Released August 1959 | Recorded 1959 | |
Genre Instrumental rock, surf rock Label Canadian-American Records Writer(s) Santo Farina, Johnny Farina, Ann Farina | ||
"Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song written, recorded, and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums.) It was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. "Sleep Walk" entered Billboard's Top 40 on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks in September and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. "Sleep Walk" also reached number 4 on the R&B chart. It was the last instrumental to hit number one in the 1950s and earned Santo & Johnny a gold record. In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.
Cover versions
The Brian Setzer Orchestra recording of "Sleep Walk" received a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.
French guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel had a Top 20 hit in Europe with his version of the song, recorded in 2006.
Singer Carolyne Mas , Betsy Brye & Renee Olstead recorded a vocal version.
"Sleep Walk" was a principal inspiration to Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green for his 1968 instrumental "Albatross", which became a worldwide hit. "Albatross" in turn inspired the Beatles song "Sun King" from Abbey Road.