Robert Gordon, Link Wray & The Wildcats – Live At Rockpalast 1978
In 1977, punk and disco dominated the global music scene. On the one hand the glittering world of John Travolta and the Bee Gees or Donna Summer and Barry White, on the other hand the rough downtown of the Ramones, Sex Pistols, Richard Hell & The Voidoids or The Clash. “Gabba Gabba Hey” and “I Wanna Be Anarchy” versus “I Feel Love”. In between and on all sides, the young Robert Gordon (1947 – 2022) with an Elvis quiff in Rockabilly style and a charming, melodious voice and the “old rocker” Link Wray (1929 – 2005) in a leather outfit, who already reached number 16 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958 with the instrumental “Rumble” as Link Wray & His Ray Men and whose music was used in many films such as Desperado, Independence Day, 12 Monkeys, Blow and Pulp Fiction. In 2011, Rolling Stone listed Wray as number 45 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, and in 2023, Link Wray was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Gordon and Wray released two albums in 1977 and 1978: “Robert Gordon With Link Wray” and “Fresh Fish Special”. They then parted ways and Gordon began working with English guitarist Chris Spedding. On their two albums and also live, Gordon and Wray mixed original compositions with original covers of songs by Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Eddie Cochran and Johnny Burnette. As part of their 1978 tour, Gordon, Wray and the Wildcats (Rob Stoner on bass and Anton Fig on drums) performed at WDR’s Studio L on June 8th. The set list included “Fire” by Bruce Springsteen and “Wild Wild Woman” by Chris Spedding. The Pointer Sisters’ version of “Fire” reached number 2 on the US Hot 100 in February 1979. Robert Gordon remembers: “There was a choice between “Fire” and another new song, but Bruce decided to keep the other one for himself. There are also two tracks from the soundcheck. A nostalgic journey!
Tracklist - CD & DVD:
- Rock Therapy 02:51
- The Way I Walk 02:41
- Mystery Train 02:53
- Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) 01:59
- I Sure Miss You 03:31
- Rumble 04:42
- Baby, What You Want Me To Do 05:41
- Hot Dog! That Made Her Mad 02:52
- Fire 02:57
- (You're So Square) Baby I Don`t Care 02:01
- The Fool 02:26
- Wild Wild Women 03:45
- Baby Let`s Play House 01:43
- I Got A Woman 02:41
- Sea Cruise 01:29
- Red Hot 02:18
Bonus (rehearsal versions):
- Hot Dog! That Made Her Mad 02:50
- Sea Cruise 01:34
- Flyin' Saucer Rock`n`Roll (take 1) 01:54
- Flyin' Saucer Rock`n`Roll (take 2) 01:53
Total: 54:41 min.