Link Wray Be What You Want To

Limited edition for Record Store Day 2017!

Fred Lincoln ‘Link’ Wray, Jr. (1929-2005) born of Shawnee Native American parents was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and vocalist who became popular in the late 1950s. Though he began in country music, his musical style went on to consist primarily of rock and roll, rockabilly and instrumental rock. Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble" (banned in New York and Boston for fear it would incite teenage gang violence) popularized "the power chord” which laid the foundation to modern rock music.

Link’s previous releases had proven the man's versatility with influences coming from many different genres including R&B, country, blues, and, of course, rock. ‘Be What You Want To’ continues this trend: a thick stew of boogie-rock, country-funk and Americana with lots of soul.

Wray employed a huge number of musicians to play on ‘Be What You Want To’, including Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, Thomas Jefferson Kaye & Commander Cody. Of course, the main part of the talent comes from Link Wray himself. His amazing ability as lyricist, songwriter, and musician is noticeably brought to the fore on this album.

Originally released on Polydor, this is the first time the album gets the vinyl treatment since 1973. Now available as a gorgeously packaged deluxe vinyl edition, exclusively for Record Store Day 2017.