Ray Benson and
Asleep at the Wheel have become prolific in the 21st century. In 2003 alone the band has issued a new studio album in
Remembers the Alamo, this live CD, and an accompanying DVD from a gig at
Billy Bob's Texas in April 2003. In addition,
Benson's solo album hit the street earlier that summer. It doesn't appear that the
Wheel has lapsed in its quality control, however. This live show at
Billy Bob's is scorching hot; full of tight,
Western swing,
R&B,
blues, and
honky tonk, it is one of the finer
Asleep at the Wheel live outings available. As an added bonus, the
Wheel performs with former pedal steel guitarist
Cindy Cashdollar as a guest, along with current steel chair
Jim Murphy, who also doubles on saxophone. Sonically, this disc sounds better than most folks' studio recordings. The material is a great grab bag: there are the standards
"Miles and Miles of Texas," "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," "Boogie Back to Texas," "Don't Fence Me In," and
"Cotton Eyed Joe." There's a great read of
Hank Thompson's
"Six Pack to Go," as well as the
jump blues of
"Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens." But it's in the unexpected tracks, such as a moving version of
Townes Van Zandt's
"If I Needed You," the
Venna Keith/
Ben Peters hit
"Before the Next Teardrop Falls" so closely associated with
Freddy Fender (with beautiful vocals in Spanish by
Haydn Vitera), and a killer version of
"Amarillo by Morning" (the
George Strait hit) that make this collection such a delight. Once again
Asleep at the Wheel surprises and enchants, all the while bringing a slice of the great
Western swing tradition to the masses. ~ Thom Jurek
