Asleep at the Wheel devoted its entire career to Western swing, which is commonly known as the music
Bob Wills created. They became the standard bearers for the genre, making sure that it was still an integral part of the country music mainstream. Since their entire career feels like a living monument to
Wills, it almost seems unnecessary for them to record tributes to the "King of Western Swing" -- that is, until you hear the records.
Ride With Bob, their sequel to the award-winning
Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills, has more guest appearances than its predecessor, but it's every bit as enjoyable. The fact of the matter is,
Asleep at the Wheel played this music better than anybody else at the close of the century, and these are some of the greatest songs in popular music -- "New San Antonio Rose," "Roly Poly," "Cherokee Maiden," "Right or Wrong," "Faded Love," "Take Me Back to Tulsa," and "Stay All Night" always sound fresh, and the band draws out excellent performances from
Dwight Yoakam,
the Dixie Chicks,
Ray Benson,
Reba McEntire,
Lyle Lovett and
Shawn Colvin,
Clay Walker, and
Mark Chesnutt, respectively, on these songs. It's a testament to both the group and the songs that nobody here -- not
the Squirrel Nut Zippers or
Manhattan Transfer -- sounds out of place. This is warm, generous, rich music that's endlessly listenable, much like
Wills himself. And the
Clint Black-sung cover of
Waylon Jennings' tribute "Bob Wills Is Still the King" is a nice touch. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine