Artist page · 04/07/2026

Link Wray

DunnBorn in 1929POP INTERNATIONALE6 vinyl albums
Link Wray, born in 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina, was an American rock guitarist famed for creating the power chord and pioneering the fuzz effect on electric guitar, impacting rock 'n' roll and rockabilly genres.
6Albums on Vinyles.com
675Discogs releases
431kLast.fm listeners

About

Link Wray, Pioneer of distorted guitar sound and rockabilly instrumental.

Known for 'Rumble' and 'Rawhide,' Link Wray's vinyl releases range from rare early recordings to live albums.

Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr emerged as a crucial figure in shaping the sound of rock guitar, especially noted for his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble." His innovative style involved physically altering his amplifier to create distorted guitar sounds, including the fuzz effect. Though also a vocalist, Wray's primary influence lies in his guitar technique and raw sound, with recordings spanning from 1956 to the 1990s, covering rock, rockabilly, and surf rock styles.

Wray's work includes original compositions like "Rumble" and "Rawhide," as well as collaborations such as with Robert Gordon in 1977.

Discography

Link Wray — Discography

Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.

Cleveland ´78Rock-A-Billy Records · 2014
2014
Cleveland ´78
CD, Album
Studio
Walking Down A Street Called LoveVisionary Communications · 1997
1997
Walking Down A Street Called Love
CD, Album
Studio
ShadowmanAce · 1997
1997
Shadowman
CD, Album
Studio
Indian ChildEpic · 1993
1993
Indian Child
CD, Album
Studio
Wild Side Of The City LightsAce · 1990
1990
Wild Side Of The City Lights
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
The Swan Demo's '64Hangman Records · 1989
1989
The Swan Demo's '64
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Born To Be Wild Live In The USA 1987Line Records · 1989
1989
Born To Be Wild Live In The USA 1987
CD, Album, Stereo
Live
Good Rockin' TonightAce · 1983
1983
Good Rockin' Tonight
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Link Wray Live At The ParadisoInstant Records · 1980
1980
Link Wray Live At The Paradiso
Vinyl, LP, Album
Live
BullshotVisa Records · 1979
1979
Bullshot
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Fresh Fish SpecialPrivate Stock · 1978
1978
Fresh Fish Special
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Robert Gordon With Link WrayPrivate Stock · 1977
1977
Robert Gordon With Link Wray
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Stuck In GearVirgin · 1975
1975
Stuck In Gear
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
The Link Wray RumblePolydor · 1974
1974
The Link Wray Rumble
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Be What You Want ToPolydor · 1973
1973
Be What You Want To
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Beans And FatbackVirgin · 1973
1973
Beans And Fatback
Vinyl, LP, Album
Studio
Link WrayPolydor · 1971
1971
Link Wray
Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Studio
Jack The RipperSwan · 1963
1963
Jack The Ripper
Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Studio
Studio album Live / EP

Playlist

Signature tracks

The tracks that sum up Link Wray's career.

01
Rumble
Rumble
Walking Down A Street Called Love · 1997
02
Fallin' Rain
·
03
Fire And Brimstone
·
04
Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
Walking Down A Street Called Love · 1997
05
Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades
Walking Down A Street Called Love · 1997
06
La De Da
·
07
The Swag
·
08
Ice People
·

The essentials

The 3 Link Wray albums you absolutely need

Our pick, validated by the editorial team.

#1 · 2023
Vinyl
Ace of Spades

Latest notable vinyl by Link Wray, showcasing his enduring rock style, available in various editions and formats.

Vinyl formatRock genreReleased in 2023Label: VIP VOP
#2 · 1993
LP, Album, Stereo
Indian Child

1993 studio album with 10 tracks blending rock and pop, highly sought after on vinyl for its production and performances.

10 tracksLabel: EpicStereo LPReleased in Denmark
#3 · 1990
LP, Album
Wild Side Of The City Lights

1990 studio album from Germany combining rock & roll and surf styles, with several vinyl pressings including test pressings.

10 tracksLabel: AceMultiple vinyl editionsGerman release

Collectors

For vinyl die-hards

The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.

Market values (source: Discogs)

For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.

