Asleep at the Wheel Albums (21)
'Reinventing the Wheel'
Release Date 3/20/2007
Tracks 12
Label Megaforce
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What The Critics Say
What are you gonna say about Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel? Everything they've recorded is inspired. It's true that for the last 12-15 years they've been making lots of live and tribute kinds of records, but even when they record a "new" one as Benson boasts on the back sleeve, they still sound like a rollicking, reeling, good-time swaggering Texas-style Western swing band. The lineup changes, and changes, and changes to be sure, but because of Benson's stubborn reliance on the form, the group keeps a very definite sound. This new set underscores that case in spades and all one has to do is listen to the cover of Mose Allison's great jump tune "Your Mind Is on Vacation." Allison, being a son of the Deep South himself (Mississippi) may never have imagined his tune this way, but it's easy to imagine him smiling and swinging along to it, or thinking up a smoking little piano solo, when he hears it. The same goes for Louis Jordan's "Saturday Night Fish Fry." There is one anomaly here, though, and it's the album's closer, a beautiful straight honky tonk version of Guy Clark's "The Cape." Benson pours real emotion into it while keeping Clark's phrasing nearly identical. There are also a couple of Tommy Duncan numbers here, and Fred Rose's stomper "The Devil Ain't Lazy," which could have been covered by Louis Jordan with a saxophone playing the steel solo, plus a couple of originals by Benson. It all adds up to a fine effort by Asleep at the Wheel. This band may be an institution, but they still have inspiration, chops, and hardcore swing in spades to dish out to listeners. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Is this really a concept album by Asleep at the Wheel? Sho' nuff, and yes it is. And why not? Ray Benson and company have already done a tribute to Bob Wills, so what could be more Texan than to do one of songs about and related to the Alamo? In his tribute to one of America's greatest mythological battles and a cornerstone of the modern Texas consciousness, Benson's research has paid off bigtime, in a wonderfully wrought, engaging, enlightening, and thoroughly delightful listening experience. Using traditional melodies ("Remember the Alamo"), old fiddle tunes ("Soldier's Joy"), and a mournful bugle call ("Deguello"), as well as nationalistic anthems ("Davy Crockett"), classic cowboy tunes ("Yellow Rose of Texas"), modernist hits (Bob Wills' "New San Antonio Rose" -- you didn't think he was gonna leave Western swing completely out of the mix did you?), movie songs by Dimitri Tiomkin ("Green Leaves of Summer" and "Remember the Alamo" from the 1960 John Wayne flick of the same name), and tunes written for the project itself (such as Monte Warden's "Stout and High"), Benson has woven his own fabulist universe. In it, he humanizes the Alamo for the listener, gives it faces, feelings, context, and a new kind of endurance that is certainly romantic, but is also far more realistic than most historic accounts. Benson's sound world is one that crisscrosses time and space and employs many textures -- one is the Tosca String Quartet's embellishment on three tunes -- as well as his ready (corny) sense of humor (check the tune about Ozzy Osbourne's wacko trip to the relic and pissing on it). It's a fine recording and one that will wear exceedingly well in the band's catalog. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Live at Billy Bob's Texas'
Release Date 10/14/2003
Tracks 15
Label Smith Music Group
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What The Critics Say
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have become prolific in the 21st century. In 2003 alone the band has issued a new studio album in Remembers the Alamo, this live CD, and an accompanying DVD from a gig at Billy Bob's Texas in April 2003. In addition, Benson's solo album hit the street earlier that summer. It doesn't appear that the Wheel has lapsed in its quality control, however. This live show at Billy Bob's is scorching hot; full of tight, Western swing, R&B, blues, and honky tonk, it is one of the finer Asleep at the Wheel live outings available. As an added bonus, the Wheel performs with former pedal steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar as a guest, along with current steel chair Jim Murphy, who also doubles on saxophone. Sonically, this disc sounds better than most folks' studio recordings. The material is a great grab bag: there are the standards "Miles and Miles of Texas," "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," "Boogie Back to Texas," "Don't Fence Me In," and "Cotton Eyed Joe." There's a great read of Hank Thompson's "Six Pack to Go," as well as the jump blues of "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens." But it's in the unexpected tracks, such as a moving version of Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You," the Venna Keith/Ben Peters hit "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" so closely associated with Freddy Fender (with beautiful vocals in Spanish by Haydn Vitera), and a killer version of "Amarillo by Morning" (the George Strait hit) that make this collection such a delight. Once again Asleep at the Wheel surprises and enchants, all the while bringing a slice of the great Western swing tradition to the masses. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
