I’m not exactly sure why, and it doesn’t happen very often, but for some reason or other I’ve got a preponderance of songs about Texas on this week’s edition of SWING ON THIS. They come to you courtesy of Bob Wills and his brother Johnnie Lee, as well as from Rosalie Allen and the Black River Raiders and my musical hero Michael Nesmith. Then, of course, there’s the latest in our “San Antonio Rose” parade — this one played on an instrument we usually don’t associate with Western swing, although Spade Cooley had one in his band. So plan on hearing lots of Baja, Oklahoma tunes this time around.
In addition, I’ve got one of the saddest “Shellacked” songs ever recorded, which comes to us courtesy of John Hamill, and Smiley Maxedon’s greatest hit, along with a highly danceable celebration of the Three Stooges that hit the upper reaches of the BILLBOARD Magazine charts back in ’84.
So, once again, it’s a piebald collection — as my pal Michael H. Price, who’s also represented on the show this week — might say, and it’s one you just might enjoy. So please join me for SWING ON THIS Saturday at 7 p.m. Tulsa Time, airing over Tulsa NPR affiliate KWGS, 89.5 FM, and live-streaming everywhere at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “Texas Blues,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys