Sleep Walk

This article is about the instrumental. For the song by Ultravox, see Sleepwalk (song). For other uses, see Sleepwalker (disambiguation).
"Sleep Walk"

"Sleep Walk" cover
Song by Santo & Johnny from the album Santo & Johnny
Released 1959
Genre Instrumental rock, surf rock
Label Canadian-American Records
Writer Ann Farina, Santo Farina, Johnny Farina[1]

"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 Ann, Santo's wife.[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

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

French guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel had a Top 20 hit in Europe with his version of the song, recorded in 2006.

"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.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bronson, Fred (1992). Billboard Book of Number One Hits. New York, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 58. ISBN 0-8230-8298-9.
  2. ↑ "All Songs Considered Episode 13". NPR's Online Music Show. NPR. 2002-02-06. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  3. ↑ "Billboard #1 Pop Hits — 1950-1959". Record Research Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  4. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 512.
  5. ↑ "Santo & Johnny Bio".
  6. ↑ "Official Charts". Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Grammy Award winners (Brian Setzer)". Retrieved 2007-08-30.
  8. ↑ Rooksby, Rikky (2004). Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Guide to Their Music. Omnibus Press. p. 17. ISBN 1-844494-27-6.
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