Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

by Asleep at the Wheel

Overview

Technically, it's been 16 years since Asleep at the Wheel last saluted Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys -- with 1999's Ride with Bob, recorded for the short-lived DreamWorks Records -- but it's never like Ray Benson's ensemble ever strayed far from Western Swing. Their first album in 1973 was chock-full of Wills standards and their last, 2010's It's a Good Day, showcased former Texas Playboy Leon Rausch, so Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys is squarely in the group's comfort zone. Fortunately, Asleep at the Wheel never sound too comfortable on this generous 22-track tribute. Part of that is down to the decision of Benson and company to construct Still the King as an outright party, inviting old and new friends to sit in and sing both classics and nuggets from the deep Wills songbook. Having star after star take the center stage keeps things lively, particularly because the guest list is sharply balanced between old friends like Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Lyle Lovett -- fellow disciples of Wills, one and all -- with newer roots acts like the Avett Brothers, the Old Crow Medicine Show, Kat Edmonson, the Time Jumpers, and Elizabeth Cook. Everybody is welcome, no matter if it's Jamey Johnson slurring his way through "Brain Cloudy Blues" or Brad Paisley running roughshod across "My Window Faces the South," or Carrie Rodriguez and Emily Gimble joshing through "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," and it's fun to hear Asleep at the Wheel accommodating each of their styles. This casual versatility points out who the real star of the show is, though: it remains Benson's group, whose way with Western Swing has only grown more soulful over the years. Clearly, Asleep at the Wheel draw sustenance from the music of the Texas Playboys, finding life within these old songs, and their love remains infectious and palpable after all these years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/03/2015
Label:	Mailboat Records
UPC:	0698268131415
Rank:	137678

Tracks

1. Intro: Texas Playboys Theme
2. I Hear Ya Talkin'
3. The Girl I Left Behind Me
4. Trouble In Mind
5. Keeper Of My Heart
6. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
7. Tiger Rag
8. What's The Matter With The Mill
9. Navajo Trail
10. Silver Dew On The Bluegrass Tonight
11. Faded Love
12. South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)
13. I Had Someone Else Before I Had You
14. My Window Faces the South
15. Time Changes Everything
16. A Good Man is Hard To Find
17. Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas
18. Brain Cloudy Blues
19. Bubbles In My Beer
20. It's All Your Fault
21. Twin Guitar Special
22. Bob Wills is Still the King

