# Sleep Walk

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{{About|the Santo & Johnny instrumental||Sleepwalk (disambiguation){{!}}Sleepwalk}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Sleep Walk
| cover      = Sleep Walk.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [Santo & Johnny](/source/Santo_%26_Johnny)
| B-side     = All Night Diner
| album      = [Santo & Johnny](/source/Santo_%26_Johnny_(album))
| released   = June 1959<ref name="Billboard1959-06-29">{{cite magazine |magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) |title= Reviews of This Week's Singles |date=29 June 1959 |page=47}}</ref>
| recorded   = 1959
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = 
* [Instrumental rock](/source/Instrumental_rock)<ref name= "Breihan 2018">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk"|website= [Stereogum](/source/Stereogum) |date= February 9, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/1982338/the-number-ones-santo-johnnys-sleep-walk/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Instead, ["Sleep Walk" is] pretty standard of the slow, ornate R&B ballads that were popular in the era. But the difference, of course, is that it’s an instrumental.|accessdate= June 5, 2023}}</ref>
* [rock and roll](/source/rock_and_roll)<ref name= "Breihan 2018">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk"|website= [Stereogum](/source/Stereogum) |date= February 9, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/1982338/the-number-ones-santo-johnnys-sleep-walk/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Instead, ["Sleep Walk" is] pretty standard of the slow, ornate R&B ballads that were popular in the era. But the difference, of course, is that it’s an instrumental.|accessdate= June 5, 2023}}</ref>
* [surf rock](/source/surf_rock)<ref name="RS summer">{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|date= June 25, 2022|title=The Best Summer Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-summer-songs-of-all-time-43407/|access-date=September 10, 2023|magazine=[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)|quote=Part doo-wop dreamweave, part surf-rock chill session, “Sleepwalk” was a Number One hit for Brooklyn brothers Santo and Johnny...}}</ref>
* [R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues)<ref name= "Breihan 2018">{{cite web|first= Tom |last= Breihan |title= The Number Ones: Santo & Johnny's "Sleep Walk"|website= [Stereogum](/source/Stereogum) |date= February 9, 2018 |url= https://www.stereogum.com/1982338/the-number-ones-santo-johnnys-sleep-walk/columns/the-number-ones/|quote= Instead, ["Sleep Walk" is] pretty standard of the slow, ornate R&B ballads that were popular in the era. But the difference, of course, is that it’s an instrumental.|accessdate= June 5, 2023}}</ref>
* [doo-wop](/source/doo-wop)<ref name="RS summer">{{cite magazine|last= Rolling Stone Staff|date= June 25, 2022|title=The Best Summer Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-summer-songs-of-all-time-43407/|access-date=September 10, 2023|magazine=[Rolling Stone](/source/Rolling_Stone)|quote=Part doo-wop dreamweave, part surf-rock chill session, “Sleepwalk” was a Number One hit for Brooklyn brothers Santo and Johnny...}}</ref>
| length     = 2:20
| label      = [Canadian-American Records](/source/Canadian-American_Records)
| writer     = [Santo Farina](/source/Santo_Farina), [Johnny Farina](/source/Johnny_Farina), Ann Farina<ref>{{cite book | title=Billboard Book of Number One Hits | publisher=Billboard Publications, Inc. | author=Bronson, Fred | year=1992 | location=New York, New York | pages=[https://archive.org/details/billboardbookofn0000bron/page/58 58] | isbn=0-8230-8298-9 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/billboardbookofn0000bron/page/58 }}</ref>, Don Wolf
| producer   = Leonard Zimmer
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = Tear Drop
| next_year  = 1959
}}

"'''Sleep Walk'''" is an instrumental composition written, recorded, and released in 1959 by American instrumental rock and roll duo [Santo & Johnny](/source/Santo_%26_Johnny) Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums.<ref name="NPR">{{dead link|date=December 2015}}{{Cite web
 |url          = https://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/asc13/#santo
 |title        = ''All Songs Considered'' Episode 13
 |publisher    = [NPR](/source/National_Public_Radio)
 |date         = February 6, 2002
 |work         = NPR's Online Music Show
 |access-date   = September 1, 2007
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070622014924/http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/asc13/#santo
 |archive-date = June 22, 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 }}</ref>
Prominently featuring [steel guitar](/source/steel_guitar), the song was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. "Sleep Walk" entered [''Billboard''](/source/Billboard_(magazine))'s [Top 40](/source/Top_40) on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks in September<ref>{{dead link|date=September 2010}} {{Cite web
     |url=http://www.recordresearch.com/numones/numone_pop_1950s.html
     |title=Billboard #1 Pop Hits — 1950–1959
     |publisher=Record Research Inc.
     |accessdate=September 1, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20050610080106/http://www.recordresearch.com/numones/numone_pop_1950s.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = June 10, 2005}}</ref>
and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. "Sleep Walk" also reached number 4 on the R&B chart.<ref>{{Cite book|title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=512}}</ref> It was the last instrumental to hit number 1 in the 1950s and earned a [gold record](/source/gold_record) for Santo and Johnny.<ref name="SJB">{{Cite web
     | url=http://santoandjohnny.com/Bio.php
     | title=''Santo & Johnny Bio''}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hewitt |first=Bob |date=December 2, 2021 |url=https://guitar.com/features/interviews/larry-carlton-johnny-farina-santo-johnny-instrumental-guitar-music/ |title=Larry Carlton and Johnny Farina on how Santo & Johnny changed instrumental guitar music forever |work=[Guitar.com](/source/Guitar.com) |access-date=October 1, 2023}}</ref> In Canada, the song reached number 3 in the [CHUM Charts](/source/CHUM_(AM)).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitsofalldecades.com/chart_hits/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=849&Itemid=52|title=CHUM Top 20 Singles – August 31, 1959}}</ref> In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/sleep%20walk/|title = Official Charts|date = |accessdate = December 18, 2015|website = [Official Charts](/source/Official_Charts_Company)|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>

