Is Sleepwalk inspired by Dors, Mon Amour ?

[abstamaria]

Yes, Iain. The major chord was, of course, the more straightforward, stronger, upfront. No darkness there at all.

Andy

[GoldenStreet]

Out of interest, Santo and Johnny's tune, whatever its origins, featured a lyric by Don Wolf, recorded in 1959 by one Betsy Brye (issued in UK on Columbia DB 4350). The Shads' harmonies would surely have done the song great credit!



Bill

[noelford]

I'm not surprised to learn there was a vocal version - the tune lends itself to that very well.

And, whatever the truth behind the inspirations, I think it has to be said that the two instrumentals, S&J's and The Shadows', are both unique in their own right and, both in melody and arrangement, superior to those recordings which may have inspired them.

[Iain Purdon]

I agree. And the 'new' version of Sleepwalk is another pleasing development

[negninegaw]

I'm not surprised to learn there was a vocal version - the tune lends itself to that very well.

And, whatever the truth behind the inspirations, I think it has to be said that the two instrumentals, S&J's and The Shadows', are both unique in their own right and, both in melody and arrangement, superior to those recordings which may have inspired them.

Of course I am a little biased too; but I'd say not superior; different; and I think the Farina bros are at least very tributary to the French original.

[noelford]

Yes, of course, I should have qualified that statement with an 'in my opinion'

[abstamaria]

As with many of my friends who play, we first heard and liked the Ventures' version of Sleepwalk. The Ventures were better promoted here, and I learned that first. A second Ventures' version, almost identical but sweeter and better played IMO, appears in their CD "Greatest Hits." I don't know if that was Bob Bogle also, but it sounds like him on a Jazzmaster.

Over time most everyone, including me, gravitated to the Shadows' version.

In a show, what I would like to have presented though is the S&J version, not the original one, but the version played by them a year or so later, when their technique was more refined. But it is hard to find a steel-guitar player!

Best,

Andy

[cockroach]

Andy

I often used to play Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny version) using my Squier Telecaster with heavy strings and flatpicking and using fingers together- playing fairly hard and using finger vibrato to emulate the lap steel type guitar sound...we played it at a gig one night a couple of years ago. Our bass player recorded the gig and I was pleased with the sound which I got, although I made a few mistakes!

The Tele type bridge pickup was based on Leo Fender's steel guitar pickups and I read that he loved that steel guitar sound, so it makes sense!

I love the Shadows version and the Ventures too- Nokie did a lovely version with some Chet Atkins style melodic fills a few years ago- there's clip on You Tube somewhere.

Wonderful evocative tune and an all time classic!

[JimN]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Smith

http://www.bartstringham.com/page8.html

http://www.emusic.com/music-news/review/album/johnny-smith-walk-dont-run/