Link Wray - The Pathway Sessions

Wray on vintage form in late 80s London sessions

At the end of the 80s Link Wray decamped to London’s celebrated Pathway studio and, accompanied by Thee Headcoats’ drummer, multi-instrumentalist Bruce Brand, laid down two albums’ worth of vintage guitar mayhem. Anyone who ever loved the sound of Wray’s seminal 50s recordings will feel right at home here as Link Rumble-ises the likes of Apache, Raunchy and a slew of bespoke originals, including the irresistible feral roar of opener The Wild One, while dusting off his uniquely laconic vocals for Big Boss Man, Little Sister and a wonderfully straight rendition of Elvis’ As Long As I Have You. Groundbreaking? Hardly, but for those who still love pure unadulterated down-home rock’n’roll, Wray is a keeper of the flame, and the flame is in the safest of hands here.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Ace | CDCHD 1154

Reviewed by Steve Rippon
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