== Background and recording ==
As children, both Santo and Johnny Farina were encouraged by their father, Tony,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/interview-johnny-farina-on-60-years-of-the-iconic-instrumental-sleep-walk|title=Interview: Johnny Farina on 60 Years of the Iconic Instrumental, "Sleep Walk"|last=Bienstock|first=Richard|date=April 8, 2019|website=Guitar World|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> to learn the [steel guitar](/source/steel_guitar) and write their own music.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/santo-and-johnny-sleep-walk-60th-anniversary-1.36456322|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925201058/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/santo-and-johnny-sleep-walk-60th-anniversary-1.36456322|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 25, 2019|title=Santo & Johnny's 'Sleep Walk' turns 60|last=Criblez|first=David J.|date=September 19, 2019|website=Newsday|language=en|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> This music would be recorded on a [Webcor](/source/Webster-Chicago) [tape recorder](/source/tape_recorder) their father had bought for them.<ref name=":0" /> Unable to fall asleep one night after a gig, the Farina brothers decided to write some music, using the tape recorder to first record the harmonies to what would become "Sleep Walk".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> After adding and finalizing the steel guitar melody, Johnny Farina believed they had a hit song, so he spent a year and a half talking with various music publishers about the possibility of professionally recording "Sleep Walk".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/18/santo-johnny-sleep-walk|title=Old music: Santo & Johnny – Sleep Walk|last=Dennis|first=Jon|date=January 18, 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=January 16, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The "Sleep Walk" demo made a positive impression on Ed Burton of Trinity Music.<ref name=":1" /> After ultimately signing with [Canadian-American Records](/source/Canadian-American_Records),<ref name=":1" /> the brothers recorded "Sleep Walk" at Trinity Music, using a triple-neck [Fender Stringmaster](/source/Fender_Stringmaster) on the recording.<ref name=":0" />

== Release ==
"Sleep Walk" entered the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) on July 27, 1959.<ref name="Bronson2003">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&pg=PP68|title=The Billboard Book of Number One Hits|author=Fred Bronson|publisher=Billboard Books|year=2003|isbn=978-0-8230-7677-2|pages=68–}}</ref> Announced on the radio by DJ [Alan Freed](/source/Alan_Freed),<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> the instrumental rose in popularity until it became the number 1 single for the last two weeks of September of that year.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1959-09-21|title=The Hot 100|last=|first=|date=|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218215115/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1959-09-21|archive-date=February 18, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1959-09-28|title=The Hot 100|last=|first=|date=|magazine=Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717144048/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1959-09-28|archive-date=July 17, 2018|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> After losing the position to [Bobby Darin](/source/Bobby_Darin)'s recording of "[Mack the Knife](/source/Mack_the_Knife)",<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100|title=Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 17, 2020}}</ref> it remained on ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s Top 40 until November 1959.<ref name=":1" />

== Chart performance ==
=== Weekly charts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1959)
!Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|22|artist=Santo and Johnny|artistid=7717|access-date=October 1, 2023}}
|-
|Canada [CHUM Chart](/source/CHUM_Chart)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/59-08-31-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - August 31, 1959}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3
|-
| US [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=September 28, 1959 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1959/Billboard%201959-09-28-OCR-Page-0040.pdf |title=The Billboard Hot 100 |magazine=[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine)) |page=40 |access-date=October 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://billboard.elpee.jp/single/Sleep%20Walk/Santo%20%26%20Johnny/ |title=Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny |website=billboard.elpee.jp |access-date=October 1, 2023}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1
|}

=== All-time charts ===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1958–2018)
! Position
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary|title=Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|563
|}

