 on the national charts.  Then in 1977, Robert Gordon took the tune back 20 years to its rockabilly glory with his rendition, which hit #83 nationally.

So, which version of “Red Hot” is TRULY RED HOT?  You decide.  Listen to the Cat Fight Podcast and then vote for the one you dig the most in our online poll.

Which One Do You DIG THE MOST? - "Red Hot"

• Billy "The Kid" Emerson (1955)
• Billy Riley & His Little Green Men (1957)
• Bob Luman (1957)
• Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs (1966)
• Robert Gordon (with Link Wray) (1977)

View Results

 Loading ...

Podcast: Play in new window | Download