Slinky!

Product Description:

Producers: Chuck Sagle, Sol Rubinowitz, Ray Vernon.

Compilation producer: Bob Irwin.

Recorded between 1958 and 1961. Includes liner notes by Teisco Del Rey.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

The king of the power chord is ably represented on this generous two-disc set. SLINKY! covers Link Wray's tenure at Epic Records between 1958 and 1961 and features some of his finest material, including the title track and "Raw-Hide," both of which recall his landmark grungy stomp "Rumble." There is plenty of the guitarist's gnarled tone and aggressive attack on display here, and it's easy to hear why Wray's conception of the instrument became a reference point for punk and metal some years later.

In addition to the expected trademark workouts and rave-ups, there is some Latin-influenced material that mixes mariachi and mambo flavors with a greaser sensibility, as well as some eerie, lounge-ish instrumentals that would not sound out of place on the soundtrack to a David Lynch film. SLINKY! works wonderfully as an introduction to Wray; but with its rare singles, unissued outtakes, alternate versions, and demos it is also indispensable to fans.