== Later versions ==
*[The Ventures](/source/The_Ventures) - for their album ''[Walk, Don't Run](/source/Walk%2C_Don't_Run_(The_Ventures_album))'' (1960)<ref>{{cite web|title=www.allmusic.com|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0001226175|website=www.allmusic.com|accessdate=August 22, 2024}}</ref>
*British group [The Shadows](/source/The_Shadows) - for their 1961 album ''[The Shadows](/source/The_Shadows_(album))''.<ref>{{Cite web | url = {{AllMusic|album|the-shadows-1961-mw0000850229|pure_url=yes}} | title= The Shadows | work = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) | publisher = [All Media Network](/source/All_Media_Network) | accessdate= January 18, 2020 | first= Dave | last= Thompson}}</ref>
*American guitarist [Larry Carlton](/source/Larry_Carlton) - for his 1981 album ''Sleepwalk''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/sleepwalk-mw0000652918?1689883091865|title=Larry Carlton - Sleepwalk - Allmusic|website=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) }}</ref>
*American guitarist [Carlos Santana](/source/Carlos_Santana) and composer [Miles Goodman](/source/Miles_Goodman) recorded a version of the song for the 1987 film [La Bamba](/source/La_Bamba_(film)).  The song was not released on the [soundtrack album](/source/La_Bamba_(soundtrack)), but is included within the complete film score which is unreleased.<ref>{{cite AV media|people=Miles Goodman, Elliott Miles Goodman, Carlos Santana|publisher=Unreleased|date=1987|title=Miles Goodman & Carlos Santana "La Bamba" 1987 [Full Soundtrack]|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6b_XxMBTkk#:~:text=Tracklist%3A%201)%20Santo%20%26%20Johnny,Dream%20%23%202%22%20(9%3A}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chimesfreedom.com/tag/la-bamba/|title=Chimesfreedom - Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.|accessdate=May 12, 2025}}</ref>
*The [Brian Setzer Orchestra](/source/Brian_Setzer_Orchestra) rendering of "Sleep Walk" received a [Grammy Award](/source/Grammy_Award) for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1998.<ref name="grammy.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=brian%20setzer&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1 |title=Grammy Award winners (Brian Setzer) |access-date=August 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180448/http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=brian%20setzer&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 }}</ref>
*The virtuoso American guitarist [Joe Satriani](/source/Joe_Satriani) included "Sleep Walk" on his 2002 album ''[Strange Beautiful Music](/source/Strange_Beautiful_Music)''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/joe-satriani-hank-williams-bob-dylan-the-philosophy-of-song|title=Joe Satriani says he and Hank Williams could have made some "great music together"}}</ref>
*[Deftones](/source/Deftones) - for their album ''[Covers](/source/Covers_(Deftones_album))'' (2011)

== Influence ==
*"Sleep Walk" was a principal influence on [Fleetwood Mac](/source/Fleetwood_Mac) founder [Peter Green](/source/Peter_Green_(musician)) for his 1968 instrumental "[Albatross](/source/Albatross_(instrumental))", which became a worldwide hit. "Albatross" in turn inspired [the Beatles](/source/the_Beatles) song "[Sun King](/source/Sun_King_(song))" from ''[Abbey Road](/source/Abbey_Road)''.<ref name="Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Guide to Their Music">{{cite book
| last = Rooksby
| first = Rikky
| year = 2004
| title = Fleetwood Mac: The Complete Guide to Their Music
| publisher = Omnibus Press
| page = 17
| isbn = 1-84449-427-6 }}</ref>
*The song "Sleepwalking (Couples Only Dance Prom Night)" by the band [Modest Mouse](/source/Modest_Mouse), from their 1996 EP ''[Interstate 8](/source/Interstate_8_(EP))'', drew inspiration from "Sleep Walk" in its melody, with the main addition to the original being added vocals/lyrics.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-modest-mouse-sleepwalking-20151001-htmlstory.html | title=Chicago Tribune: "With 'Sleepwalking,' Modest Mouse drew inspiration from existing material"| website=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)| date=October 2, 2015}}</ref>
*The song was featured in the 1987 film [La Bamba](/source/La_Bamba_(film)), and a minimum of twenty-eight other films.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.santoandjohnny.com/|title=Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny|publisher=Aniraf Inc.|location=Great River, New York|accessdate=May 12, 2025}}</ref>

== ''Sleepwalkers'' ==
The song spurred [Stephen King](/source/Stephen_King) to write his first screenplay, for the 1992 horror film ''[Sleepwalkers](/source/Sleepwalkers_(1992_film))''. The film features the song as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.comicon.com/2018/11/20/cat-horror-purrr-fection-stephen-kings-sleepwalkers-comes-out-on-blu-ray/|title=Cat Horror Purrr-fection: Stephen King's Sleepwalkers Comes Out On Blu-Ray|first=Rachel|last=Bellwoar|date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[List of ''Billboard'' Hot 100 number-one singles of 1959](/source/List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_number-one_singles_of_1959)
*[50s progression](/source/50s_progression)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1959 songs
Category:1959 singles
Category:Santo & Johnny songs
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Canadian-American Records singles
Category:Rock instrumentals
Category:1950s instrumentals

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sleep Walk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_Walk) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_Walk?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.