Fuel 2000 stretches its reissue program by releasing this 18-cut set of classic Western swing. In addition to the inventors and major players in the genre like
Bob Wills (represented by "Take Me Back to Tulsa" and "San Antonio Rose" ),
the Light Crust Doughboys, and Milton Brown & His Brownies, there are other, lesser-known but equally important talents here. Tex Atchison and his wonderful "Tennessee Hound Dog" is here, as is Johnny Tyler's Riders of the Rio Grande with "I Can't Trust You Now," and
Johnnie Lee Willis' read of "Milk Cow Blues." There are also fine performances by
Hank Penny,
Spade Cooley, the Saddle Tramps, and the Sons of the West. Certainly there are better comps of Western swing, but this one will serve as a fine introduction to anyone interested. It must also be noted that Bill Dahl's liner essay is both informative and authoritative. ~ Thom Jurek