LINK WRAY
Law of the Jungle (Big Beat)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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As a Link Wray fanatic, you know I just had to pick up this new CD of Swan material from the '60s. While some of it has been previously issued on a couple of different Swan LPs (and subsequent CD comps), as well as the now out-of-print Hangman LP from the '80s, there are six previously unreleased tunes, all of which are also first-time stereo mixes. There's a lot of really great material on this: insane grungy instros like "The Black Widow," "Dinosaur" and the bitchin' title track. Check out his instro takes on things like "Peggy Sue" and "Please Please Me." Wray fans who have the Norton series Missing Links will no doubt be familiar with the different versions of Wray classics such as "Run Chicken Run," "Rumble." and "Ace Of Spades," the latter of which is presented in a previously unheard stereo mix. As well, there are some choice Wray vocal tunes: kickass versions of "Good Rockin' Tonight" and "Hidden Charms," the soulful (duh!) "Soul Train," and the folk-rockin' "Stop and Listen To Me" and "What A Price."

Excellent detailed liner notes and pics complete a fantastic package for which Big Beat should be commended.

© 2003 - Alan Wright