http://www.proper-records.co.uk
Asleep At the Wheel band member, Ray Benson has made albums like this before. Only each time he does he manages to create a little more western swing magic, and with the line-up covering acts of all ages and not only every day country act the challenge is just that little bit keener. As the music made famous by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys is brought into the living room of more people.
Following in the footsteps of previous collaborations (Ride With Bob, 1998, A tribute To The Music of Bob Wills (1993) with the pick of the crop, band leader Benson now gives another round of Bob Wills’ classics new life through the likes of Lyle Lovett, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson (who also made the album Willie & The Wheel with Benson), James Johnson, George Strait, Buddy Miller, Brad Paisley, The Time Jumpers, Brad Paisley plus new acts of a wider base, Kat Edmonson, Emily Gimble, Pokey Lafarge, and bluegrass legend Del McCoury; and there are more!
Awash in beautiful, warm flowing melodies the 22-track release is a delight from beginning to end, the latter something you would rather the album didn’t have once stated. But by the time it does get round to Shooter Jennings, Randy Rogers and Reckless Kelly performing “Bob Wills Is Still The King” you should have had your fill. Well and truly.
Among those particularly striking you need to look at Willie Nelson and The Quebe Sisters and “Navajo Trail” and classic renditions of “Faded Love” (Vince Gill, Dawn Sears fronted The Time Jumpers), and it is of no surprise George Strait a bit of a swing devotee himself slots in perfectly, like the preverbal glove on “South Of The Border”. Arguably, The Avett Brothers go one better with their version of “The Girl I Left Behind Me”. So good is the North Carolina boy's version they are one of the few acts who come through with something better than anticipated! Spiced with dashing fiddle, banjo and Benson's additional vocals, whoops etc it is a killer. Lyle Lovett likewise, strikes it big with a bluesy “Trouble In Mind”, while Merle Haggard turns back time with a wonderful version of “Keeper Of My Heart”. Aside from tinklin' piano and a band that swings like crazy with steel guitar and pounding bass he also has sweet-voice Emily Gimble put down some fine vocals. Something the little lady repeats on “A Good man Is Hard To Find”, only this time she is accompanied by Texas gal, fiddler Carrie Rodriguez.
Buddy Miller with Benson helping out loses no time in laying down his own stamp on “Time Changes Everything”. Close behind him you have Robert Earl Keen with a little help (as often is the case on the record) from Ray Benson jump into happy go lucky swing delight “Ding Dong Daddy From Dumus” plus New England trio, The Devil Makes Three (“Bubbles In My Beer”; and though they the version falls short of Bob Wills’ lead vocalist Tommy Duncan’s stylist rendition they do make a mighty good (and different) fist of it! Katie Shore is another I should talk more about, and load with praise, she is that good. Benson and the lady sound like they have been singing together ever since she was young enough to talk. As a bonus, you also have guitarist Tommy Emanuel, Brent Mason and Billy Briggs turn on the style on “Twin Guitar Special”, and Waylon Jenning' son, Shooter run through his father's much played hit “Bob Wills Is Still The King”. And, he most certainly is! Not only in Tx but anywhere they play western swing.
Don't hesitate a moment longer, buy it now. For not only will you sample some fabulous western swing music, but an artist or two new to you. I guarantee you won't be disappointed, but a convert (it you aren't already a paid up member)!
Maurice Hope