Back Home Again (A Western Swing Reunion)

Description

In 1983, OJL co-owner Cary Ginell held a recording session consisting of pioneering musicians of many of the most famous western swing bands of the 1930s, who were joined by three generations of musicians, who came to the Sumet-Bernet Studios in Dallas for the jam session. The event reunited some of the greatest musicians in western swing history. Spirits were high as old friends, led by Light Crust Doughboys banjo king Marvin “Smokey” Montgomery, played many of their old favorites, all with minimal rehearsal. The result was a swinging, fun afternoon. Less than a year later, Ginell returned to Dallas for a sequel, using many of the same musicians as well as others who had heard about the first event. For many, this would be the last time they would see one another. The tapes sat in Ginell’s garage for 40 years before he finally decided to have them restored and issued on two compact discs.

The performers in what Ginell dubbed the Dal-Jam Reunion Band include Montgomery, Zeke Campbell, and Johnny Strawn (Light Crust Doughboys), Jim Boyd and Carroll Hubbard (Bill Boyd & his Cowboy Ramblers), Fred “Papa” Calhoun and Ocie Stockard (Milton Brown & his Musical Brownies), Leon Rausch and Joe Frank Ferguson (Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys), Freddy Casares (the Wanderers), Roscoe Pierce (the Sunshine Boys), Tommy Camfield (Hank Thompson), Milton Brown’s surviving brother, Roy Lee Brown, J. Eldon Whalin, the only surviving original member of Bob Wills’ first band in Waco, Texas, plus 13 others.

Twenty-nine songs are included in the two CD set, which include spoken introductions and interviews by Smokey Montgomery with members of the band. A 16-page booklet includes never-released session photos and detailed liner notes, written by Ginell and Michael H. Price (a musician and reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram who got word of the session and couldn’t resist joining in the fun). The music is free-wheeling, exciting, and at times, even poignant, especially when the entire band sings the chorus of “Beautiful Texas,” the immortal anthem written by former Texas governor W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel.

TRACK LIST

Disc One (1983)
1)         Jesusita en Chihuahua
2)         San Antonio
3)         Indiana (Back Home Again in Indiana)
4)         Silver Lake Blues
5)         Sweet Jennie Lee
6)         End of the Lane Medley
7)         Waiting For a Train
8)         New Pretty Blond (New Jole Blon)
9)         Sweet Georgia Brown
10)         Sugar Moon
11)         The Roseland Melody
12)         Home in San Antone
13)         Beautiful Texas
14)         Black and White Rag
15)         Bring It on Down to My House

Disc Two (1984)
1)         Who’s Sorry Now
2)         China Boy
3)         My Gal Sal
4)         The Sheik of Araby
5)         Brownies’ Theme Song (How Do You Do)
6)         Four or Five Times
7)         Drifting and Dreaming (Sweet Paradise)
8)         Chinatown, My Chinatown
9)         Right or Wrong
10)         Oh, Lady Be Good!
11)         Marie
12)         Jig in G
13)         Dirty Dish Rag Blues
14)         Just Because