Contemporary Artists

Big Sandy & the Fly-Rite Boys “Feelin’ Kinda Lucky” - Hightone

Charlie Burton & the Texas 12 Steppers “Rustic Fixer-Upper” - Lazy S.O.B.

Ray Condo & His Ricochets “Door To Door Maniac” - Joaquin

The Derailers “Reverb Deluxe” - Watermelon/Sire

Robbie Fulks “South Mouth” - Bloodshot

Wayne Hancock “That’s What Daddy Wants” - Ark 21

The Cornell Hurd Band “Texas Fruit Shack” - Behemoth

James Intveld - Innerworks

Bill Kirchen & Too Much Fun “Hot Rod Lincoln - Live! ” - Hightone

Dale Watson “I Hate These Songs” - Hightone

Various Artists “The Edge Of Country” - Stockade

Various Artists “Straight Outta Boone County” - Bloodshot

Instrumentals

Jim Campilongo & the 10 Gallon Cats “Loose” - Blue Hen

Lester Peabody “Focus On Guitars” - Goofin’ (Finland)

Various Artists “Travis County Pickers” - HMG

Reissues

Cliff Bruner And His Texas Wanderers (box-set) - Bear Family (Germany)

Patsy Cline “Live At The Cimarron Ballroom” - MCA

Jimmy & Johnny “If You Don’t, Somebody Else Will” - Bear Family (Germany)

Speedy West & Jimmy Bryant “Flamin’ Guitars” (box-set) - Bear Family (Germany)

Tex Williams “On The Air 1947—1949” - Krazy Kat (England)

Various Artists “Swinging West” - Krazy Kat (England)

Local Artists

Red Meat “Meet Red Meat” - Ranchero

The Sloe Gin Joes - Ever Cool

Christmas

Five Chinese Brothers “A Window Shopper’s Christmas” - 1-800-Prime CD

Various Artists “You Can’t Stop The Christmas Bop, Vol. 2” - BeBe’s (Germany)

The highlights of the many great shows I saw this year:

Cornell Hurd Band - March 15 at The Texicalli Grille during SXSW Week, Austin, TX

One of the many great unofficial shows during the annual SXSW music showcase. The gifted Hurd Band was augmented among others by Dave Biller, Bill Kirchen, Johnny Gimble, and Herb Steiner, with guest vocalists Walt Lewis, Roy Heinrich, and Johnny Bush! Ruthie & The Wranglers opened and Carol Fran and Clarence Holiman were after and the whole thing was free!! And I'm sure I missed some. And the crowd was a real smooze fest. with record execs., writers, local music stars, and those in town for SXSW like Robbie Fulks. Hats off to Danny Young.

Bill Haley’s Original Comets - July 12 at The Denver Rock N' Rhythm-Billy Weekend

These guys are still hot!! Expecting a typically oldies act I was blown away by the verve and vitality of these gentlemen. They had the whole place going wow!! They mixed their hits from their Comets and Jodimars incarnations with hip jump and swing numbers from Prima and others. One act not to overlook.

Rollin’ Rocks - July 13 at The Denver Rock N’ Rhythm-Billy Weekend

This 8 piece aggregation from Japan was a hoot. A full blown western swing band playing with a lot of heart, they won a lot of new fans. I loved an original instro called “West Coast Excursion.” It sounded like a fresh prewar western swing number from a band like Milton Brown.

Dave Stuckey All Stars - October 11 & 12 at The Greaseball, San Francisco

Dave Stuckey brought along Whit Smith and Elana Fremerman of The Hot Club of Cowtown for some tasty jazzy western swing. All the pickers were eyeing the unique guitar style of Smith. If the Hot Club of Cowtown comes your way, catch ’em.