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Asleep at the Wheel   Primary Artist
Ronnie McCoury   Mandolin,Vocals
Jonathan Doyle   Clarinet
Renato Caranto   Saxophone
Randy Rogers   Vocals,Guest Artist
Cody Braun   Vocals
Ray Benson   Vocals,Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Tania Elizabeth   Fiddle
Seth Avett   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Andy Reiss   Guitar (Electric)
George Strait   Vocals,Guest Artist
Sam Seifert   Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Paul Franklin   Guitar (Steel)
Shooter Jennings   Vocals,Guest Artist
Jason Carter   Fiddle
Billy Briggs   Soloist,Saxophone,Guest Artist
Dennis Ludiker   Fiddle
Larry Franklin   Fiddle,Electronic Mandolin
The Del McCoury Band   Guest Artist
Elizabeth McQueen   Vocals
Carrie Rodriguez   Fiddle,Vocals,Guest Artist
Lyle Lovett   Vocals,Guest Artist
Joe Spivey   Fiddle,Vocals
Ranger Doug Green   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Floyd Domino   Piano
Vince Gill   Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Del McCoury   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Leon Rausch   Vocals,Guest Artist
Amos Lee   Vocals,Guest Artist
Mike Marsh   Drums
Rob McCoury   Banjo
Robert Earl Keen   Vocals,Guest Artist
The Devil Makes Three   Guest Artist
Ben Haggard   Guitar (Electric)
Dan Walton   Piano
Jason Roberts   Fiddle,Vocals,Mandolin,Electronic Mandolin
Chance McCoy   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Merle Haggard   Vocals,Guest Artist
Reckless Kelly   Guest Artist
Old Crow Medicine Show   Guest Artist
Brent Mason   Soloist,Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Eddie Rivers   Lap Steel Guitar
Willie Nelson   Vocals,Guest Artist
Brad Paisley   Vocals,Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Scott Avett   Banjo,Vocals
Jamey Johnson   Vocals,Guest Artist
Buddy Miller   Vocals,Guest Artist,Guitar (Electric)
Alan Bartram   Bass
David Sanger   Drums
The Avett Brothers   Guest Artist
Kenny Sears   Fiddle
Billy Thomas   Drums
Elizabeth Cook   Vocals,Guest Artist
Jay Reynolds   Saxophone
Dawn Sears   Vocals
Tommy Emmanuel   Soloist,Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Pete Bernhard   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Bob Crawford   Fiddle
Dave Alexander   Trumpet
Dave Miller   Bass,Bass (Upright)
Eddie Gimble   Vocal Harmony
Katie Shore   Fiddle,Vocals,Vocal Harmony
Cooper McBean   Vocals,Tenor Banjo
Lucia Turino   Vocals,Bass (Upright)
Jeff Taylor   Accordion
The Time Jumpers   Guest Artist
Kevin Hayes   Guitjo
Critter Fuqua   Banjo,Vocals
Joe Kwon   Cello,Vocals
Paul DeFiglia   Bass
Sophia Quebe   Vocals
Kat Edmonson   Vocals,Guest Artist
Willy Braun   Vocals
Hulda Quebe   Vocals
Morgan Jahnig   Bass (Upright)
Cory Younts   Piano
The Quebe Sisters   Guest Artist
Pokey LaFarge   Vocals,Guest Artist,Guitar (Acoustic)
Grace Quebe   Vocals
Rick McRae   Guitar (Electric)
Kevin Smith   Bass,Bass (Upright)
Brad Albin   Bass (Upright)
Emily Gimble   Piano,Vocals,Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony
John Mills   Clarinet
Ketch Secor   Fiddle,Vocals

Technical Credits

Richard M. Jones   Composer
Ray Benson   Arranger,Producer,Liner Notes
Abner Silver   Composer
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey   Composer
Tommy Duncan   Composer
Sam Seifert   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Traditional   Composer
Jimmy Kennedy   Composer
Bob Wills   Composer
Kim Person   Engineer
Larry Markes   Composer
Cindy Walker   Composer
Larry Franklin   Engineer
Eldon Shamblin   Composer
Ed Burt   Composer
Peter Schwarz   Associate Producer
Eric Conn   Mastering
Waylon Jennings   Composer
Leon McAuliffe   Composer
Dick Charles   Composer
Lisa Pollard   Photography
Sarah Dodds   Design,Art Direction,Illustrations
Harry Harris   Composer
Edgar Delange   Composer
Michael Carr   Composer
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Leslie Richter   Engineer
Bart Rose   Engineer
Drew Bollman   Engineer
Will Harrison   Assistant Engineer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Don Cobb   Mastering
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Mark Rains   Engineer
Luke Wooten   Engineer
Jerry Livingston   Composer
Phil Baxter   Composer
Public Domain   Composer
Nancy Bell   Illustrations
Bryce Roberts   Engineer
Ace Otten   Engineer
James Irby   Composer
Wyatt McFadden   Photography
Herb Shucher   Engineer
John Darcy   Composer
Dick Reeves   Design,Art Direction
Shauna Dodds   Design,Art Direction,Illustrations
John Wilson   Illustrations
Mindy Espy Reyes   Associate Producer
Steve Mazur   Engineer
John Wills   Composer
Joe Corey   Assistant Engineer
Matt Hubbard   Engineer
Matt Rausch   Assistant Engineer