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It has been suggested that Sleepwalk (surf rock) be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
| “Sleep Walk” | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by Santo & Johnny | ||
| Album | Santo & Johnny | |
| Released | 1959 | |
| Genre | Instrumental rock | |
| Writer | Santo Farina and Johnny Farina | |
| Music sample | ||
"Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song recorded and released in 1959 by Santo & Johnny. The song was composed by brothers Santo and Johnny Farina. (The original single credits three Farinas, including an "A. Farina" for the composition. It's sometimes reported that their mother or sister helped, but this is apparently false.1) It was recorded at at Trinity Music in Manhattan. "Sleep Walk" entered Billboard's 'Top 40' on August 17th, 1959. It rose to the No. 1 position for two weeks in September (the 21st and the 28th)2 and remained in the 'Top 40' list until November 9th. It was the last instrumental to hit #1 in the 1950s and earned Santo & Johnny a gold record.3
"Sleep Walk" continues to be popular due to consistent radio airplay as well as its usage in commercials, television shows, and movies. One of the first covers was by Betsy Brye4 (stage name of Bette Anne Steele) in 1959. While Santo & Johnny wrote lyrics for "Sleepwalk", they never recorded a lyrical version, but Betsy Brye's version included these lyrics.1 It has been also covered by Brian Setzer Orchestra, The Shadows, The Ventures, Jake Shimabukuro, Larry Carlton5, Deftones, Chet Atkins6, Danny Gatton, B.J. Cole, Amos Garrett, and Joe Satriani7. Both Modest Mouse and The Raveonettes have recorded adaptions of the song, with lyrics. A version of the song by Brian Setzer received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.8
In Europe, French award-wining guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel hits the Top 20 with his instrumental version of the song recorded in 2006. The song appears prominently at the end of the film La Bamba during Ritchie Valens' funeral and the subsequent scene of his brother, Bob, screaming Ritchie's name to the heavens.
In the movie Twelve Monkeys, the song plays over the car radio during a scene in which psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly has been abducted by time traveler and mentally divergent James Cole.
The song was also used in the Stephen King movie, Sleepwalkers.
References
- ^ a b "All Songs Considered Episode 13". NPR's Online Music Show. NPR (2002-02-06). Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Billboard #1 Pop Hits — 1950 - 1959". Record Research Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Santo & Johnny Bio".
- ^ "Bette Anne Steele Bio". Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
- ^ "Larry Carlton - Sleepwalk - GRP Records". Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- ^ "Teensville (1960) at Chet Atkins: Mister Guitar - Discography". Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- ^ "Interview with Joe Satriani" (Web). Heart of Steel. Metal-Rules.com [1] (October 2002). Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
- ^ "Grammy Award winners (Brian Setzer)". Retrieved on 2007-08-30.
| Preceded by "The Three Bells" by The Browns |
Billboard Hot 100 number-one single September 21, 1959 - October 4, 1959 |
Succeeded by "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin |
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