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Album: Bluebonnet Lane The National Band of Texas and former Academy of Western Artists band of the year, The River Road Boys recorded another fantastic new CD. This new CD, recorded at Houston's historic Sugar Hill Studios, features 12 cuts of the most enjoyable music by one of Western Swings all-time greatest bands. The terrific musicians that make up this band are the leader, fiddle, piano and mandolin player Clyde Brewer. Clyde is also heard in the vocal spotlight on the old favorite Basin Street Blues. Also in the spotlight is lead vocalist Jim Johnson, who is simply awesome and has a voice that ages like fine wine. Band charter member, Tommy Howser is the drummer. Also heard in this classic band is Steel Guitar Hall of Fame legend, Herb Remington, bass player Harlan Kubos, guitar and fiddle wizard Bill Dessens and rhythm and lead guitarist Shelly Lee Alley, Jr. The album opens with another old favorite Mama Don't Allow No Music Playing in Here. This tune gives Jim the opportunity to introduce the band to all. That is followed by one of Cindy Walker's great compositions from the Bob Wills book, the album title tune Bluebonnet Lane. Also from Cindy's pen and the Bob Wills hit parade is Warm Red Wine. The boys also do a wonderful version of the Bob Wills composition and signature tune, San Antonio Rose. The band goes to Hollywood for two gems, Gene Autry and Fred Roses' Be Honest with Me, a 1941 hit for Gene that also was nominated for an Academy Award. Gene also recorded There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder but the huge hit was that of another movie cowboy legend, Tex Ritter. Two instrumentals are borrowed from the big bands, Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol's Perdido from the Ellington band and the great Larry Clinton band's 1940 hit Johnson Rag. The country music world is represented with a really nice version of Merle Haggard's Today I Started Loving You Again. Band guitarist Shelly Lee Alley Jr. is of course the son of the Western Swing Pioneer with the same name. The band pays tribute to him with Down in Dixieland. The final tune is bandleader Russ Morgan's You're Nobody 'till Somebody Loves You. This album can be obtained by check or money order from The River Road Boys, 22011 Rosewood Trail, Tomball, TX 77377-3505 or via e-mail from riverroadboys@sbcglobal.net The cost is $15 plus $2 for S and H. The S and H on international orders is $5. Mike Gross, WVOF-FM, Fairfield, CT |