The Ramrods were an American instrumental pop group in the late 1950s and 1… Read Full Bio ↴The Ramrods were an American instrumental pop group in the late 1950s and 1960s, who had a hit in 1961 with their version of the song "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky".
The group was formed in Connecticut in 1956 by Claire Lane (born Claire Litke) and her brother Rich Litke. Claire played drums and arranged the songs; Rich played saxophone. They added Vinny Lee on lead guitar, and Gene Moore on second guitar. At the end of 1960 they recorded their instrumental arrangement of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky", a song written by Stan Jones which had been a big hit in 1949 for Vaughn Monroe. The Ramrods' version contained eerie and evocative overdubbed shouts, whistles and cattle calls, and was placed with Amy Records, a subsidiary of Bell Records in New York. The record was made a "Pick of the Week" by Cash Box magazine, and rose to # 30 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1961. Released on the London label, it also reached # 8 on the UK pop chart.
The follow-up, "Loch Lomond Rock", a rocked-up version of a traditional Scottish tune, with bagpipes solo, was not successful, and nor were two later singles on the Amy label.
Gene Moore left the group in the early 1960s and was replaced by Russ Cook (born Russ Mumma) on bass. Vinny Lee later died and was replaced by Bernie Moore (no relation to Gene Moore), who was in turn later replaced by George Sheck, with Cook taking over on lead guitar. Claire Lane left the group in the late 1960s to pursue a solo career, and the remaining Ramrods became the Russ Cook Combo before disbanding in the early 1970s.
A later (early- to mid-60s)"garage-rock" band from the Boston area, originally called The Rockin' Ramrods, later shortened their name to just The Ramrods, and had a series of 45s out on various local labels --- but this was a completely different band (formed by two brothers from Revere, Massachusetts) with no affiliation to the Connecticut Ramrods. Besides the similarity (eventual uniformity) of names, confusion between the two different outfits is exacerbated by the fact that the Boston Rockin' Ramrods' first 45 was 2 instrumentals.
The group was formed in Connecticut in 1956 by Claire Lane (born Claire Litke) and her brother Rich Litke. Claire played drums and arranged the songs; Rich played saxophone. They added Vinny Lee on lead guitar, and Gene Moore on second guitar. At the end of 1960 they recorded their instrumental arrangement of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky", a song written by Stan Jones which had been a big hit in 1949 for Vaughn Monroe. The Ramrods' version contained eerie and evocative overdubbed shouts, whistles and cattle calls, and was placed with Amy Records, a subsidiary of Bell Records in New York. The record was made a "Pick of the Week" by Cash Box magazine, and rose to # 30 on the Billboard pop chart in early 1961. Released on the London label, it also reached # 8 on the UK pop chart.
The follow-up, "Loch Lomond Rock", a rocked-up version of a traditional Scottish tune, with bagpipes solo, was not successful, and nor were two later singles on the Amy label.
Gene Moore left the group in the early 1960s and was replaced by Russ Cook (born Russ Mumma) on bass. Vinny Lee later died and was replaced by Bernie Moore (no relation to Gene Moore), who was in turn later replaced by George Sheck, with Cook taking over on lead guitar. Claire Lane left the group in the late 1960s to pursue a solo career, and the remaining Ramrods became the Russ Cook Combo before disbanding in the early 1970s.
A later (early- to mid-60s)"garage-rock" band from the Boston area, originally called The Rockin' Ramrods, later shortened their name to just The Ramrods, and had a series of 45s out on various local labels --- but this was a completely different band (formed by two brothers from Revere, Massachusetts) with no affiliation to the Connecticut Ramrods. Besides the similarity (eventual uniformity) of names, confusion between the two different outfits is exacerbated by the fact that the Boston Rockin' Ramrods' first 45 was 2 instrumentals.
Ghost Riders in the Sky
The Ramrods Lyrics
Instrumental
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Cthulu1985
I really like this version, it has a distinctive "Morricone" feel to it!!
denaho
The original was by Vaughn Monroe , yet this version puts chills down your spine. Really a good song
ToolStoreCanada
This is, by far, the closest to how I pictured it in my imagination. The look and feel of it is bang-on! Now if only one could dub Johnny Cash's haunting voice into it. I think his version is the best done. I've heard most versions out there and he was one of the very few who truely understood how the song ought to feel. The timing and pace of the delivery was the most effective.
Katy Shantikami
It took me 25 years to find this song. I heard it once on the radio, had it on a mix cassette, and lost it again...all without ever knowing the name or artist. When I heard the first notes, I knew this was the song. Thanks!
DJKGMS
I've heard many versions of this song, but by far this is the best one yet
Sunflowers159
I love that bassline! Sends shivers up my spine! The video is great too.
Ben Bacon
This is fantastic! Definitely get that "haunted cowboy" feel from this one. Again, excellent job!
Micky May
I was pleasantly surprised to find this video. I started booking bands at age 14 in 1960 & booked Little Joe (Hupp) & the Ramrods quite a few times. A very talented band back then. I heard this song long ago at their dances, so happy to learn that they cut records of it. I sure miss my old friends in the Ramrods & hope they all are in fine health to this day. I can not thank you enough for all the work you did for posting this for all to enjoy on Youtube so many people can enjoy as I have listening to the Ramrods again. You have a great talent for making videos, and I should know as I produced, wrote scripts, directed, and stared in TV films, before I did the same jobs in making movies which were very successful. God Bless!!
john price
I have never heard a version of this tune that I did not like! simply wonderful!
Tom Betts
Without a doubt the best instrumental version of Ghost Riders in the Sky of all-time.