Link Wray - Switchblade

[FlyMadeline]

Growl. Guitar doesn't get sexier than this.

[zkenzo]

This riff reminds me of the Peter Gunn theme song

[clarkewi]

The vibrato is so cool. Like your skin is crawling.

[aucksmix]

Yeah, it was great to be there at the beginning! Still play Link's hits on my Strat, along with his other hits, and other old rock standards, instrumental and vocal. Keeps ya young!

[Opheliadendron]

OH.............YEAH.

[horsehospital]

Anyone else think maybe Link Wray's estate should be having a listen to Juicebox by The Strokes with some interest?

[curbstompoioioi]

@horsehospital Never heard of Peter Gunn?

[horsehospital]

@curbstompoioioi Yes, that does sound a bit similar but I think this one edges it - definitely more in common with the sound and overall feel of Juicebox.

[MrKirkenstein]

Link Wray's probably the first to utilize feedback.

fucking awesome.

[shaun60796]

ywg wuz here

[araikenn]

Godfather of  trash axe!!

[Indepencensus]

100 %  Testosteron

[RCAvhstape]

If Link Wray were a woman his name would've been Elvis Presley.

[D13fledermause]

@RCAvhstape Hahahahaha! That's the greatest thing I've read in my whole life!

[moparmonster1965]

I don't really like this song much because it sounds entriely too much like the Peter Gunn theme and not original enough like Wray's other music.

[jpalberthoward9]

This truly is the stuff yer mama warned you about... LOUD RUDE & DANGEROUS!!This guy shoulda been top dog back in those days. All the other artists of the 50's sound like such sanitized light weights next to the Linkmeister, except MAYBE Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis.

[motorvating]

@jpalberthoward9

a very generalized statement which is inaccurate. There was loads of people out there doing real wild stuff that most people have never heard about.

The Phantom - Love Me

Johnny Burnette - Train Kept a rollin

Wanda Jackson - Fujiyama Mama

Johnny Powers - Long Blonde Hair

Glen Glenn - Everyobody's moving

the list of wild 50's rockers is endless.

[willwelsh816]

@motorvating Dick Dale, Screamin jay Hawkins :)

[telemanque]

this shit is fire...........

[FutureSauce3000]

Cold psych sounds... this could be a Bauhaus song

[303fixinpcs]

It's almost as if the term Bad-Ass was invented to describe Link and his music!

[topperwu03]

This has so clearly influenced both the B 52's and the Dead Kennedys -can you hear it?!

[zrxdoug]

@topperwu03

This particular song came along post-B-52's & DK's..but you can hear Wray's influence in a LOT of music.The Cramps owe their souls to this man..

[wayneiac1789]

link wray is cool

[TheArtboy47]

I saw him play Kensington, Md in the 1960's Bad Ass

Artboy

[motorhead168]

men´s music not like that shit that people lissen now a days , if you lissen you have a feeling of adventure you fell some power ,

[truckyouable]

This is the guy Neil Young listened to in his youth!!!!!!!!

[xxipoccle]

For me this is a hard great discovery. I'm mexican and I was looking for one link about Zapata and I did find Viva Zapata by Wray. Great surprise this high level and strong music. Switchblade is very gooood. Until now I Iearned thah Apache (that old piece) was composed by this musician. Shame for his death.

[surfguy87]

..............................­..............

[KB4QAA]

Holy cow. The hair on the back of my.neck is standing up. Just incredible.

[vpcitizen]

bravo!

[Strikeminator]

What year is this?

[metalmif]

@Strikeminator

look above. ;-)

[DrunkMillz79]

Wow I thought Bunnydrums made this first. THIS IS A DAMN GOOD RECORD!! The original.

[jrpim17]

An inventive man !

[ad90soyad90soya]

rocabilis!!!



[metalmif]

anybody an idea, when it was released?

[ChristianU2ubeh]

@metalmif 78 I think

[metalmif]

@ChristianU2ubeh

thx.

[PoorlyMadeFilms]

Peter Gunn, baby

[lhped1]

Hard rock's roots are here folks! Not in the R&R Hall of Fame, outrageous!!!

[ibanezxz500]

@lhped1 that is insane like sacrelige

[wisepecker]

elivs what????

[kentucksoldiersson]

Almost as much reverb as Pops Staples...

