Regular — or even semi-regular — listeners to SWING ON THIS know that while the emphasis will always be on western swing and cowboy jazz, I have a tendency to wander somewhat far afield from time to time, especially when I find a tune that’s unusual, weird, intriguing, or some combination of those attributes. Thankfully, SWING ON THIS folks have proven time and again that they’re an adventurous and open-minded bunch, willing to sit still — or tap their feet, or dance, or whatever — when I ramble outside the lines.
With that in mind, I call your attention to the fact that Saturday’s show is a little heavier on the outré than usual. A couple of fine western-swing acts — the Brazos Valley Boys and the Hot Texas Swing Band — are on hand to cover, respectively, big hits by Leon Russell and Ennio Morricone, and we’ll revisit perhaps the two most outlandish versions of “San Antonio Rose” ever to hit the aether.
That, plus a peppy Billy Parker single from 1970, Johnnie Lee Wills’ version of an instrumental made famous by his older brother, and Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands with their take on a big-band era classic inspired by a famous Harlem nightclub. And, of course, much more.
That’s SWING ON THIS, airing at 7 p.m. Saturday, Tulsa time, over T-town radio station KWGS, 89.5 FM, and live-streaming everywhere at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “Blue Bonnet Lane,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
(for KATHY LEONARD)
2. “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands
3. “Green Snakes,” Cowjazz
(for BETTYE and GARY and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “High Voltage Gal,” Luke Wills’ Rhythm Busters
5. “Walking the Floor over You,” Ernest Tubb
(for HARVEY SHELL and BILLY PARKER)
6. “I Get A Happy Feeling,” Billy Parker
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER and RAY BINGHAM)
7, “This Masquerade,” Brazos Valley Boys
(for DARRELL MAHONE and the LEON LIFERS)
8. “Spanish Two-Step,” Johnnie Lee Wills
9. “San Antonio Rose,” Dick Jurgens Orchestra
10. “Just Like A Rose of San Antonio, Approximately,” Michael H. Price
and His Western Swingmasters
(for BECKY and MARK MCCRACKEN)
11. “I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This Jelly Roll,” Cliff
Bruner’s Texas Wanderers
12, “Who Took My Ring from Your Finger,” Leon McAuliffe
(for HAMILL TIME)
13. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” Hot Texas Swing Band
14. “Tiger Rag,” the Wanderers
(for KATHY LEONARD)
2. “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands
3. “Green Snakes,” Cowjazz
(for BETTYE and GARY and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “High Voltage Gal,” Luke Wills’ Rhythm Busters
5. “Walking the Floor over You,” Ernest Tubb
(for HARVEY SHELL and BILLY PARKER)
6. “I Get A Happy Feeling,” Billy Parker
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER and RAY BINGHAM)
7, “This Masquerade,” Brazos Valley Boys
(for DARRELL MAHONE and the LEON LIFERS)
8. “Spanish Two-Step,” Johnnie Lee Wills
9. “San Antonio Rose,” Dick Jurgens Orchestra
10. “Just Like A Rose of San Antonio, Approximately,” Michael H. Price
and His Western Swingmasters
(for BECKY and MARK MCCRACKEN)
11. “I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None O’ This Jelly Roll,” Cliff
Bruner’s Texas Wanderers
12, “Who Took My Ring from Your Finger,” Leon McAuliffe
(for HAMILL TIME)
13. “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,” Hot Texas Swing Band
14. “Tiger Rag,” the Wanderers