Last week on SWING ON THIS, I wandered fairly far outside the lines again, playing a cut from a 1976 concept album called CLASSICAL COUNTRY, perpetrated by the
well-known producer/musician Snuff Garrett and a bunch of really good session players under the name Snuff Garrett’s Texas Opera Company. The hook for this particular record involved pairing up classical pieces with country evergreens, and the one last week combined Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” with Harlan Howard’s “Release Me.”
Well, it went over a lot better than I thought it would. In fact, I heard from a lot of folks who dug it. So we may be dipping back into that particular well in future shows.
However, Mr. Garrett wasn’t the only country/Western-swing figure who fooled around with the classics. This Saturday, it’ll be Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers taking on Johann Strauss Jr. in a recording released by RCA Victor in 1949. (My later research indicates that my on-air commentary about this version being from the ‘30s is incorrect
— the first time I believe I’ve ever made a mistake in the show’s 19 years.)
And, while we always have a few cover-version numbers on the program, the ones Saturday may be especially intriguing: Bob Wills covering Glenn Miller, Lyle Lovett covering Tammy Wynette, Homer & Jethro covering the Chordettes — and more!
So c’m’on along. That’s SWING ON THIS, 7 p.m. Tulsa time this Saturday over T-town’s NPR affiliate KWGS, 89.5 FM, and streaming everywhere you can think of at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “My Gal Sal,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys (for MARY STONE)
2. “San Antonio Rose,” The Twin Country Accordions
(for NICK BRATKOVICH and HAMILL TIME)
3 “She Burnt the Little Roadside Tavern Down,” Porter Wagoner
(for DARRELL MAHONE and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Love Letters in the Sand,” Red Steagall
(for RAY BINGHAM)
5. “Does My Baby Love Me, Yes Sir!” Jimmie Revard and His Oklahoma Playboys
(for CAT MORGAN BURTON)
6. “Ridin’ Down the Canyon,” Bing Crosby
7. “I Hear you Talkin’,” Solitaire Miles
8. “If These Tears Could Talk,” Billy Parker
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
9. “Pipeliner’s Blues,” Moon Mullican
(for DAN SEXTON)
10. “Tulsa Shuffle No. 1,” Don White
11, “Sadie Green (The Vamp of New Orleans),” Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies
12, “Let’s Live A Little,” Carl Smith
(for SHELLACKED and GARY GACKSTATTER)
13, “My Best to You,” Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands
14, “Driftin’ Texas Sand,” Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers
(for JAY PETERSON)
15. “Back in the Saddle Again,” Riders in the Sky