Music by: Side A – Milt Grant, Link Wray; Side B – Grant, Wray
Musicians: Link Wray (lead guitar), Vernon Wray (rhythm guitar), Doug Wray (drums), Shorty Horton (bass), Evelyn Wray (tambourine on side B)
Recording sessions: Produced by Vernon Wray at U.S. Recording Studio, Washington, DC, 1958
Highest chart positions: US #16, US R&B #11
"Rumble" is probably the only instrumental song ever banned for radio play in the States. It was considered too offensive and too provocative by some radio stations. If an instrumental can do that, there has to be something special in it. And there is.
In all its simplicity the song is loaded with power and gloomy feeling. The lead guitar sound and style are something that nobody had heard before (ok, The Johnny Burnette Trio came close with their sound in 1956-57, but still this is different). We're talking about the births of the power chord and the distortion sound here. Many agree that this is where punk and heavy rock were born, too.
Pete Townshend has said: "If it hadn't been for Link Wray and Rumble, I would have never picked up a guitar."
Here's Jimmy Page listening to and commenting on "Rumble".
The song has appeared in many movies and TV series. This is probably one of the most famous ones (here preceded by another Link Wray song, "Ace of Spades", 1965).
List price: Very Good+ is $20, Near Mint is $40
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