[MAF424]

Played this song in our rhythm rock'n'blues band, The Convertibles, in the early 1980's. It was a blast to play...was always a great set-ender!

[metalmif]

definetly stolen from henry mancini's pink panther?

[TaffyRaphie]

@metalmif similar, and I immediately thought of that, but it's still different.

[metalmif]

@TaffyRaphie

its a way more anarchistic. but the leadtheme is obviously lent! ;-)

[doctorboulettoxx]

the best

[ivymercer]

god bless link wray and you tube for enlightening me on this genius.

[standingdamaged]

Damn I love this!!!!!!

[BloodShotNow]

thank god I found this guy. this music destroys todays metal... I can actually feel it. I picture 2 gangs getting into a knife fight.

[clownpaint20]

holy fuck i found this by accident and i love it! how is this guy

[gerrit2211]

Mancini took the bassline from Down the Road a Piece (Freddie Slack & Will Bradley Trio)

[7734Duke]

@gerrit2211 Didnt that bass line come from HI HO SILVER (HONEY HUSH) by BIG JOE TURNER

[quintincollins]

spine chilling

[skronnyrotten]

1 dislike???? that person needs a melon exam.

[Kurplutzo]

@skronnyrotten Needs a melon, preferably a watermelon dropped on his or her head from the empire state building.

[skronnyrotten]

@Kurplutzo huh?....why would you say that???

[Kurplutzo]

@skronnyrotten Same reason why you said they need an exam.

[skronnyrotten]

@Kurplutzo youre an idiot.

[heinzpo]

Clearly, before than "Peter Gunn Theme".

[1yawn2many]

@heinzpo Interesting comment, especially since Mancini won the Grammy for the music in 1959 ... and the music was composed in 1958 for the show. Link Wray wasn't releasing music until AFTER this time ... so ... think what you like.

[heinzpo]

@1yawn2many It is strange how a letter can produce a horrible mistake. It should say "before that, Peter Gun Theme". It's of course an absolute nonsense, it is and i appreciate your feedback for mentioning it.

[theosu66]

Link Wray,you cant deny he was the man.His badass guitar with attitude.Some mean shit.Legend.RIP.

[Apelock]

Epic song. Badass is the word.

[hankowski619]

Because Pulp Fiction was 1994 (or so)

[anbanana89]

fuck meeeeeee <3 this is hell of a great song <3 fuck meee

[BarryObummer]

He was one badass mutha.

[SuperAlejandro909]

@BarryObummer he died?

[aucksmix]

@BarryObummer Actually off stage, Link was a humble and quiet guy. On stage he was the baddest guitar slinging mutha! I met Link back in the early 60's. If it wasn't for Link, I'd never have learned to play the guitar.

[amanasatree]

@aucksmix Wow, you're blessed! Truly!

[kyumatthew]

vid sucks

Music great

link wray awsome!!!

[dm21415]

@kyumatthew haven't seen your vid yet... where can i find it???

[kyumatthew]

@dm21415 can't make a vid yet til i get the software set up

[Stratosphoria]

He bad.

[jos7886]

This makes me feel like struttin' in my shades & leather.

[lupischuckle]

Coolest m*therfucker on the planet.

[1LoudBass]

That's one cold assed bass line

[smokescrean23]

one of the worlds best. enough said.

[bassguitarmichael]

BASS LINE OF THE TIME!

[krystalpro]

where has link wray been all my life? i've been playing guitar for 20 years, and never heard of this cat. this is serious vintage attitude!

[toolkien]

@krystalpro The reality is that a lot of the good stuff was too much for the comfortable safe middle to handle, so it got swept under the rug. Every generation has it's "200 proof" white lightning to swig from, the key is to find it. The internet makes it a whole lot easier......

[ahitler1000]

@toolkien and find I have , it all started with the purple knif show by Lux Interior and has been like a stone in a still pond on research , yeh you tube is way cool , because an old 50-s fu#$- up like me would have never found it otherwise ,

[XuliusCaesar]

Link Wray is the embodiment of everything badass. Elvis isn't the king of rock n roll...he was the king of pop of his time.

the man you're hearing right now is the real king. In rock n roll there are no rhinestones, white jumpsuits and karate....only leather jackets, blue jeans and a switchblade in your pocket.

