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Album: Houston The last few albums by The River Road Boys have charted as number one CDs. It looks like this can happen again. This new CD, recorded at Houston's historic Sugar Hill Studios, features 12 cuts of the most enjoyable music by one of Western Swing's all-time greatest bands. The very talented musicians that make up this band include the leader, fiddle, piano and mandolin player Clyde Brewer. Clyde is also heard in the vocal spotlight on the old Jimmy Wakely/Johnny Bond gem Gone and Left Me Blues. Also in the spotlight is lead vocalist Jim Johnson, who is simply awesome. Tommy Howser, a charter member of the band, is the drummer and former Hank Thompson Brazos Valley Boys member, Ralph "Dusty" Stewart, is heard playing Steel Guitar. Guitar and fiddle wizard Bill Dessens and rhythm and lead guitarist Shelly Lee Alley, Jr. are also enjoyed throughout. Shelly is also heard playing bass on Larry Gatlin's huge Gatlin Brothers hit Houston. Former River Road Boys bass player, Harlan Kubos joins them as a guest to play bass on the 11 other tunes. Clyde, Tommy, Bill and Dusty are heard doing the background vocals. As always, the boys do their share of Bob Wills and this time there is Bob's My Confession, Ray Charles' Talkin' 'Bout You, from Bob's late 1960s Kapp years, Tommy Duncan's Time Changes Everything and Fred Rose's You Don't Care What Happens to Me. Bob Wills' younger brother, Johnnie Lee Wills, and his fiddle player Henry Boatman wrote and recorded Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone. The big bands are remembered with You Call Everybody Darlin' and Billy Strayhorn's Take the "A" Train from the great Duke Ellington. The Texas dance hall sound is heard as the boys bring back a new version of their 1980s recording Walk Out Backwards. Pennies from Heaven is borrowed from the world of popular music and Over the Hill is from the late Ted Daffan. It has been much too long since this one has been brought back and especially so nicely. This album can be obtained by check or money order from The River Road Boys, 22011 Rosewood Trail, Tomball, TX 77377 or via e-mail from riverroadboys@sbcglobal.net The cost is $15 plus $2 for S and H. Phone orders: 281-356-7174 or 281-290-7255. Mike Gross, WVOF-FM, Fairfield, CT |