Cleveland ´78
Master release · LP · 2014
Market position i
25,00 €
Min price 25 €Max price 25 €
Average price 25,00 €
Only 2 copies for sale on Discogs
20 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Walking Down A Street Called Love
Master release · LP · 1997
Market position i
20,00 €
Min price 20 €Max price 20 €
Average price 20,00 €
Only 8 copies for sale on Discogs
8 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Indian Child
Master release · LP · 1993
Market position i
145,00 €
Min price 145 €Max price 145 €
Average price 145,00 €
Only 2 copies for sale on Discogs
14 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)
Wild Side Of The City Lights
Master release · LP · 1990
Market position i
55,84 €
Min price 25 €Max price 87 €
Average price 55,84 €
Only 9 copies for sale on Discogs
100 collectors want it (Discogs wantlist)

Notable pressings & editions

AlbumEdition Country · Year Matrix Market tension Value
Walking Down A Street Called LoveLP, Album, Stereo
Oy Svart Musik Ab US · 2022 SRE619LP Original pressing
8 want · 47 have · ratio 0,2
20,00 €
Cleveland ´78LP, Album, Limited Edition
Rock-A-Billy Records US · 2014 CLP 1951 Original pressing
20 want · 52 have · ratio 0,4
25,00 €
Indian ChildLP, Album, Stereo
Epic Denmark · 1993 473100-1 Original pressing
14 want · 179 have · ratio 0,1
145,00 €
Wild Side Of The City LightsLP, Album, Test Pressing
Ace Germany · 1990 CH 296 🔥 Standard edition
100 want · 114 have · ratio 0,9
86,99 €
Wild Side Of The City LightsLP, Album
Ace Germany · 1990 CH 296 Original pressing
100 want · 114 have · ratio 0,9
24,70 €

Face B

Side B: the hidden stories of Link Wray

Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.

"During his military service in the Korean War, Wray contracted tuberculosis and lost a lung, leading him to focus intensively on his guitar playing."
— Biographical accounts
01Recording

Creation of the fuzz effect on guitar

Link Wray pioneered the fuzz effect by intentionally damaging the speaker cone of his amplifier, creating a distinctive distorted guitar tone that influenced rock music.

1958United States
02Career

Collaboration with Robert Gordon

In 1977, Link Wray collaborated with rockabilly artist Robert Gordon, merging Wray’s pioneering guitar work with Gordon’s vocals.

1977United States
03Live album

Walking Down A Street Called Love US Vinyl Release

This 2022 limited edition US stereo vinyl pressing of 'Walking Down A Street Called Love' features 18 tracks including classics like 'Rumble' and 'Jack The Ripper.'

2022United States
04Pressing Info

Cleveland '78 LP limited edition

Released in 2014 by Rock-A-Billy Records in the US, this LP limited edition pressing of 'Cleveland '78' has a catalog number CLP 1951 and is a valuable collectible.

2014United States

FAQ

FAQ: Link Wray on physical formats

The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.

Who was Link Wray and why is he important for guitarists?

Link Wray was an American rock guitarist credited with inventing the power chord and pioneering guitar distortion techniques, influencing rock music's development.

What are some notable albums by Link Wray available on vinyl?

Essential vinyl albums include 'Ace of Spades' (2023), 'Indian Child' (1993), and 'Wild Side of the City Lights' (1990), showcasing his rock and rockabilly styles.

What is the significance of the song 'Rumble' in rock history?

'Rumble' is a 1958 instrumental by Link Wray noted for its raw, distorted guitar sound using the fuzz effect; it helped define the power chord and influenced many rock guitarists.

Are there rare Link Wray vinyl pressings collectors should know about?

Yes, limited edition pressings like the 2014 US 'Cleveland '78' LP and test pressing vinyl of 'Wild Side of the City Lights' hold collectible value.

Did Link Wray serve in the military and did it affect his music?

Link Wray served during the Korean War and after contracting tuberculosis, which caused him to lose a lung, he focused on guitar rather than singing.

Where can I find Link Wray vinyl records in France?

Link Wray vinyls can often be found on specialized music stores and online platforms offering international pressings including albums released in Germany and the US.

What genres did Link Wray's music cover?

His music spans rock & roll, rockabilly, surf rock, and pop-international, reflecting an evolution of American guitar-driven styles.

How does Link Wray's guitar style influence modern music?

The raw power chord and fuzz effects pioneered by Link Wray have become foundational techniques in rock, punk, and alternative guitar playing today.

Transparency

Sources & method

This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.

Our method

  1. Discographic data from MusicBrainz (dates, countries, activity period).
  2. Tracklists, artwork and genres retrieved via Discogs Masters.
  3. Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
  4. Audience and similar artists via Last.fm.
  5. Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editorial team.
Last updated: 04/07/2026