Wednesday, March 08, 2006
"Beer Parlor Jive"
Tony Russell wrote the liner notes for a vintage compilation album using this name in 1975, beginning with a good definition of Western Swing:
WESTERN SWING - type of country music popular in the Southwest, esp. Texas and Oklahoma, in the 1930's and '40's. Developed from earlier fiddle-band tradition, but much influenced by ragtime, jazz and particularly '30's blues and swing. Characterized by straight forward and vigorous rhymthmic pulse, derived in part from jazz and possibly Mexican mariachi music; "take-off" solos of an improvised nature, exp. by fiddle and steel guitar; and warm, relaxed vocals. Wide repertoire, drawing on traditional fiddle tunes, jazz standards, '20's and '30's popular songs and blues, and new compositions often influenced by these sources. In its first recording stage (1932 to 1942) Western Swing was defined by about 50 bands who made some 2000 sides. In the '40's it was transformed from a small-band (five to eight pieces) to a big-band idiom, with brass and reed sections, and extended its popularity to the West Coast. Its influence lingered well into the '50's and may still be heard in present- day country music, ....
There are some great acts on this album which I have not yet found again on CD, such as:
- Adolph Hofner & his Texans
- Milton Brown & his Brownies, and
- Bill Boyd & his Cowboy Ramblers
and quite a few more which can now be found on the JPS boxed set "Western swing & country jazz" (2005):
- Jimmie Revard & his Oklahoma Playboys, and
- Cliff Bruner's Texas Wanderers.
Neither collection has anything from Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, but that's probably an example of the bigger, brassier orchestra which developed later.
