Link Wray – Link Wray

All the Polydor recordings that were link Wray are pure magic. Mostly all recorded in his shack on a three track recorder that really captured why he was such a rare genius. There’s not a bad trackoff the album. Be What You Want and 3 Track Shack followed all of which are definitely as great.

On my copy it is side 2 which is pressed a bit off-center, side 1 is fine. Luckily it is not so bad that it affects sound, but still puzzling that they chose a pressing plant with such poor QC when they seemed to have put so much effort into all other aspects of this release.

Other than that it is a great release, which sounds great. Prospective buyers should just be aware that it is apparently a bit of a lottery draw whether you get a perfect centered pressing or not.

Much as I love this album — I bought it when it came out and have been playing it steadily ever since — you should listen to the “Wasted” LP put out by his older brother Vernon Wray in 1972. In the spring of that year, Vernon moved from Accokeek, Maryland, to Tucson, Arizona, to “mellow out,” taking the back wall of Wray’s Shack 3 Tracks (where Link’s 1971 album was recorded) with him and rebuilt the recording studio renaming it Vernon Wray’s Record Factory after upgrading it to eight tracks. Here he recorded his much mellower (compared to the Ray Men’s rockabilly) solo work released in two batches as “Wasted” and “Superstar at My House.” “Wasted” is a remarkable album, and a real find for hardcore fans of hippie-era country, with Wray (backed by Link and his other brothers) churning through mournful, contemplative, moody folk and tough, rugged country gems. Think “Falling’ Rain,” “Ice People,” “Crowbar,” and several other songs on his brother’s LP. “Superstar” is in the same mould but issued on 8-track tape only and so rare as to be completey unavailable. Give “Wasted” a listen and you’ll know what I mean.

https://discogs.cinepelis.org/release/2949264-Vernon-Wray-Wasted

For good histories of the Wray brothers see:

https://dereksmusicblog.com/2015/09/04/link-wray-3-track-shack/

http://www.furious.com/perfect/linkwray.html

I’ve been told that this is the best vinyl of the album. The 2012 reissue is a terrible digital transfer? I hope this is true vinyl release otherwise I spent $80 to much for hiersay

Holy Christ, this is good! It's like a one-man "Exile on Main Street" a year before "Exile on Main Street"!
If you like that swampy gritty rootsy voodoo blues/country/soul, it don't get any better than this. Fans of Zeppelin's earthier material (III and IV) will definitely dig this. A couple of the songs sound like the blueprint for that stompin' barroom piano vibe the White Stripes were shooting for on "Get Behind Me Satan". Many of the songs also include ghostly backing vocals that add a uniquely eerie, haunting atmosphere to the proceedings. The album is somewhat similar to the style that Tony Joe White and Leon Russell were working around the same time, but this is better than anything either of them ever did. There's not one weak track here, and it all has a timeless quality that holds up remarkably well. Why isn't this album more renowned??!??

I wish I could afford an original press but I will have to suffer with this digital vinyl travesty. But its worth it at the altar of the guitar god Link Wray!

Link Wray at his very best,to bad it took decades for people to figure this one out.

Awesome album pressed perfectly on vinyl. Record is dead silent and flat. Excellent late ‘60s Stones vibe on these songs along with some killer roots rock. Definitely an album worthy of wider recognition.

Danny Gatton once told me he played slide (using a spoon) on this album but I don't see him in the credits. Can anyone confirm?

Side 1 is pressed off-axis, otherwise, this record sounds excellent.