While the global music scene was dominated by disco, punk, and new wave in 1977, two gifted musicians paid little attention to the trends of the day and instead pursued their own musical goals with determination. The young Robert Gordon (1947–2022) with his rockabilly-style Elvis quiff and charmingly smooth voice, and the “old rocker” Link Wray (1929–2005) in his leather outfit. Gordon and Wray released two albums in 1977 and 1978: Robert Gordon with Link Wray and Fresh Fish Special. They then went their separate ways and Gordon began working with English guitarist Chris Spedding. Live and on their two studio albums, Gordon and Wray mixed original compositions with original cover versions of Gene Vincent, Jack Scott, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnette and even Bruce Springsteen. On January 24, 1978, during their first European tour, the two musicians gave a session at Radio Bremen's studios for the program “Musikladen Extra.” They were joined by Jon Paris (Johnny Winter's long-time accompanist) on bass and Anton Fig (Spider and Ace Frehley's Comet, among others) on drums. Fifteen tracks were retrieved from the station's archives in the very best picture and sound quality. A few days earlier, the tour group had also been in the Netherlands, among other places. The tapes of an entire concert from January 20, 1978, in Rotterdam still exist. Robert Gordon himself had arranged for the recording at the live club Eksit. There is also a video recording of the performance at the Paradiso in Amsterdam on January 21, 1978, which was commissioned by the record company at the time. This material is now being released under the title “Rumble: Their First European Tour 1978” as the ultimate live documentation of the work of these two extraordinary musicians.
Disc 1
1The Way I Walk
2Twenty Flight Rock
3Five Days, Five Days
4My Baby Left Me
5Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)
6Rumble
7Baby, What You Want Me to Do
8Sea Cruise
9Red Hot
10Fire
11If This Is Wrong
12Summertime Blues
13Mystery Train
14Baby Let's Play House
15I Got a Woman
16Summertime Blues (Live at Paradiso, Amsterdam 1978)
Disc 2
1The Way I Walk
2Twenty Flight Rock
3Five Days, Five Days
4My Baby Left Me
5Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)
6Rumble
7Baby, What You Want Me to Do
8Sea Cruise
9Red Hot
10Fire
11If This Is Wrong
12Summertime Blues
13Mystery Train
14Baby Let's Play House
15I Got a Woman
16Summertime Blues (Live at Paradiso, Amsterdam 1978)
Disc 3
1Twenty Flight Rock
2Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache
3Link Talks
4I Want to Be Free
5Rumble
6Lawdy Miss Clawdy
7Flyin' Saucer Rock 'N' Roll
8Mystery Train
9Summertime Blues
10If This Is Wrong
11Baby Let's Play House
12Red Hot
13Fire
14Sea Cruise
15I Sure Miss You
16Rawhide
17Baby What You Want Me to Do
18The Way I Walk
19Lonesome Train (On a Lonesome Track)
20Five Days, Five Days
21Boppin' the Blues
22I Got a Woman
23Endless Sleep
24Red Hot (Reprise)
