Asleep at the Wheel- Part 3- Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep At the Wheel

They then did a song by the Blind Boys of Alabama called "The Cape" and dedicated it to all who have at one time that all they had to do was tie a cape around them and fly. There was then an extended jam on their jazzy take of "This Old Cowboy".

AATW had recently been out on the road with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price in an oldies revue. They did a great take on Willie and Merle's "Pancho & Lefty" and a new one by Willie called "I Guess my Heart Just Settled Back to Earth". PBS will be airing the show of these country stalwarts in August. Ray Benson said they just backed them, but he thinks they did a pretty good job.

Next up was the hilarious "You're My Sugar (But You're Never Sweet to Me)" which was sung by the girl, Elizabeth McQueen and the fiddle player. One line went, "That new fur coat you bought me just got up and walked away."

From the new album came a great play on words song, "Am I Right or Amarillo". The fiddler did a lot of playing on this song. Ray said this was a big hit in that panhandle town. They then stayed in Texas with "San Antonio Rose" complete with Bob Wills-style "Oh Yeahs". You'd almost swear the Texas Playboys were there in the house. Then came "Faded Love" sung sad enough to make tears well up in your eyes. Shivers down my spine on, "I miss you darling, more and more each day."

Next was Bob Wills' theme song "We're the Texas Playboys from the Lonestar State". Ray said you can check out some cuts from their "Ride With Bob" album at ridewithbob.com, but doubted that Bob Wills ever had a .com.

Then Louis Armstrong's "Wonderful World" and Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". That's right, "Take me right back to the track, Jack!" This was all calls, boogie-woogie piano, and sax. One of their best songs.

Next to last song of the show was "Hot Rod Lincoln" Ray did a long solo guitar play and later there were flashing lights and sirens at the point where they got pulled over. Ray went into an account of what happened at that point. And it just continued to get worse. Everything he said just got him into more trouble with the cop. "Busted in Mundelein again" brought a big laugh as that is a nearby town. But occifer (trouble), I was operating this vehicle Asleep at the Wheel (more trouble). Here's our latest CD in form of a bribe (even more trouble). Then he got thrown into jail and his dad was called to throw his bail. And he said, "Son, you're going to drive me to drinking if you don't stop driving that hot-rod Lincoln." This brought down the house.

The last song was the "House of Blue Lights".

The first encore was "Big Balls in Cow Town" and then "Happy Trails".

I went to the table where they were selling souvenirs at near the end of the first encore so as to beat the rush. I wanted to buy the new album "Reinventing the Wheel" but didn't when I was told it would be $20, a bit too much. I did buy two bumper stickers, including one that said "Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep at the Wheel".

Listened to AATW's greatest hits CD on the way home.

I partied with AATW. --RoadDog