Sleepwalk (surf rock)
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Sleep Walk (song). (Discuss) Proposed since April 2008. |
Sleepwalk is one of the most famous surf rock instrumentals ever recorded. Written by Santo & Johnny the song features acoustic and steel guitar. It has been covered many times by the likes of Brian Setzer, BJ Cole, Modest Mouse, Ken Yokoyama, and Hapa.
In 1958 Mike Dee & The Mello Tones (Santo Farina, steel guitar; Johnny Farina, guitar and their uncle Mike Dee, drums) recorded a self-penned instrumental which they called "Deep Sleep". Loosely inspired by the song "Softly, As In The Morning Sunrise (Sigmund Romberg 1929), it had the same chord progression but a much simpler melody line.
"Deep Sleep" became "Sleep Walk" and in August 1959 it topped the American charts. "Sleep Walk" continues to be one of the most popular and easily recognised instrumentals of all time.
Featured in films as a stock relaxing tropical beach tune, such as in Twelve Monkeys.
The song is featured prominently in the Stephen King film Sleepwalkers, and in the context of the film takes on an uncharacteristic creepy tone not usually associated with the song.
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