From the feedback I’ve been getting for SWING ON THIS, a couple of artists many of you love to hear are Michael Nesmith, the almost criminally lowballed pioneer of California country-rock, and the great Texas songwriter Cindy Walker. Well, this week, how about a song written by Cindy and done by Michael (or, as he was originally called on THE MONKEES TV series, Wool Hat)? The tune was actually a BILLBOARD Magazine Top 20 country hit for Jimmy C. Newman back in ’68 — Nesmith, as usual, puts a beautiful spin on it.
I’ve also got a Johnnie Lee Wills release that’s one degree of separation from the Beach Boys, and a Bob Wills “Shellacked” entry that does a wonderful job of skipping for the first minute or so. In fact, this week’s show has a few malfunctions, which should please those of you — and you know who you are — who play a drinking game based on my broadcasting errors. Truth to tell, sometimes I play that game myself when I’m listening on Saturday nights.
So, once again, here’s the invitation to join me for an hour of Western swing, cowboy jazz, and a surprise or two, the latter including unexpected snafus. (I tend to leave those gaffes in, incidentally, because of the advice Billy Parker once gave me: “People like to know you’re human.”) It’s on Tulsa NPR affiliate KWGS, 89.5 FM, at 7 p.m. Saturday, and streaming live everywhere at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “Bob Wills Boogie,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (for SHELLACKED)
2. “Mood Indigo,” Michael H. Price and His Western Swingmasters
(for CAROLE & JACK BENDER)
3. “I Think I’ll Drink Myself Right into the Past,” Tommy Overstreet
(for HAMILL TIME and DALE CLARK and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Come A Little Bit Closer,” Jimmie Widener
(for MOREY SULLIVAN)
5. “Land of Dreams,” Herb Remington
6. “Two Step Side Step,” Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
(for LINDA LAYTON DAVIS)
7. “Tell Him I’m Dead,” Brennen Leigh w/Katie Shore
8. “That Big World Out There,” Billy Parker
9. “Born to Love You,” Michael Nesmith
(for JIM DOWNING)
10. “San Antonio Rose,” Seth Malkin and Company
(for AP MCQUIDDY)
11. “Gotta LIttle Red Wagon,” Merl Lindsay and His Oklahoma Nite Riders
12. “Rock City Boogie,” Ida Red
13. “I Can’t Tame Wild Women,” Bill Boyd’s Cowboy Ramblers
14. “Rootie Tootie,” Paul Howard and His Cotton Pickers
15. “I’ll Be There If You Ever Want Me,” Leon Russell
(for ROBERT BLANCK and the LEON LIFERS)