Actually @tostadosunidos, the RG w/LW album opens with "Red Hot" (the old Billy Lee Riley song on Sun Records, produced of course by Sam Phillips). The album DOES feature great sound, courtesy of producer Richard Gottehrer (originally a Brill Building songwriter, then the mastermind of The Strangeloves of "I Want Candy" fame, then Blondie’s original producer). The album possesses great transient "snap", immediacy, and presence. Demo quality, although it is somewhat "hot", the recorder’s meters allowed to run a little too far into the red. Still, for Rock ’n’ Roll that’s imo better than being too warm and soft.
Even better imo is Gordon’s third album, Rock Billy Boogie. On this album Link Wray is replaced on guitar by Englishman Chris Spedding, whose playing on the album is absolutely incendiary! Link Wray had his charms (and created an entire style of guitar playing), but Spedding is a much better guitarist, not just technically, but musically. A matter of opinion and taste, of course.
I saw Link Wray live on his last pass through L.A., and though he had to be helped up onto stage (by his hot young girlfriend or wife ;-), he still tore up the place. It was outside, at a Vintage Hot Rod Car Show in Glendale. Lottsa tattoos, piercings, pompadours, short bangs and high ponytails on girls, new blue jeans with 6" cuffs, pointy-toed shoes. Gawd I love Rockabilly!
