This is one of thee greatest 45's ever recorded! And could be one of my top 5 of all time! I don't know what it is (but there are many things) about this tune that hits me hard. First thing is, is that its early, recorded in 1962 but not released until 1964, second thing is, is just the movement of it, 3rd thing is, the actual playing on it!, 4th thing is, Travis was a mere 16 years old when he recorded this amazing cut! 5th thing is, way pre Pink Floyd there is a total backward tape masking thing going which is pretty crazy for the era (but hell if i can make out what is being said), 6th thing is that its just fucking cool!!!! I mean if this don't ruffle your feathers please move along.... This cut is SO cool that Davie Allen & the Arrows covred it on their first album in 1965!!!
"Scratchy," has a melody borrowed from Mel Tormé's 1962 hit "Comin' Home Baby" and a bizarre vocal break consisting of backwards tape effects, was only a minor hit in its day but should be regarded as a classic of instrumental rock & roll.!
A little info on Travis:
Travis was born in Walnut in 1946, Mississippi, he began his professional music career when he wrote and recorded his first record at the tender age of eleven, and also became the youngest member ever voted into the musicians union. After moving to Memphis, Tennesse, the young guitarist made his mark on the music world at the age of sixteen with his 1963 hit “Scratchy”.. By 1969, Wammack’s skills landed him in Muscle Shoals, Alabama where he teamed with legendary producer Rick Hall at Hall’s FAME Records. Travis’ guitar licks can be heard on hit records recorded by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, Mac Davis, Clarence Carter, the Osmond Brothers, Bobbie Gentry, Candi Staton, Delbert McClinton, Liza Minnelli, Narvel Felts and many more. Wammack’s solo artist career (produced by Hall) also sky rocketed with the release of albums in 1971 and 1975. He traveled the world as Little Richard’s band leader from 1984 until 1995, performing on several nationally syndicated television programs. Wammack became known as the “fastest guitar player in the South”, where he was described by Rolling Stone’s Greg Shaw as “the fastest guitar player I have ever heard in my life, and not just fast but good. Brilliant, even...
Dig in to one of the devils fave tracks ever!!!
This one goes out to my man at Blues For The Red Boy for his love of all things 60's and RAWK!
Travis Wammack - Scratchy
