Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys

Amazon.com
Big Sandy checks out for a beer or 20 and cuts the Boys loose on this one: "The first waxing all on their lonesome," he says in introduction. Though Sandy's voice and body cuts a huge figure on-stage while the band rips through their unique hillbilly-boogie-jazz-country-swing sizzle, it's obvious the Boys aren't a mere support act. The instrumentals here scintillate; with Sandy out of the way, the boys kick out the jams on "Straight-8 Boogie," "Mary's Mood," "Flyin' Rite," and others. But the Boys ain't no slouches behind the mike, either, especially when bass fiddle whiz Wally Henderson steps up for the rollicking "Booze Party." It's nice to know that if Mr. Sandy's head gets too big for the band and he embarks on a misguided solo career, the Boys can step into his considerably huge shoes. --Tod Nelson

No Depression
Ultimately, the Fly-Rite Boys have taken a few more steps in the direction of jazz; they are no longer just a rockabilly band, and hardly a Western swing band either. Their performances here are fine, tasteful and precise, rather than wild and loose.

Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys,Fly Rite Boys,Hightone Records,Alternative Country-Rock,Americana,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rockabilly,Western Swing,Western Swing Revival

Average customer rating: Big Sandy's band steps out on their own A Great CD

Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys Fly Rite Boys Manufacturer: Hightone Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Rockabilly | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Radio Favorites Dedicated to You Night Tide Swingin' West Feelin' Kinda Lucky ASIN: B000005Z1O Release Date: 1998-05-19

Tracks:

1. Straight-8 Boogie
2. Rosetta
3. Mary's Mood
4. Wizard's Dust
5. Flyin' Rite
6. Laguna Sunset
7. Hit And Run
8. Rhapsody In Violet
9. D. Of L. Boogie
10. 'What's Buzzin', Cuzzin?'
11. Booze Party
12. Minor Struggle

Amazon.com

Big Sandy checks out for a beer or 20 and cuts the Boys loose on this one: "The first waxing all on their lonesome," he says in introduction. Though Sandy's voice and body cuts a huge figure on-stage while the band rips through their unique hillbilly-boogie-jazz-country-swing sizzle, it's obvious the Boys aren't a mere support act. The instrumentals here scintillate; with Sandy out of the way, the boys kick out the jams on "Straight-8 Boogie," "Mary's Mood," "Flyin' Rite," and others. But the Boys ain't no slouches behind the mike, either, especially when bass fiddle whiz Wally Henderson steps up for the rollicking "Booze Party." It's nice to know that if Mr. Sandy's head gets too big for the band and he embarks on a misguided solo career, the Boys can step into his considerably huge shoes. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews:

Big Sandy's band steps out on their own.......2005-04-16

Except for "Rosetta" (sung by pianist Carl "Sonny" Leyland) and "Booze Party" (bassist Wally Hersom handles this one), these are band instrumentals.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Leyland's "Wizard's Dust" is an ivory workout, "Flyin' Rite" is a nice mid-tempo Western swing number (that sounds like it cops a bar or two of "Pennsylvania 6-5000"), the swing is in full force for "Hit and Run" (with Bobby Trimble doing his best to ape Gene Krupa) and steel spotlight "Rhapsody in Violet" (which recalls 50s great "Sleepwalk"). "Minor Struggle" is another nice jazzy piano number.

LOWS:
Guitarist Kingman wrote "Laguna Sunset" but it's a fairly lackluster affair (his "Mary's Mood" fares better). "Booze Party" is fairly laidback for what should be a raucous party tune. It just doesn't have the energy you'd associate with the subject matter.

BOTTOM LINE:
You don't have to be a fan of Big Sandy's to enjoy the fine Western swing and jazz numbers here. If you have any interest in either of these genres, take a moment or two to sample this. You may just find something new for your CD rack.

3 1/2 stars

A Great CD.......2001-02-07

This Cd is mostly instrumentals with the exception of Rosetta and Booze Party (both of which are fine cuts). The material has quite a bit of variety from rockabilly to jazz to westernish swing. But, it's all done so well that sometimes you'd wish Big Sandy would shut up every now and then so we can listen to these guys. I believe this album complements Big Sandy's doo wop cd "Dedicated to You", which is also good. There's not a bad cut on here.

I wouldn't recommend this for the first time listener, it's more for the avid, established fan.

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