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. “In the Mood,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
2. “I’m Gonna Wake Up,” Bob Wiles and Cowboy Jones
3. “Beer Bottle Mama,” Andy Reynolds and His 101 Ranch Boys
(for TROY PIERCE and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “San Antonio Rose/The Boy from Turkey, Texas,” Gene Henslee
5. “Square Dance Boogie,” Johnnie Lee Wills and His Boys
6. “Heartaches by the Number,” Leon Russell
(for the LEON LIFERS)
7. “Waltz of the Wind,” Roy Acuff and His Smoky Mountain Boys
(for SHELLACKED)
8. “Time Changes Everything,” Cow Bop
9. “Blue Danube Waltz,” Bill Boyd and His Cowboy Ramblers
(for GREG HARDY)
10. “You Are My Angel,” Billy Parker
11, “Stand by Your Man,” Lyle Lovett
(for JANIS)
12. “Take Me Back to Tulsa,” Round Up Boys
13. “Mister Sandman,” Homer & Jethro
14. “There’ll be Some Changes Made,” Eldon Shamblin
(for TRAIT THOMPSON)