Not to say that Elvis doesn't doesn't his place in music history, because he certainly does....but Link is the King of pure no frills Rock n Roll.

Hail to the King, baby.

[house7903]

and this is one song "MORE" .... to show the band "los esquizitos " ....never create really a song ....always copied

[djsundancekid]

Too much for his time! R.I.P. Mr Wray

[charlyinfrance]

inventor of the power chord, i'm no musician but wtf this guy rules

[gregrchstr]

How is it that this guy is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?? What a shame!!

[XuliusCaesar]

@gregrchstr I've always said that until Link Wray gets in the rock n roll hall of fame, the rock n roll hall of fame means nothing.

For the record....Abba is in it. hows THAT for a WTF

[jmatthews4]

ONE OF THE OF ALL TIME ROCK SONGS

[walesdad]

Totally great track,full of menace.It's from the 'Bullshot' album from '79.

[fruble1]

@walesdad 'Full of menace'

Thats the best descriptive ive heard for this song.

Spot on

[walesdad]

@fruble1

Glad to be of service.

[Satchmoeddie]

MAybe early 60s on this one. Not too sure. I think G@@gle has a discography with dates. I think he used a Dan Electro Guitarlin on this or a slide and echo. I am not sure about which amp, as it does not sound like the 1624T. It was used on Rumble with a Supro Guitar. New Supro copies are wood. Originals were fiberglass. Link was way ahead of his time. It is not technical virtuoso stuff, but is just bad ass attitude and so well done its of the same caliper as virtuoso music, maybe better. Luvit!

[philipatoz]

Duane Eddy on acid!

[Satchmoeddie]

This is one of my favorite Link Wray songs! It has a Mancini-esque bass line with a nice hook. The effects he gets are fantastic. It makes my want to dig out my EP-2 or EP-3 and a Gretsch or Fender and my Valco amps. I think I covered Peter Gunn in every band I was in and if not we did this or A Shot in The Dark, Pink Panther, or some tribute to Mancini. This is not a rip off, but a great take and or tribute to that 50s TV show Mancini Jazz style. Way to go Link!

[royaladam]

Was this music release in the 50s? Because if it did, thats amazing!

[KingCrikey]

His Cover of Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" on this record is pretty fetchin', too.

[Alphabex8]

a king among men. is he still around?? last i heard he was living in ....Denmark?

[babbersabber]

@Alphabex8 no he is dead...

[Alphabex8]

@babbersabber ah, that's too bad. 

[CowboyMidnight]

thanks for uploading this song..Great :-)

[bubumonster]

switchblaaaaade

[mlormans]

Totally sick guitar sounds, I just love it !!!

[clifftorres]

OK I love Link Wray but who ripped who off as far as this song? Has anyone heard the Peter Gunn theme song?

[djsundancekid]

Best Wray's song for me...Link was at least five years ahead of his time but this song is at least 10 years ahead. A cult song i'd sent in space for aliens and that sends my mind in hyperspace!!!

[babaluboo123]

@djsundancekid Agreed.

[Vamp1963]

I used to play this as a DJ in the 80s, was a great hit on the floor.

[Apelock]

Great great song

[nico623]

how has tarantino not used this ? awesome bass line !@

[BillBochon]

i agree, or David Lynch.

[slicknicknirvana]

@nico623 Yeah the hot blonde chick in Planet terror coulda danced naked to this,but rodriguez did that one i think.

[mmmichaelb]

@nico623

didn't he use it in sin city?

[dukeyflyswatter]

@nico623 He used "Rumble" in Pulp Fiction.

[ahitler1000]

@nico623 dont worry , he will , somewhere in the future,

[bmoreup]

@nico623 sin city rob beat him to the punch

[bmoreup]

@nico623 rob beat him to the punch...SIN CITY

[bmoreup]

@nico623 rob beat him to the punch...SIN CITY.

[ahitler1000]

@nico623 he will , I hope, , , , maybe he could do a Link Wray movie about his phenomenal life, to me he, s the graqnd daddy of rock

[skumrock]

@nico623 lets hope he never does

[Cracktaculus]

@nico623 That baseline came from way somewhere else-meaning, Peter Gunn, eh?!

[lamapivoj]

@nico623 He did: Sin City.

[Erkele]

Fantastic, thanks.  -Erkele