You may remember Lloyd Price’s big No. 1 rock ’n’ roll hit, “Stagger Lee,” which entered the BILLBOARD charts in December 1958 and hung around for nearly half a year. You may even know that it was based on a gambling/murder ballad called “Stack-O-Lee” that appears to have originated in the Kansas City area in the late 1800s.
What you may NOT have done is hear a version of this famous old blues done by a crackerjack Western-swing band. You can change that this Saturday by tuning in to SWING ON THIS, airing at 7 p.m. Tulsa time on NPR affiliate KWGS, 89.5 FM, and live-streaming at publicradiotulsa.org. If you do, you’ll find a dandy version of “Stack-O-Lee” from Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands, one of the best and most adventurous of all the post-Wills Western-swing groups.
And speaking of cover versions of songs — how about a really swingin’ take on a Bob Wills standard by T. Texas Tyler? Or a “San Antonio Rose” featuring some fine vocals and instrumental work by a contemporary Western band called the Hanson Family Singers? (No relation, as far as I know, to Tulsa’s musical Hanson brothers.) I’ve got all that and a lot more this Saturday night — so c’m’on along! That’s SWING ON THIS, 7 p.m. Saturday. 89.5 FM and publicradiotulsa.org
1. “Moonlight and Roses,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
(for JAMIE WOOLEY)
2. “Stack-O-Lee,” Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands
(for TRAVIS FITE)
3. “Old Fashioned Love,” T. Texas Tyler and His Oklahoma Melody Boys
4. “Corona Con Lima,” Gary P. Nunn
(for BETTYE & GARY and the GLASS LIFTERS)
5. “Rheumatism Boogie,” Moon Mullican
6. “Average Man,” Billy Parker
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER and HAMILL TIME)
7. “Baby Keeps Stealin’,” Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies
8. “You Don’t Know Me,” Brazos Valley Boys
9. “Mama’s Gettin’ Young,” Hank Penny and His Radio Cowboys
10. “Perfect for a Rainy Day,” Christine Mims
(for CAT & CHRIS BURTON)
11. “San Antonio Rose,” The Hanson Family Singers
(for AP MCQUIDDY and SAM BARRETT)
12. “San Antonio Medley,” Curtis Potter
13. “Don’t Bother Me,” Jimmie Widener
(for MOREY SULLIVAN)
14. “Everybody’s Blues,” Roy Newman and His Boys
15. “Goodnight, Little Sweetheart,” Johnnie Lee Wills w./Curly Lewis