The Steel Guitar Forum

Garry
I would say that one characteristic of WS, among others, is that the music is designed for ballroom-style dancing. Hank's music certainly qualifies in that respect.

As was noted earlier, the line of demarcation, in my touring experience, is the Mississippi River. West of the Mississippi, audiences just naturally filled the dance floor, as was expected. When we toured eastward, though, the audiences seemed to just want to sit and listen, and seemed sort of baffled when we played "dance tunes."

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

I've always thought Western Swing had more room for other "roots" styles than any other American music: Dixieland,Swing, Blues, Folk, Jump Blues, Western & Cowboy music, Mexican etc. plus many soloing styles: Texas style fiddle, Jazz guitar, Hawaiian steel...
I guess thats why its my favorite music. Thank God it hasnt gotten the Big Slammin' Drum Sound grafted onto it. That would be something to hear --Joel

Actually,I bought AATWheel's "Ride With Bob" at a used CD store,and didn't notice a sticker on it that read "Caution:Contains some Dance Mixes."
Caution is right.
On 4 or 5 songs (I think,I only listened once),there are these bizarre 1 or 2 minute long intros that consist of a drumbeat,handclaps,and female vocalists chanting things like "Cowtown...Cowtown..." (leading into 'Big Ball's In _',with the drums jacked up in the mix).
It's really,really hideous,but there is nothing wrong with this disc that a hammer couldn't fix.

Actually,I bought AATWheel's "Ride With Bob" at a used CD store,and didn't notice a sticker on it that read "Caution:Contains some Dance Mixes."
Caution is right.
On 4 or 5 songs (I think,I only listened once),there are these bizarre 1 or 2 minute long intros that consist of a drumbeat,handclaps,and female vocalists chanting things like "Cowtown...Cowtown..." (leading into 'Big Ball's In _',with the drums jacked up in the mix).
It's really,really hideous,but there is nothing wrong with this disc that a hammer couldn't fix.
>>>>>>>>>>

Dave I belive you have the Dance mix of the
first Will's tribute from 1993.
Much as I dislike line dance etc, I think this was the way to get that album into the country dance clubs beyond the honkey tonks.
Bob Will's probibly would have approved or not been surprized.


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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

When I played with Asleep at the Wheel they definitely had more of a Louis Jordan sound than Bob Wills. I personally like the 'Billy Jack Wills school' of Western swing quite a bit. I have read that it was Tiny Moore's influence that gave that band the 'rockabilly' edge.

I don't know, to me Western Swing music is such an amalgam of influences, it is one of the best examples I know of 'fusion' music. When I listen to those early Wills recordings, I clearly hear the mixture of Texas old time fiddle music, dixieland, blues, swing, and Hawaiian music.

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www.tyacktunes.com

"Big Balls in Cowtown" isn't on my copy of "Ride With Bob". I think you're talking about a different CD, Janice. "Ride With Bob" is pretty much straight-ahead western swing.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
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Bob I ust have not clarified myself.
The first Bob Will's tribute album from Asleep at the Wheel was in 1993 and there was an seperete version with dance tracks.

Yeah I have heard of that one Janice, but haven't seen it anywhere (the dance version).
I'd have to say one of the cheesiest techno numbers out about a year ago was by the cartoon like Rednex. They did a fiddle techno version of Cotton Eyed Joe!



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The future ain't what it used to be

Right,I had the wrong title.The "Dance Version" is of "A Tribute To The Music Of Bob Wills" ('93),not "Ride With Bob"('99).

Dave, It could have been worse--the female vocalists could have been chanting things like "Big..."(well nevermind)...