Sleep Walk

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"Sleep Walk"
Song

"Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song written, recorded, and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny Farina. (The BMI Repertoire database and the original release credits three Farinas as composers including sister Ann.[2]) It was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City, New York. "Sleep Walk" entered Billboard's Top 40 on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number-one position for two weeks in September (the 21st and the 28th)[3] and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. "Sleep Walk" also reached number four on the R&B chart.[4] It was the last instrumental to hit number one in the 1950s and earned Santo & Johnny a gold record.[5] In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.[6] The Brian Setzer Orchestra recording of "Sleep Walk" received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.[7]

Cover versions

One of the first covers was by Betsy Brye (stage name of Bette Anne Steele), also in 1959.[8] It was released on a single by Columbia Records as catalog number DB 4530.[9] Although Santo & Johnny wrote lyrics for "Sleep Walk", they never recorded a version with the lyrics; Brye's version includes these lyrics.[2]

The song has been also recorded by Farm Equis (featuring Ariel Contino in guitars), Al Kooper (playing the guitar part on synthesizer), Al Caiola, Paul Mauriat, The Shadows, Les Paul, Tom Doughty, The Ventures, California Guitar Trio, Jake Shimabukuro, Danny Gatton, Larry Carlton,[10] Deftones, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins,[11] B. J. Cole, Basil Henriques, Micah P. Hinson, Amos Garrett, Henri Rene, Jonathan Richman, Jeff Beck, Pete Drake, Joe Satriani,[12] Charlie Musselwhite, The Chantays, Tommy Crook, The Stokers, Steve Howe,[13] Those Darn Accordions, and Blake Mills. Carlos Santana recorded a cover version for the musical score to the 1987 feature film La Bamba, although it was not released in the soundtrack.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra recording of "Sleep Walk" received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.[7]

Country Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Russell recorded a version in 2001. French guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel had a Top 20 hit in Europe with his version of the song, recorded in 2006.

Modest Mouse, Deftones, My Morning Jacket, Human Highway (band), and The Raveonettes have all recorded adaptations of the song with lyrics.

"Sleepwalk" was a principal inspiration to Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green for his 1968 instrumental "Albatross", which became a worldwide hit. "Albatross" in turn inspired The Beatles song "Sun King" from Abbey Road.[14]

Influences

Indie-Rock artist Lana Del Rey used "Sleep Walk" as an intro to various concerts held during her 2015 "Endless Summer" Tour. Lana Del Rey's premiering album was "Ultraviolence". This particular album incorporated themes from Santo & Johnny's previous work. For example, the intro to "And I Love Her" by Santo & Johnny and Lana Del Rey's "West Coast" have very similar guitar themes.[citation needed]

See also

References

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  9. Second Hand Songs - Medium: Sleep Walk - Betsy Brye (1959)
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  13. "Quantum Guitar" 1998 album (Resurgence RES130CD)
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