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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


SYMPHONIES OF THE SAGE
 Sons of the Pioneers
                                        Soundies /Bloodshot BS 808


The Arizona Cowboy

-    Rex Allen                                                        GME 1014


At two of the most critical junctures in their career, 1940/41 and 1952/53, the Sons of the Pioneers were remarkably under-recorded
 commercially. They made records, but far too few, as some of their very best  music was performed during those periods. Fortunately, in both instances, they recorded numerous transcriptions for radio.
    This new CD is comprised of the legendary Orthacoustic transcriptions from 1940-41, among the Pioneers' best work ever.  It's not a greatest hits collection. It's better than that!  You hear only the classic Pioneers trio: Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Lloyd Perryman, backed by Pat Brady (bass fiddle) and the Farr Brothers on fiddle and guitar. There are no extra violins, no woodwinds, drums or horns.
     The classic versions of  "When Payday Rolls Around," "Coyote Serenade," "Good-bye to the Red River Valley" (none of which they ever
recorded commercially) are here, along with gorgeous, rare versions of "Ridin' Down the Canyon," "The Old Barn Dance" and  "Trail Dreamin'."
 Some of the Farr Bros.' best instrumentals, like "Swingin' the Bow," are included as well, accompanied by Perryman on rhythm guitar and Brady on bass.
     This may well be the best collection of the Sons of the Pioneers'
work on a single CD, so you may want to pick up extra copies for friends. 
Don't miss it! Highly recommended!


In 1972, Rex Allen recorded his classic LP, Rex Allen Sings Bony-Kneed, Hairy Legged Cowboy Songs.  Now, Snuff Garrett has re-mastered the tracks from the old LP and added new ones like a previously unreleased 1998 version of Rex’s movie theme, “Arizona Cowboy,” backed by the Reinsmen.
This wonderful album of 14 selections is a “must” for every Western music fan!  In addition to Rex’s great interpretations of traditional songs like “When the Work’s All Done This Fall” and “Tying Knots in the Devil’s Tail,” you can hear his narrations of “Droop Ears” and “Braggin’ Drunk from Willcox.” He also introduces his own fiddle medley.  The CD is illustrated with 13 rare, superb photos, 7 of which are in color!

Don’t miss this one! 
Call 1 (800) 240-8757 
or write 
Garrett Music Enterprises, 
PO Box 459, 
Royse City TX 75189-0459.
 $15.98 CD  $9.98 Tape plus postage.

 

IN THE MOO
-The Texas Trailhands
TTT Records

SOUND OF A PIONEER
-Bob Nolan
GME 1011

The Texas Trailhands' first album (1998) brought them well-deserved acclaim, but I like this new one much better. It opens with a super
instrumental called "Horsefly Swing," penned by the group's talented new fiddler, Rodeo Kate. It's one of my favorites on the album. Then, they
leap into Foy Willing's "Texas Blues," after which they slow down the tempo while Miss Devon croons "Ole Buttermilk Sky" (rumor has it that she also knows "Slow Boat to China." There must have been some Kay Kyser fans around
her house a few years back!). Allan Chapman, a.k.a. Hoot Al, composer of "Red Silk Bandana," which was nominated for an award last year, wrote another couple of fine tunes for this album, "Palo Duro" and a novelty tune, "The Illstrated Cowboy." Roncho Ron turns in some nice vocals, e.g. on "South of the Border" and "El Rancho Grande" along with his percussion chores, and Chuckwagon Chuck handles
guitar and harmonica (and kazoo when absolutely necessary). This group really has personality, and no one is a better illustration of it than Miss Devon, the Trailhands' perky and very skilled rhythm guitarist who also composed one of the tunes on this disc, "Texas Stagecoach Blues." She sings solos on a number of others too, and you may have heard her as Jesse the Yodeling Cowgirl on Riders in the Sky's Disney CD WOODY'S ROUNDUP.
To cap it off, they wind up with the daddy of all swing tunes, adapted to the Western setting, of course, and newly titled "In the Moo," complete with range sound effects (and, yes, Chuck's kazoo!). It sorta defies description; you'll just have to hear it for yourself. This is a fun album!
   

