CD-Charts Position 141
Average Rating:

Columbia Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Billy Walker

Release Date January 25, 2005
With the recent loss of Billy Walker, Country Music lost an incredible stylist. Noone had a voice quite like Billy; just as smooth as his contemporaries such as Jim Reeves and Ray Price, but sadly, often overlooked. This selection of Columbia Hits includes some real Honky Tonk numbers, including "The Storm Within My Heart", "Down to My Last Cigarette", and of course "Charlies Shoes". There's also a few Western Story-numbers made popular by the likes of Marty Robbins; Billy's contributions are "Matamoras" and perhaps his most popular song "Cross the Brazos at Waco". But, Billy Walker is known best for his "Countrypolitan" style, which had a much more soft-Pop oriented sound. I am no big fan of the late Nashville Sound or the Countrypolitan ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 142
Average Rating:

Continental Stomp

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Hot Club of Cowtown

Release Date October 28, 2003
My wife and I go to a series of house concerts put on by Dark-Thirty Productions of Lakeside, California. The acts are quite excellent in quality, but are still lesser known and willing to give concerts before 50 to 120 people in a small venue. I was told, when I first started to attend, that one of the best acts to catch was The Hot Club of Cowtown. Well, I've now attended three Hot Club concerts and wouldn't miss the chance to attend more. What a terrific musical entourage!

The Hot Club consists of Whit on guitar, Jake on stand-up bass and Elana on violin. All serve as vocalists with Whit and Elana carrying the greatest workload. Their music is generally billed as "Western Swing" or "Hot Jazz." It's somewhat old-fashioned sounding and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 143
Average Rating:

Total Yodel!

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Wylie & the Wild West Show

Release Date August 18, 1998
This one will stay in your CD player. You'll be a happy camper, singing along before you know it, whether you're a yodeling fan (yet) or not. Wylie is the real deal, and this is his best.

CD-Charts Position 144
Average Rating:

Back To The Future Now: Live At Arizona Charlie's

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Asleep at the Wheel

Release Date May 20, 1997
Playing hundreds of gigs a year, Asleep at the Wheel performs an outstanding live show. This recording captures a very special evening. The band is at times joined by Asleep at the Wheel alumni and special guests. Ray Benson's heartfelt charm and humor is in full gear. The setlist includes perennial favorites ('Miles and Miles of Texas') and some seldom played treats ('Fat Boy Rag'). The band's studio version of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' lacks the energy and extended rockabilly improvisation of the live renditions. This is the only album that captures the rockin' humor of the song as played live. The McGuire Sisters helped the band to play their definitive version of 'House of Blue Lights;' it swings unusually hard. The mood is light, the energy is high and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 145
Average Rating:

Six Pack to Go - Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Hank Thompson

Release Date February 19, 2008
Playing hundreds of gigs a year, Asleep at the Wheel performs an outstanding live show. This recording captures a very special evening. The band is at times joined by Asleep at the Wheel alumni and special guests. Ray Benson's heartfelt charm and humor is in full gear. The setlist includes perennial favorites ('Miles and Miles of Texas') and some seldom played treats ('Fat Boy Rag'). The band's studio version of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' lacks the energy and extended rockabilly improvisation of the live renditions. This is the only album that captures the rockin' humor of the song as played live. The McGuire Sisters helped the band to play their definitive version of 'House of Blue Lights;' it swings unusually hard. The mood is light, the energy is high and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 146
Average Rating:

More Songs of Route 66: Roadside Attractions

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Various Artists

Release Date September 11, 2001
A wonderful collection of songs all linked by the theme of the Mother Road - and destinations thereon - and performed in a multiplicity of musical styles: folk, blues, western swing, surfer pop and a smattering of FM-friendly rock. Stand out tracks? Where to start. An inspired Introduction: ghosts of "Route 66" cover-versions past merge in a discordant soundscape, segueing into Marcia Ball's boogie piano-driven take on the Troup classic. Steel guitar ace Cindy Cashdollar's shimmering "Midnight in Amarillo", on which she is joined by pedal legend Herb Remington, is sheer musical bliss and, for my money, worth the price of the album alone. (Check out also Cindy's understated and spine-melting playing on "Faded Love" from Asleep at the Wheel's Ride with Bob). ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 147
Average Rating:

Honkytonic

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Johnny Bush

Release Date September 14, 2004
A wonderful collection of songs all linked by the theme of the Mother Road - and destinations thereon - and performed in a multiplicity of musical styles: folk, blues, western swing, surfer pop and a smattering of FM-friendly rock. Stand out tracks? Where to start. An inspired Introduction: ghosts of "Route 66" cover-versions past merge in a discordant soundscape, segueing into Marcia Ball's boogie piano-driven take on the Troup classic. Steel guitar ace Cindy Cashdollar's shimmering "Midnight in Amarillo", on which she is joined by pedal legend Herb Remington, is sheer musical bliss and, for my money, worth the price of the album alone. (Check out also Cindy's understated and spine-melting playing on "Faded Love" from Asleep at the Wheel's Ride with Bob). ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 148
Average Rating:

America's Most Colorful Hillbilly Band

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: The Maddox Brothers & Rose

Release Date December 02, 1993
I heard some Rose Madox and it sounded real good, like Patsy Cline. This sounds more like old Carter Family Stuff, the quality is not that good and not as smooth. If you like old Carter Family Stuff you might like this. But the cooler stuff must have been recorded in latter years.

CD-Charts Position 149
Average Rating:

Ghost Train

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Hot Club of Cowtown

Release Date September 17, 2002
I have seen this band several times and
always enjoy the music. This CD is well
worth having.

CD-Charts Position 150
Average Rating:

Heaven Is Creepy

CD-Charts > Music > Western Swing
by: Jim Campilongo

Release Date September 19, 2006
I don't usually like instrumental albums from guitarists all that much. As a player myself, I often find that guitar works best in settings where it is not the sole object of attention.

But there are exceptions, and Jim Campilongo is one of them. Big time.

Jim Campilongo is one of the best guitarists you are likely to hear, and certainly the best Telecaster player you will ever hear. More than that, he is just one of the best musicians I have ever heard, with a love of tone, time and melody that simply makes his work crackle with energy and suspense. He knows his history, and freely echoes Roy Buchanan, Speedy West and Django Reinhardt without ever sounding stale or familiar. They are just ghosts in the room.

Campilongo plays with ... Read More: