Swing West! Vol. 3: Western Swing

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With trained, meticulous pop and jazz musicians as their sidemen, postwar California bandleaders created a more grandiose and metronomic brand of swing; they stuck more to arrangements and improvised less than their Texas-Oklahoma predecessors. Spade Cooley, whose orchestra included harps (the stringed instrument, not the harmonica), ruled with such efforts as "Oklahoma Stomp," and Tex Williams & the Western Caravan's "Cowboy Opus No. 1" is every bit as pretentious as its title suggests. Still, you could count on Merle Travis to swing the form harder than ever on tracks like "Let's Settle Down (To Runnin' Around Together)," and Cliffie Stone, though often smooth and erratic, could turn in stomps like "Barracuda" that threatened to go over the top. Like its two companion volumes (Bakersfield and Guitar Slingers), this compilation fills an important gap, telling pretty much everything you need to know about the form. --John Morthland

Swing West! Vol. 3: Western Swing,Swing West!,Razor & Tie,Country,Country & Western,Pop

Average customer rating: Swing of the Golden West, crossing country, blues & jazz

Swing West! Vol. 3: Western Swing Various Artists Manufacturer: Razor & Tie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Compilations | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000IPVU Release Date: 1999-05-18

Tracks:

1. New Spanish Two Step - Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
2. Down The Road A Piece - Merrill Moore
3. The Troubled Mind O' Mine - Jack Guthrie
4. Oklahoma Stomp - Spade Cooley
5. Gambling Polka Dot Blues - Tommy Duncan
6. C Jam Blues - Cliffie Stone
7. Smoke! Smoke Smoke! (That Cigarette) - Tex Williams & the Western Caravan
8. Watch It, Neighbor - Cliffie Stone
9. Steel Guitar Rag - Merle Travis
10. Cowboy Opus No. 1 - Tex Williams & the Western Caravan
11. Barracuda - Cliffie Stone
12. Wake Up, Irene - Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys
13. Red Hot Mama - Deuce Spriggens
14. Oakie Boogie - Jack Guthrie
15. Cuddle Bug - Wade Ray
16. Let's Settle Down (To Runnin' Around Together) - Merle Travis
17. Snatchin' And Grabbin' - Merrill Moore
18. Red Skin Rag - Leon McAuliffe
19. Red Wing - Tex Williams & the Western Caravan
20. Total Strangers - Hank Thompson and the Brazos Valley Boys

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With trained, meticulous pop and jazz musicians as their sidemen, postwar California bandleaders created a more grandiose and metronomic brand of swing; they stuck more to arrangements and improvised less than their Texas-Oklahoma predecessors. Spade Cooley, whose orchestra included harps (the stringed instrument, not the harmonica), ruled with such efforts as "Oklahoma Stomp," and Tex Williams & the Western Caravan's "Cowboy Opus No. 1" is every bit as pretentious as its title suggests. Still, you could count on Merle Travis to swing the form harder than ever on tracks like "Let's Settle Down (To Runnin' Around Together)," and Cliffie Stone, though often smooth and erratic, could turn in stomps like "Barracuda" that threatened to go over the top. Like its two companion volumes (Bakersfield and Guitar Slingers), this compilation fills an important gap, telling pretty much everything you need to know about the form. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

Swing of the Golden West, crossing country, blues & jazz.......1999-08-10

While Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Dwight Yoakam have the most famous names, California's been the adopted home of innovative country artists since the dustbowl drove Okies west. From the honky-tonks of Bakersfield, to the guitar pyrotechnics of Speedy West and Joe Maphis, to the vibrant swing scene of 1940s Los Angeles, California often led Nashville with new instrumentation, musical composites and lyrical ideas. Though far from definitive - it's only 3 CDs, after all - this set provides a superb introduction to the many facets of West Coast country.

Volume 3, dips back to the 40s, catching Bob Wills' westward move and the rise of solid-body amplified guitars. The Golden State's western swing had looser ties to traditional country, crossing from blues and jazz charts (including a mesmerizing opus by Tex Williams) to 8-bar boogie and proto-rock `n' roll. Take this one to your next dance class.

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1. Take This Job & Shove It [Import]
2. Tennessee Woman
3. That'll Flat Git It, Vol.11
4. "The Bellamy Brothers - Greatest Hits, Vol. 3"
5. The Best of Jim Reeves
6. The Guys of the Big "D" Jamboree
7. The Hit Collection
8. The Lost Album
9. The Singing Brakeman
10. They Were Better Live [Import] [Live]

Music Album