Once upon a time, a Texas label called Watermelon released country music that was as honest as the latest fare from Nashville was plastic. When Watermelon went belly up, a number of artists like the Derailers and
Don Walser were out of luck. Now, thanks to the Texas Music Group, a few of these gems are being reissued. Western swinger
Walser cut his first album,
Rolling Stone From Texas, for Watermelon in 1994. This debut still shimmers, whether
Walser is yodeling, singing an original, or offering a fresh take on Jimmie Rodgers' "California Blues." There's a fine version of Tennessee Ernie Ford's treatise on the dangers of courtship, "Shotgun Boogie," and an authentic rendering of Stan Jones' classic, "Cowpoke." Marty Robbins' "Don't Worry (About Me)" and Willie Nelson's "Three Days" also make noteworthy appearances. The arrangements vary a bit from song to song, but Western swing staples like pedal steel, lap steel, dobro, and lots of fiddle are prominent.
Walser's fun and self-assured vocals on "(The Party Don't Start) 'Til the Playboys Get Here" convince the listener that he isn't just mimicking an old style: he loves and personifies western music. Like Don Edwards,
Walser also convinces listeners that older styles of country can be just as relevant and enjoyable today.
Rolling Stone From Texas is a fine introduction to
Walser and a fine introduction to contemporary Western swing.