Beans and Fatback
Beans and Fatback is the 1973 release by pioneer rock and roll guitarist and Shawnee Indian Link Wray. It was recorded in 1971 by Link's brother Vernon "Ray Vernon" Wray at Wray's Shack Three Track studio, an old chicken shack on Wray's farm in Accokeek, Maryland during the "Link Wray"/"Mordicai Jones" sessions. It was mixed by Simon Heyworth at The Manor Studio, Oxfordshire, England. The music is similar to other of Wray's period recordings with distinctive "shack" sound and the same Americana blend of blues, country, gospel, and folk rock, but it is  a slightly looser and harder-rocking set than "Link Wray". The two CD compilation "Wray's Three Track Shack" (Acadia/Evangeline Recorded Works Ltd./Universal Music, 2005) includes "Beans And Fatback" along with other "shack" recordings of 1971 ("Link Wray" and "Mordicai Jones"), but the track "Take My Hand (Precious Lord)" was replaced without credit by "Backwoods Preacher Man" (a cover song of Tony Joe White) from "The Link Wray Rumble" album (Polydor, 1974). Steve Verroca had, allegedly, stolen the demo tapes of "Beans and Fatback" and sold them to Virgin Records. Link Wray recorded the "Stuck in Gear" album for  Virgin (catalogue number V2050) so they withdrew "Beans and Fatback". Reception. Allmusic gave a positive retrospective review of the album. They contended that "Beans and Fatback" lacks the deep emotional resonance of "Link Wray", but "goes a lot farther toward fusing the rowdy howl of Wray's early instrumental hits with the back-to-the-land flavor of his more personal 1971 set." Track listing. All songs written by Link Wray and Steve Verroca, except where noted.