'Take Me Back to Tulsa'
Release Date 2/18/2003
Tracks 14
Label Import
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'Keepin' Me Up Nights'
Release Date 6/4/2002
Tracks 12
Label BMG Special Products
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What The Critics Say
Still swinging in the '90s. ~ Mark A. Humphrey, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Asleep at the Wheel devoted its entire career to Western swing, which is commonly known as the music Bob Wills created. They became the standard bearers for the genre, making sure that it was still an integral part of the country music mainstream. Since their entire career feels like a living monument to Wills, it almost seems unnecessary for them to record tributes to the "King of Western Swing" -- that is, until you hear the records. Ride With Bob, their sequel to the award-winning Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills, has more guest appearances than its predecessor, but it's every bit as enjoyable. The fact of the matter is, Asleep at the Wheel played this music better than anybody else at the close of the century, and these are some of the greatest songs in popular music -- "New San Antonio Rose," "Roly Poly," "Cherokee Maiden," "Right or Wrong," "Faded Love," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," and "Stay All Night" always sound fresh, and the band draws out excellent performances from Dwight Yoakam, the Dixie Chicks, Ray Benson, Reba McEntire, Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin, Clay Walker, and Mark Chesnutt, respectively, on these songs. It's a testament to both the group and the songs that nobody here -- not the Squirrel Nut Zippers or Manhattan Transfer -- sounds out of place. This is warm, generous, rich music that's endlessly listenable, much like Wills himself. And the Clint Black-sung cover of Waylon Jennings' tribute "Bob Wills Is Still the King" is a nice touch. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Merry Texas Christmas, Y'All'
Release Date 9/30/1997
Tracks 13
Label High Street
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What The Critics Say
It's a pretty safe bet there won't be another Christmas disc this year (or any other, for that matter) with an armadillo dressed like Santa on the cover. There's also not likely to be one with "Xmas In Jail," "Swingin' Drummer Man," "Jingle Bell Boogie," or "Swingin' Silent Nite." Or one that makes you smile more, or want to dance. Ray Benson and company have outdone themselves, with nods to traditional country (Willie Nelson's on board for "Silent Night" and his own "Pretty Paper") as well as the band's stock in trade, Western swing. All in all, it's a fun and amusing way to get your fill of the sounds of the season. ~ Ross Boissoneau, All Music Guide
'Back to the Future Now - Live at Arizona Charlie's'
Release Date 5/20/1997
Tracks 12
Label Sony
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What The Critics Say
"Why another live record?" asks bandleader Ray Benson in his liner notes to Asleep At The Wheel's fourth concert disc, and he has two answers, both valid. First, with hundreds of gigs per year, Asleep At The Wheel is essentially a live band, and live records reflect that. Second, Benson has cooked up a reunion performance in which original bandmembers Lucky Oceans and LeRoy Preston sit in with the current lineup, along with departed veterans Chris O'Connell, Floyd Domino, Tony Garnier, and Tim Alexander, as well as guest stars Tracy Byrd, Wade Hayes, the McGuire Sisters, and Johnny Lee Carpenter. Of course, the defining element in the group's sound remains Benson's big baritone, which he puts at the service of many of the band's hits, including "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read," "House of Blue Lights," "Miles and Miles of Texas," "Boogie Back to Texas," and "Hot Rod Lincoln." The recordings are taken from a December 1996 club date, which gives the show an unusual intimacy. Given that warmth and the survey the album provides of the band's career, Back to the Future Now makes a good primer of Asleep At The Wheel, even if the question Benson should have asked is, "Why not another live record?," to which the answer would be, "because it's redundant." ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
'The Wheel Keeps on Rollin''
Release Date 11/21/1995
Tracks 11
Label Capitol
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What The Critics Say
As the title suggests, Wheel Keeps on Rollin' doesn't offer anything new from Asleep at the Wheel, but that's not a bad thing at all. For over 20 years, the group has been the leading western swing group in the United States, bringing the music to several new generations of fans. Wheel Keeps on Rollin' is another first-rate collection of music. It might not have the conceptual power of their previous Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, nor is it as raw their earliest recordings, but it is an album that will satisfy their dedicated fans. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
