Generally I hate Country Music, but I love Asleep At The Wheel.
Their album “Asleep At The Wheel: Comin’ Right At You” is a classic.
On many songs, they do Bob Wills better than Bob Wills.
My favorites include:
Ida Red
Take Me Back To Tulsa
Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin
Hillbilly Nut
I’m The Fool (Who Told You To Go)
I’ve Been Everywhere
All Night Long
Stay All Night
Any other fans?
Sorry, never heard of it. I came in here thinking that you were posting about the Bloodhound Gang, whom I love.
Good lord; I first heard Asleep at the Wheel some twenty years ago, I think. Are they still around? Yes, they are an exceptional Western Swing band.
Oh yeah.
Wonderful band. Glad to hear they’re still around.
I’ve loved Asleep at the Wheel since their first album. Ray Benson formed the band in Pennsylvania. Then moved to San Francisco, because that’s where the hip musicians went at the time.
The Wheel first toured Texas opening for Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen. Imagine their surprise when they were not viewed as a “novelty act.” People showed up & danced. Many Texas Playboy vets were alive & well–& playing for dances every weekend throughout the state. They welcomed The Wheel–who soon moved to Austin. Ray Benson has kept the band going since, with many personnel changes.
Here’s what they are up to nowadays. Touring tirelessly & occasionally performing: A Ride With Bob: The Bob Wills Musical.
Many of their currently available CD’s are compilations–not bad, if you’re a new fan. A recent non-compilation favorite was Ride With Bob–swinging numbers featuring guest stars from Merle Haggard to The Dixie Chicks.
Count me as a another fan. I don’t care much for mainstream country, but I do have myself several Asleep at the Wheel CDs.
T-U-L-S-A straight ahead
My Baby Thinks She’s a Train is one of my favorites, and I also like Am I High?
Like the OP, I generally dislike country, but Am I High? is just a hoot. Doesn’t get much radio airplay, I probably would have never heard it if not for college radio back in the day.
I was a huge fan in the 70’s and early 80’s. I saw them perform several times, the most notable being around 1980. The were performing in a club in Atlanta that was owned by local impresario Alex Cooley, who also put on arena/stadium shows. That night, Eric Clapton was performing at the Omni at a show put on by Cooley. Sometime around midnight, as the Wheel was beginning their third set of the evening, they came out with Clapton in tow! He played the entire set with Asleep at the Wheel, and never overshadowed the band. They were an excellent band without Clapton, but with him - wow!
This was the Ray Benson/Chris O’Connell/Lucky Oceans/Leroy Preston incarnation of the group. I’ve seen subsequent lineups, but they never moved me the way the original group did.
I understand they soldier on these days primarily as a vehicle for Benson. Have heard a record of theirs in over 10 years.
Heck yeah!
Oh Yea - I think the first time I saw them was on Austin City Limits many years ago and have been a fan ever since. Take Me Back To Tulsa & Miles and Miles of Texas will always have spots on my favorites playlist
Wow. I saw Asleep at the Wheel perform in the now defunct Chestnut Street Cabaret at 38th and Chestnut in Philly, circa 1984.
They also did much of the music for the obscure movie ‘Liar’s Moon’.
They do a nice version of Route 66: Asleep at the Wheel live on youtube.
I have one of their albums from the '80s. Man that guy has a smooth voice!
He’s the biggest man in country music!! (That’s what he says, anyway)
Even my kids like AATW. We drive around the state a lot and they have the best driving music that also helps get us in the mood for whatever adventure we happen to be driving to such as camping and river visits. The kids love Choo Choo Cha Boogie.
I just checked their scheduled appearances a couple of days ago to see if they were playing anywhere near us and at a place the kids (9,11) could also attend.
Benson does look tall.
I am another fan from the 70’s/early 80’s, I saw them more than once, and I used to sing Choo Choo Cha Boogie with my kids too. I still have them on vinyl.
I also liked: Don’t Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes At Me.