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Open That Gate
is the third release from Nashville’s outstanding western swing
band John England & the Western Swingers
who can be found playing every
Monday at Robert’s Western World on Lower Broadway. The band
consists of John (guitar and vocals), Gene “Pappy” Merritts
(fiddle and vocals), Tommy Hannum (steel guitar and vocals),
David Spicher (bass and vocals), Neil Stretcher (piano and vocals)
and Walter Hartman (drums).
10 of the 13 well crafted tracks are written
by members of the band along with Floyd Tillman’s “I’ll
Keep On Loving You”, Bob Wills “Bring
It On Down” and the agreeable “Yes,
Sir” ("YES, SUH!"
Edgar Dowell/Andy Razaf)) at the final track. The song goes
back to the jazz age of around 1932 and has been recorded by
Louis Armstrong, The  Lightcrust
Doughboys and Milton Brown & His Musical Brownies.
Five of the band members take their turn
on lead vocals offering a gem on every track alongside their
stellar magical musicianship. The whole thing kicks off in great
Bob Wills’ style with the sprightly title track written by John.
The highlights are many as Tommy takes us for a steady ride
down to Albuquerque’s “Old Town”
(Hannum) where he remembers a pretty young girl he met and the
chance to pick-up a little bargain from the jewellery on sale
in the town square. “One More Time”
(Stretcher/Long) slows it all down as Neil steps into the lead
vocals for this one. We find two instrumentals written by John
who also calls in the true Bob Wills fashion on “Neely’s
Bend Quick Step” and “Big Boy Strut”.
The fiddle works overtime and the forceful steelwork glides
along with the punchy piano licks. The bass and drums hold the
meter together while the nimble guitar-work delivers rhythmic
balance. Recorded at several studios in Nashville…mixed and
mastered by Matt Spicher.
If you like to kick sawdust and
swing, Open That Gate will
have you clapping your hands, taping your feet, rolling
back the carpet and two-stepping all around the lounge!!!
www.westernswingers.com/
Graham Lees July 2008 |
