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Sleep Walk
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Wikipedia article
"'Sleep Walk'" is an instrumental song written, recorded, and released in 1959 by American instrumental rock and roll duo Santo & Johnny Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums.
Prominently featuring steel guitar, the song was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. "Sleep Walk" entered 'Billboard's Top 40 on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks in September
and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. "Sleep Walk" also reached number 4 on the R&B chart. It was the last instrumental to hit number 1 in the 1950s and earned a gold record for Santo and Johnny. In Canada, the song reached number 3 in the CHUM Charts. In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.
Background and recording
As children, both Santo and Johnny Farina were encouraged by their father, Tony, to learn the steel guitar and write their own music. This music would be recorded on a Webcor tape recorder their father had bought for them. Unable to fall asleep one night after a gig, the Farina brothers decided to write some music, using the tape recorder to first record the harmonies to what would become "Sleep Walk". After adding and finalizing the steel guitar melody, Johnny Farina believed they had a hit song, so he spent a year and a half talking with various music publishers about the possibility of professionally recording "Sleep Walk".
The "Sleep Walk" demo made a positive impression on Ed Burton of Trinity Music. After ultimately signing with Canadian-American Records, the brothers recorded "Sleep Walk" at Trinity Music, using a triple-neck Fender Stringmaster on the recording.
Release
"Sleep Walk" entered the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on July 27, 1959. Announced on the radio by DJ Alan Freed, the instrumental rose in popularity until it became the number 1 single for the last two weeks of September of that year. After losing the position to Bobby Darin's recording of "Mack the Knife", the song remained on 'Billboard'
Chart performance
All-time charts
Later versions
British group The Shadows recorded the tune for their 1961 album 'The Shadows'.
"Sleep Walk" 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'.
DC guitarist Danny Gatton recorded "Sleep Walk" on his 1987 album, Unfinished Business.
The song "Sleepwalking (Couples Only Dance Prom Night)" by the band Modest Mouse, from their 1996 EP 'Interstate 8', drew inspiration from "Sleep Walk" in its melody, with the main addition to the original being added vocals/lyrics.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra recording of "Sleep Walk" received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.
Joe Satriani recorded a version of the song on his 2002 album Strange Beautiful Music.
Deftones included "Sleep Walk" on their 2011 album 'Covers' which is a compilation album of cover songs.
'Sleepwalkers'
The song inspired Stephen King to write his first screenplay, for the 1992 horror film 'Sleepwalkers'. The film features the song as well.
See also
*List of 'Billboard' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959
*50s progression
References
Category:1959 songs
Category:1959 singles
Category:Santo & Johnny songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Canadian-American Records singles
Category:Rock instrumentals
Category:1950s instrumentals
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