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

Amazon.com
A quarter century ago, the members of Asleep at the Wheel were young Western swing enthusiasts trying their best to imitate such heroes as Bob Wills and Milton Brown. Now Ray Benson and his dozens of bandmates--past and present--are the seasoned heroes of the genre, and a new generation of young Western swing fans look to Asleep at the Wheel for clues. Two of those youngsters, Nashville stars Tracy Byrd and Wade Hayes, pay their respects in the form of guest vocals on the new Asleep at the Wheel album, Back to the Future Now. This live album isn't the best record the group has ever made, but it may be the best single-disc introduction. Not only do Byrd and Hayes provide a way into the music for younger fans, but most of the band's best-known songs plus three Wills tunes are reprised. More importantly, several key members of Asleep at the Wheel's legendary 1975-'78 lineup return to the fold for a one-night, school-of-swing reunion. Vocalists LeRoy Preston and Chris O'Connell once again sing their signature numbers, "My Baby Thinks She's a Train" and "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" respectively. Founding steel guitarist Lucky Oceans trades slippery licks with current steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar on Wills'S "Fat Boy Rag," and pianist Floyd Domino comes back to rattle the ivories on Moon Mullican's "Cherokee Boogie." Tony Garnier (heard more recently with Bob Dylan) slaps out a walking bass line on Wills'S "Roly Poly." Even if you aren't familiar with the band's long, convoluted history, Benson introduces most of the songs with half-comic, half-affectionate stories that fill in the details. --Geoffrey Himes

Tracks:

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Miles And Miles Of Texas
Roly Poly
Ida Red
My Baby Thinks She's A Train
The Letter That Johnny Walker Read
God Bless The Child
Fat Boy Rag
Cherokee Boogie
Hot Rod Lincoln
Boogie Back To Texas
House Of Blue Lights

Amazon.com

A quarter century ago, the members of Asleep at the Wheel were young Western swing enthusiasts trying their best to imitate such heroes as Bob Wills and Milton Brown. Now Ray Benson and his dozens of bandmates--past and present--are the seasoned heroes of the genre, and a new generation of young Western swing fans look to Asleep at the Wheel for clues. Two of those youngsters, Nashville stars Tracy Byrd and Wade Hayes, pay their respects in the form of guest vocals on the new Asleep at the Wheel album, Back to the Future Now. This live album isn't the best record the group has ever made, but it may be the best single-disc introduction. Not only do Byrd and Hayes provide a way into the music for younger fans, but most of the band's best-known songs plus three Wills tunes are reprised. More importantly, several key members of Asleep at the Wheel's legendary 1975-'78 lineup return to the fold for a one-night, school-of-swing reunion. Vocalists LeRoy Preston and Chris O'Connell once again sing their signature numbers, "My Baby Thinks She's a Train" and "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" respectively. Founding steel guitarist Lucky Oceans trades slippery licks with current steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar on Wills'S "Fat Boy Rag," and pianist Floyd Domino comes back to rattle the ivories on Moon Mullican's "Cherokee Boogie." Tony Garnier (heard more recently with Bob Dylan) slaps out a walking bass line on Wills'S "Roly Poly." Even if you aren't familiar with the band's long, convoluted history, Benson introduces most of the songs with half-comic, half-affectionate stories that fill in the details. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

a great live album by a great live band.......2006-07-09

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 the sound quality is excellent. While Asleep at the Wheel has other live albums, "Back to the Future" captured a historic moment by a good incarnation of the group. If you dig Asleep at the Wheel, you will adore "Back To The Future Now: Live At Arizona Charlie's." At the time of review, about ten copies could be purchased for fewer than five bucks through Amazon's Marketplace Sellers. Go back to the future already and listen to this disc!

I was there, and boy is this fun.......2003-10-21

I have been following Asleep at the Wheel since around 1976 when I first saw them. I can't think of a bad Asleep at the Wheel Album,but this is one of my favorites. Maybe it was because I WAS THERE at Arizona Charlies for this show. It was grade AAAAAAAA.

This was a reunion show where old band members of the original group came and played with the band Ray had at the time. I think the music blossoms here. I haven't purchased any of the other live albums yet, but I think this one shares with the cuts I have heard on other live albums, a kind of electricity that isn't on the studio albums. Ray Benson and the gang know how to electrify an audience, and spread the spirit of fun, and discovery like on one of the tunes not on the album where they morphed from from straight western swing into a Thelonius Monk tune. Moreover this music is made for drinking and dancing and romancing. That was what we were doing at Arizona Charlie's that night!
Get this album!

Party Time With AATW.......1999-11-02

If you can't see Asleep At The Wheel perform LIVE, this is the next best thing. When I first bought this cd I must've played it at least 8 times in a row & I've turned a few friends onto it. If I had to choose 10 cd's to bring on a desert island, at least 5 would be by AATW.

These guys know how to have FUN.......1998-08-24

Asleep At The Wheel are probably the BEST of the current western swing bands and have been around for well over 20 years. They get better with time and I always look forward to their latest works. This cd has them performing live at Arizona Charlie's in Las Vegas and past and present band members joined together for a grand time along with special guests like Tracy Byrd & even the McGuire Sisters. I hope they perform in the metropolitan area soon so I can finally see them LIVE. This album is a real treat!

Music Album:

Music Album