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I've had that "TEXAS GOLD" Vinyl Lp since way back then, but, am so happy that it's been reissued here in a grand "two-fer" package in pristine REMASTERED sound. I was scanning the radio tuner and came upon ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL's [then] current hit "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" and was stunned at how incredibly great this narrated & theatrical country weeper sounded. As a kid, I was into rock & pop, which is now called "Classic Rock", back in the 70's. I'd never heard the "Comin' Right At You" album before, but, it's also an awesome recording that I must explore much more. Not long after, another "hit", "Nothing Takes The Place Of You", featuring the great AATW vocalist CHRIS O'CONNELL stormed up the charts and it was a bluesy gem of a performance to behold. The real Chris O'Connell radio hit stunner followed in succession up the charts with her classic performance of "THE BUMP BOUNCE BOOGIE", a toe-tappin' mover and shakin' swing number which would no doubt turn the Andrews Sisters(1940s pop superstars) green with envy. C&W, Swing, Big Band Jazz were my parent's music, but, RAY BENSON & COMPANY gave my generation a superb blend of mesmerizing music to call our own.and, CHRIS O'CONNELL, wherever you are now, a HUGE "THANK YOU" for your treasured stellar performances and memories you gave us during your AATW days. Two classic Lps remastered on one "must have" Cd.
Asleep At The Wheel has gone through many band member changes over the last 30 years, but they were never better than this outfit of renegade western swingers. Asleep At The Wheel, who were originally from Austin, moved to San Francisco, and under the influence of Commander Cody, worked the clubs there and eventually became these great pioneering rockabilly/western swing revivalists. I've seen these guys "live", and I guarantee ya they can get your feet movin' on the old hardwood floor. This is a really nice twofer by the Wheel.
When that great Bob Wills song "TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA" started playing, this kid from Oklahoma was hooked. He introduced me to Asleep At The Wheel's first album "Comin' Right At Ya". They had what were probably the two best fiddle players around in the legendary Johnny Gimble and the multi-talented Andy Stein from the Commander Cody Band, who claimed he could play virtually any stringed instrument you put in front of him. As for the second album on this CD called "Texas Gold".
The standout tracks on this one are "THE LETTER THAT JOHNNY WALKER READ, which was cowritten by Commander Cody. The Wheel were a talented band of great musicians. As for the music on their first record; besides "TAKE ME BACK TO TULSA", two other tracks that really stand out on here are CHEROKEE BOOGIE, which features some great piano playing by Floyd Domino, and my favorite alltime Wheel song I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE. You just gotta hear this one. The first time I heard this band was in the mid 70's when I went to visit my friend David out in San Francisco.
I believe this is their third record. It's not as good as their first two albums, but it's still a pretty good effort. "ROLL EM FLOYD, which again features some great piano playing by Floyd Domino. Another song which I think is the best on the album is "RUNNIN' AFTER FOOLS", which was written and sung by Leroy Preston, who besides this one, penned most of the songs on these two albums. It's great, and it's one I guarantee you'll be wanting to learn the words to. This was a great album of western swing that, up to that point, these ears had never heard. Asleep At The Wheel's CD catalogue is not complete however, until Epic Records rereleases their self-titled second album, which has been mysteriously deleted.
It starts out ultra-slow and eventually turns into western swing on speed. You'll be singin' it for days, or in my case years. This was the Wheel's best record. Highly recommended listenin'.
As usual, the music of AATW was outstanding even though this album was remastered from quite a while ago. The fellow who did the vocals (also played guitar and drums), should sit down and listen to himself and see if he agrees with me that he should stick to guitar and drums and leave the singing to Benson or some other vocalist. This gentleman may well be the nicest person on earth, but I don't think he did AATW any favors by singing. Of course, this is my own opinion but I played rhythm guitar and sung country and swing music for 45 years, so I believe that my feelings about this album are justified.
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