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One of the very few western swing bands to be found in
Nashville, John England & The Western Swingers are a tight
top-draw group of musicians consisting of John England - guitar
and vocals, Gene "Pappy" Merritts - fiddle and vocals,
Randy Mason - drums and vocals, David Spicher - bass and vocals,
Tommy Hannum - steel and vocals and Tom McBryde on piano.
Thanks A Lot follows the bands
very successful album Swinging Broadway and pays tribute to
the Texas
Troubadour...Ernest Tubb. John England passionately confirms;
"Ernest Tubb (1914 -1984) was one of the first recording
artists to popularize Honky Tonk music. His big voice, great
songs, and highly identifiable vocal & instrumental style
made him one of Country Music's all-time greats, and he was
widely known as a man who'd go out of his way to help those
who needed it. Tubb's music is a 'country cousin' to Western
Swing and in this album we've recorded 12 songs associated with
ET in our own Bob Wills influenced style. It's our way of tipping
our hats to a great man and getting our hands around some great
songs…Here's to you ET!"
The title track and Tubb's 1963 hit "Thanks
A Lot" sets the ball rolling in fine swing style
with John  England
on lead vocals and the addition of some gutsy sax and trumpet
solos. Following on David Spicher on bass leads off with "Walking
The Floor Over You" before Randy Mason on lead vocals
and the rest of the band come in to offer a sensational version
of ET's first big hit from 1943. You can't do a tribute to Ernest
Tubb without the song that to many country fans is their all-time
favourite…."Waltz Across Texas";
given a new lease of life in Britain when it became popular
with the Line Dance set a little while ago. We're not to be
let down on this album as John and the lads present us with
a sparkling version of ET's smash hit complete with the "crying
steel guitar" of Tommy Hannum. Guest musicians playing
on Thanks A Lot include Jerry Krahn, Paul Kramer, Jimmy Clark,
Billy Huber, Scott Ducaj, John Balut and Paul Ross. The instrumental
"Rhodes-Bud Boogie" gets
the full swing treatment from the band as they give a nod to
Bob Wills by including a touch of San Antonio Rose.
From beginning to end you'll lose yourself in the glow of
this richly textured and inviting fusion of Honky Tonk and Western
Swing that lights up the room from the very first note…a reminder
of the wonderful legacy that Ernest Tubb left us, don't miss-out
on this simply spellbinding collection!!!
http://www.westernswingers.net
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