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THE O. J. CORRAL
MUSIC REVIEWS
BY
O. J. SIKES
We Will Be Adding Pages and Leaving Reviews Up
Have a CD you want OJ to review
Mail TO:
OJ Sikes
327 Westview Ave
 Leonia, NJ 07605-1811

      O. J. Sikes New Radio Show Online
"Western Music Time"
on the Nostalgia Radio programs page of the www.BostonPete.com
web site.
O.J.'s E-Mail

We will now only be listing E-Mails & Websites
of Academy of Western Artists Members on the Reviews

BUCKAROO DREAM

    -New West
7 NEW GENE AUTRY VIDEOS
    -Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Cass County Boys, etc.
The carefully honed, energetic performances of this group, plus their solid, new material, have kept New West at the top of the western heap since they formed in 1995. Just listen to Mike Fleming's title track on this new disc; it's fantastic!
    Another favorite is a terrific Raul Reynoso guitar instrumental, "Vaquero," and Raul does more superb guitar work, plus the vocal, on the swingin' "Headin' South for a Change." Dave Jackson's "The Remember Song" always brings the house down. Everybody loves it, whether they wear a cowboy hat or forgot where they put it! And "The Wire and the Rails" is yet another favorite.
    The list of favorites grows every time I listen to the CD! Mike and Les Buffham struck gold awhile back with an award winning collaboration; they collaborated on 2 new ones for this disc. And there's lots more great music here.
    $17 ppd from New West, P.O. Box 802495, Santa Clarita, CA

 
  If you've ever tried to find un-cut videos of B-Westerns with clear images, you know they're scarce as hens' teeth! Usually, they're non-existent. Now, Gene Autry's office has spearheaded an effort to restore and re-issue all of Gene Autry's movies!
    The task was difficult. They had to go to Gene's private collection to find the uncut versions. Then, the major companies they approached as potential partners wanted to charge $20 per video! But, like her old boss with the white hat, Karla Buhlman of Autry Entertainment, fought for the fans and won!
    Autry Entertainment issued 7 videos in January, 2002, and 7 more are expected in July! They are priced at a very reasonable $9.95 each, or $59.95 for the set of 7 (shipping: 1-2 tapes $6.50; 3-4 $7.50; 5-7 $8.95). Great films, beautifully restored! Proceeds benefit the Autry Museum.
    Titles are: Heart of the Rio Grande (with my favorite version of "Cimarron" by the Jimmy Wakely Trio), Home on the Prairie, Rovin' Tumbleweeds (where Gene first sings "Back in the Saddle" on screen), Robin Hood of Texas (one of Gene's best w/the Cass County Boys), Shootin' High (w/the dynamic Jane Withers, released by 20th Century Fox!), Under Fiesta Stars (which, along with it's beautiful title song, introduced Frog Millhouse's little brother, Tadpole) and Gene's most popular movie, South of the Border. Each film has lots of music (some of which had been cut from earlier TV versions) and one or more priceless scenes, with remarkable special effects, great horsemanship, excellent writing, Gene caught on screen getting genuinely tickled by a comic's antics, etc.
    I highly recommend the whole set! Call the Autry Museum Store toll-free 1 (888) 412-8879

Rich O'Brien
Southwestern Souvenirs
Western Jubilee 1226-2

Tom Morrell and the Time Warp Tophands
Sylin'
WR Records WR0015

As a sideman, Rich O'Brien has probably played on more western recording sessions than any guitarist alive. He is also much in demand as a producer and he's the man the legendary Cindy Walker asks to "demo" her new compositions. Ms. Walker called me some time ago and played her new, unrecorded song, "Old Town Taos" over the phone. Rich's award-winning recording of it is on this CD along with Cindy's wonderful "Rose of Old Mexico" and ten more great tunes by other composers.

There are only three vocals, one of which is Don Edwards' rendition of the theme from "Gunsmoke." The rest are gorgeous, lightly Latin flavored instrumentals, a little western swing and Tim Spencer's "Padre of Old San Antone." The Autry-Rose classic "Under Fiesta Stars" is a masterpiece with Rich's guitar moving seamlessly from upper to lower registers, then segueing to twin fiddles and band. Beautifully done! Highly recommended. Check local merchants or Western Jubilee, P.O. Box 9187, Colorado Springs, CO 80932

 They told him not to do it but he did it anyway. Tom Morrell recorded an all-instrumental CD and boy, am I glad he did. It's fantastic! When you think about it, it was a logical move. Many of the biggest hits from the big bands (western swing's close cousins) were instrumentals. Look at Basie, Ellington, Goodman and Shaw (whose "Begin the Beguine" is on this disc). This CD is Vol. XII in the band's "How the West Was Swung" series, so you have all those great musicians here: Boatright, Elmore, O'Brien and others who worked with Tom on the previous releases. The tunes range from "Steel Guitar Rag" to the lovely "The Nearness of You," beautifully illustrating Tom's genius as a steel guitarist, arranger and producer. Don't miss this one. Highly recommended. Call toll free 1-877-732-8198

The Hot Club of Cowtown
Tall Tales
Hightone Records HCD 8704

Sourdough Slim
Rock & Rye
Roundup Records RR 112CD

This western swing group's music isn't just hot--it sizzles! It's music you don't want to relegate to the background; you want to take in every note. Billy Horton's bass-slapping technique is one of the keys to making the young band sound both hot and old-style. But the original compositions like his "You Can't Take It With You," guitarist Whit Smith's "Emily" (one of my special favorites) and Elana Fremerman's "Darling You and I Are Through" also sound like vintage material. Add to this the trio's superb musicianship, Elana's unique vocals and incredible fiddling, occasional flourishes that sound like Wills or Cooley, and you've got a first-rate CD. Highly recommended! Check your favorite merchant or write the band at Box 685335, Austin, TX 78701-9998. In case you don't know Sourdough Slim, he has a unique novelty act.  On stage he's hilarious, but  he also plays really good old-time music. This new CD features lots of good music, and some selections are outstanding. His own "Cowpuncher's Blues" is at the top of my list. He also does an excellent accordion instrumental called "La Nopalera" and I enjoyed "Bunkhouse Billy" and "When the Work's All Done This Fall." Other fans will surely find other favorites. This CD is one of Slim's best! Send $15 ppd to Sourdough Slim, P.O. Box 2021, Paradise, CA 95967
www.sourdoughslim.com

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