Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys - The Essential Bob Wills 1935-1947

The Essential Bob Wills might more accurately be called The Essential Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. While Wills was certainly the charismatic stage presence, talent scout, songwriter, and Western-swing mastermind, the Playboys--one of the best bands to ever grace this earth--most shine on these early sides. From horn-heavy, big-band-inspired recordings such as "Osage Stomp" and "Right or Wrong" to fiddle-driven, closer-to-country classics such as "Take Me Back to Tulsa" and "Stay a Little Longer," it was primarily the incomparable playing of pianist Al Stricklin, steel legend Leon McAuliffe, and the other Playboys, not to mention the smoother-than-smooth vocals of the great Tommy Duncan, that made this band the Southwest's flagship two-steppin' outfit and that make these 20 tracks truly "essential." --David Cantwell Amazon.com essential recording

take me back to the west

yeeehaw, there's no better swing master than Bob Wills. I don't think this is the most definitive collection but, for the bucks, it'll do in a pinch. July 4, 2008

THE PLAYBOYS EARLY STUFF

THIS IS A NICE COLLECTION OPF RECORDINGS BY BOB WILLS AND THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS, THE EARLY VERSION OF THE BAND, AND SOME OF THEIR EARLIEST RECORDINGS. IT SWINGS, IT'S GREAT, AND YOU CAN SEE WHY THEY WERE THE KINGS OF WESTERN SWING MUSIC. I HAVE A LOT OF BOB WILLS CD'S, AND I PREFER HIS LATER RECORDINGS, THERE IS A NINE CD SERIES CALLED THE "TIFFANY TRANSCRIPTIONS" WHICH ARE LATER RECORDINGS AND SWING JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THIS........... October 20, 2007

MUSIC I GREW UP ON

I remember as a kid my Dad listening to Bob Wills. This CD is a must have for Western Swing fans and Swing fans as well. Bob Wills to me is a true legend and icon in American music culture. September 26, 2007

The Essential Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

If you really, really like Texas swing, this is a must-have CD. When listening, I can just imagine driving down some long, straight, lonesome highway on a hot Texas summer night in my '39 Ford (which I owned once) listening to these songs on the scratchy radio (which was in the Ford I owned). The songs are repetitous, but OH SO SWEET. I wish there could have been some historical documentation with the CD, eg some bio's of the artists, a bit of concert trivia, etc. July 20, 2006

Aahhh-hah, I've found the essential single disc collection of Wills' hottest sides

This is certianly the best priced, easiest to find, and best single disc sampler of Wills' early years. The period covered here is his best 36-47, when western swing was fresh and new. Wills creatively blends hillbilly blues, and hot jazz, for some sizzling swing music. Exellent piano and steel guitar playing throughout. The musicianship is high, and this band is really tight, I mean Flether Henderson tight! As far as the music being fun goes, you get to hear Bob Wills yell in a high pitched voice at least three times in every song "ahhh-hahhh", which is half the fun of hearing a Bob Wills album. This cd features Wills' small swing combos, and several examples of his full big band. Exellent music that is still exciting today as it was in 1936! March 16, 2006

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