Bob Wills was never averse to a little experimentation with his Texas Playboys, whether it was adding reeds and horns to the band, hiring female vocalists and instrumentalists, or going deep into the well for material to play and record. It’s unlikely he ever went any deeper for a song than he did for the one that starts SWING ON THIS off Saturday. It goes back at least to the mid-1700s, and maybe even earlier. Often associated with military men through the centuries, this version is played by Bob’s early 1940s big band; it remained unreleased until it was collected on a compilation disc many years later. I think you’ll enjoy it.
I’ve also got a number from Bob Dunn’s Vagabonds, a group headed by the innovative steel-guitar player (from Braggs, Oklahoma), which happens to share a title — and nothing else, really — with a minor Grand Funk Railroad rock hit from 1970.
Plus, a nice little swing tune from the late ‘70s, released on the Tulsa-based Alvera label, by a guy named Joe Clark, who also wrote it. My research hasn’t yielded anything much at all about Mr. Clark; if anyone has any information on him and his musical endeavors, I’d really like to know it.
I hope you’ll join me Saturday at 7 p.m., Tulsa time, for the latest round of SWING ON THIS, broadcast over Tulsa’s NPR affiliate KWGS, 89.5 FM, and live-streaming everywhere at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
(for CARL EDDY)
2. “It’s All Your Fault,” High, Wide & Handsome
(for CLARKE & BETH WRIGHT)
3. “Another Shot of Toddy,” Hank Thompson
(for BRAD & ANN JAMES and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Oh! You Pretty Woman,” Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies
5. “Red Headed Angel,” Joe Clark
(for HAMILL TIME)
6. “Moonglow,” Eldon Shamblin
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
7. “If I Had Another Chance,” Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
(for CHARLENE RIPLEY)
8. “Troubles on My Mind,” Johnny Tyler and the Riders of the Rio Grande
9. “San Antonio Rose,” the Heartbeats
(for AP MCQUIDDY)
10. “Memories of France,” T. Texas Tyler
(for MICHAEL H. PRICE)
11. “Too Many Irons in the Fire,” Billy Parker & Cal Smith
12. “A Pair of Broken Hearts,” Spade Cooley
13. “I Didn’t Realize,” Shelby Eicher
14. “Mean Mistreater,” Bob Dunn’s Vagabonds
15. “I’m Gonna Wake Up,” Bob Wiles and Cowboy Jones
(for CARL EDDY)
2. “It’s All Your Fault,” High, Wide & Handsome
(for CLARKE & BETH WRIGHT)
3. “Another Shot of Toddy,” Hank Thompson
(for BRAD & ANN JAMES and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Oh! You Pretty Woman,” Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies
5. “Red Headed Angel,” Joe Clark
(for HAMILL TIME)
6. “Moonglow,” Eldon Shamblin
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
7. “If I Had Another Chance,” Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
(for CHARLENE RIPLEY)
8. “Troubles on My Mind,” Johnny Tyler and the Riders of the Rio Grande
9. “San Antonio Rose,” the Heartbeats
(for AP MCQUIDDY)
10. “Memories of France,” T. Texas Tyler
(for MICHAEL H. PRICE)
11. “Too Many Irons in the Fire,” Billy Parker & Cal Smith
12. “A Pair of Broken Hearts,” Spade Cooley
13. “I Didn’t Realize,” Shelby Eicher
14. “Mean Mistreater,” Bob Dunn’s Vagabonds
15. “I’m Gonna Wake Up,” Bob Wiles and Cowboy Jones