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"Led Zeppelin" were popular when I was a kid. Even though there are two very expensive box sets (one close to, and one above $400). The spirit. Thank goodness, it's mostly "junk" that dominates the airwaves these days, otherwise something this good would probably command much more money from the record companies. And, for the life of me, I can't get tired of this stuff.
For the amount of joy, foot-tapping, head swinging, and bobbing I get from this set, I think I'd be tempted to pay four times as much (if I had to), for this fabulous country-swing. That's not to say they weren't good- they were, in fact, great. But, there's always at least one of the discs from "Take Me Back to Tulsa" that I can't seem to want to take out. But, being a musician myself, I found out about Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys through "Guitar Player" magazine, or one of the other guitar magazines, citing Bob's music as being very important, and highly innovative, with regards to electric guitar playing.
The pace. I listened to most of the samples from both of those (high priced) sets, and I couldn't help but notice that the higher sound quality versions were, in fact, "different" versions, probably recorded some years later. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not some highly opinionated fellow who grew up listening to this type of music in the '30s and '40s. So, I bought "The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947", which is very good, but this is even better. And the songs that were obviously the exact same ones taken from the exact same takes,(that are also on this set), don't seem to sound any better on the high-priced sets (contrary to one review).
I've got a multi-disc cd player that's always loaded with rock, jazz fusion, or whatever, and I change the discs all the time. The wit. The unabashed energy. with tons of material, a great book, and DVD, I'll certainly settle for this, for now, unless the price of those two goes down. Joyous, swinging, energetic, fun. Perhaps maybe "slightly" better in some cases, but that's it. Just what the hell is that.
But, if you have the money, there are plenty of other great songs on both of those sets. And even better yet,(much to my pleasant surprise), was that not only is there plenty of superb electric steel, and electric six-string guitar work, but all this great guitar playing just happens to be surrounded by great music, as well. I can't help but imagine that it must have been amazing to play in that band. Just "different". I liked a lot of the stuff that was probably from the early '50s on "Faded Love", as well as some of the many other "early" songs on the other expensive set, "San Antonio Rose." In the meantime, I'll be quite happy and content listening to plenty of abundant fun and energy on "Take Me Back to Tulsa."
If you're a country music fan like myself, you have invariably heard about Bob Wills; either through Waylon Jennings song about him or Merle Haggard's cover of Faded Love.Before I bought this cd I had heard a few of their songs: Faded Love and Lonestar Beer to name a few. Really its not even close. The versions of them must have been remastered or something, because the sound quality of those versions is much better than the sound quality of these cds. The cds aren't terrible quality, as in the Ernest Tubbs collection that is made from the same manufacturer, but it is far from what I had heard from him elsewhere.Well to start this is NOT country music. In fact, if replaced the fiddles and steel guitars with trumpets and maybe saxophones, you would have big band music with maybe country vocals.Also there is some stuff here that is way to bluesy for my tastes and I HATE blues music.I will give them this: the vocalist is very talented and the fiddle playing is very good; in fact the musicianship is top quality. But as a country music fan, this music is really not my cup of tea.
All very well packaged. I just don't get tired of Bob.
The music sounds great. The mastering is superb.
I am blown away by this 4-CD box set. Great songs.
The musicianship is incredible, as is the energy. Brilliant solos.
Nice 36-page narrative plus discography. Recommended highly at any price, and the actual price is insanely low.
I heard about Bob Wills a long time ago via Waylon Jennings ("Bob Wills is Still the King"). 20 years later I decided to find out what all the fuss was about. I found out.His sense of style, musical mastery and storytelling is in a league of its own.Something else though.sure, he does his share of "she took my dog, she took my pick-up truck".however his music has a joy, rhythm and optimism that lifts the soul.This compilation is too good to be true - the quality, the quantity, the price - what's going on here.And Tommy Donkin (that's how I heard his name pronounced by Waylon for those 20 years) has a voice to enjoy and love.This is a Box Set (4 discs, more than 100 songs)from heaven, even for someone who's not been within 8,000 miles of Texas.
Bob Wills and His Tx Playboys featuring Tommy Duncan on vocals and the amazing Leon McAuliffe on slide guitar evokes the pure American experience of pleasure, pain, and persuasion by the way of a Saturday dance. maybe more as he toured endlessly and loved his audience. Bob Wills/Band were the foremost example of a time and tempo of true Southwest 1940's 50's or so ya think. Bob Wills was as much a Big Band hero as Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, etc. This 4 CD set has a hundred recordings and a booklet well worth the bargain price. It has more grins to the ear than a halloween pumpkin.
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