 Bob Nolan had not recordeded in over 20 years when "Snuff" Garrett finally convinced him to cut this album in 1979. Nolan was 71 years old then, and he passed away the following year.
Everyone who enjoys Western music should own a copy of this album. Why?
For pure nostalgia. It was the last recording by this old cowboy hero, who was also a musical legend. But that's not the only reason, nor is it the most important. Bob Nolan wrote more great Western songs than anyone else; his two best-known are included on this album. He was also skilled at interpreting other composers' material, and with his distinctive voice, does a particularly nice job here on "That Old Outlaw Time."
Most of the 11 songs on the album are Nolan compositions. He chose the others well, e.g. Stuart Hamblen's old "Texas Plains" and Rex
Allen, Jr.'s then new "Can You Hear Those Pioneers?", but the most interesting work from other composers was "Man Walks Among Us" by Marty Robbins. Nolan admired Marty's work, and Nolan was one of Marty's heroes. Marty flew out from Nashville to sit in on the recording session, and his is only one of the fascinating stories that have been told about the recording of this album and the events leading up to it. Unfortunately, we'll have to leave the details for another time.
For me, the most interesting thing about this album is that Nolan used it to introduce two previously unrecorded masterpieces, "Old Home Town" and "Wandering." They have become two of my favorite Bob Nolan recordings. Just to hear new compositions from the pen of the master 20 years after he last set foot in a studio, was a thrilling experience in
1979. It is no less thrilling today.  
If you have the LP, wait till you hear it on CD! If you missed it the first go 'round, don't miss it this time! 
$14.98 CD, $9.98 tape, + $3,50
s&h (Texas res. add 6.25%) 
Garrett Music Enterprises, 
P.O. Box 459,
Royse City, TX 75189-0459 
or call 1 (800) 240-8757.

CALL HIM COWBOY
    -Brenn Hill
                                    Paras/RealWest RW 60002-2

THE MYSTERY OF HIS WAY
-The New Pioneers

    If you're wondering why all the fuss about Brenn Hill, you obviously haven't heard this new album. There's so much good music on it, I had a really tough time choosing  a favorite cut. The winner for me was "Nighthorse," with its loping rhythm.
    Obviously, there are several others I particularly enjoyed: "Greys River Road," "Powder River Queen," "Wyoming Wind,"  " Bitter Creek,""Roundup Fire,"  "Fall Comin' On" and the title song. With this many exceptionally good ones (there are 11 songs and 2 poems on the album), you can see why I had difficulty selecting one favorite!
    Brenn is still a young fellow, but he's ganing experience fast, having already appeared with Michael Martin Murphey, Red Steagall, Don Edwards, Ian Tyson and Chris LeDoux. He has talent beyond his years. His
style is contemporary, both acoustic and electronic. He includes a good number of cowboy love songs in his original repertoire (these love ballads are not really my cup o' tea, but no doubt they will make young cowgirls swoon).
    This young fellow is having an impact, and the praises being sung are well deserved. CDs are available from Four Winds Trading Co.,
 phone
1 (800) 456-5444 or
www.fourwinds-trading.com .

    It's been a long time since we've seen a cowboy inspirational album. Western artists have recorded gospel music lately but anyone can do that. 
Here, the New Pioneers have selected Western "semi-religious" and religious music, rendered in 15 excellent performances. With titles like Tim Spencer's "He's Gone Up The Trail and "Lie Low Little Dogies", Stan Jones' "All Wild Things", "The Woodsman's Prayer" and "Song of the Trail", and Bob Nolan's "He Walks With the Wild and the Lonely", "How Shall I Know Him"? and this albums title song, the Cowboy Connection is clear. Tommy Doss provided glowing comments for the liner notes, pointing to "We'll Rest at the End of the Trail" as his personal favorite.
If you haven't heard these fellows, your in for a treat. They have a mature, rustic, Western sound with acoustic accompaniment, that takes you back to the early day's of the Silver Screen Cowboy's. This album is a must for cowboy enthusiasts who want to add to the inspirational selection of their Western  Collections. 
CD's $17.00
Tapes $12.00 ppd.
New Pioneers
P.O. Box 17466
Sugar Land, TX 77496
www.newpioneersmusic.com



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