Search - Tex Williams :: That's What I Like About the West

A nice of change of pace.....Western swing at its very best

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 05/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Every so often I order a CD by an popular artist I know little or nothing about. I find that this is one way I can expand my musical horizons and once in a while I discover some fabulous music. I became curious about Tex Williams while perusing Joel Whitburn's "Top Country Singles 1944-1993". I have always enjoyed Western swing but it is a genre I do not listen to nearly enough. I came upon this CD on amazon.com and ordered it. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. This is really terrific stuff!!!
Sample nearly all of Tex Williams big hits on Capitol including Capitol's very first million-selling record "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) from 1947. Other enjoyable tunes include the title song "That's What I Like About The West" and the hilarious "Don't Telephone-Don't Telegraph (Tell A Woman). Also included as an added bonus are 8 cuts from Spade Cooley and his Orchestra that were recorded between 1945 and 1947 when Tex Williams was a member of the band. Once again, these tunes are top notch Western swing that you are sure to enjoy.
Tex Williams and his Western Caravan departed Capitol in 1951 and headed for RCA records. It was a move he would come to regret. Western Swing began to fall out of favor in the 1950's and Tex disbanded the Western Caravan in 1957 and carried on as a solo act. But as you will discover by listening to this collection, he left us with a marvelous body of work. If you have never really listened to Western swing before give this one a try. You are sure to enjoy it!!"

An excellent career overview of Tex Williams

Bradley Olson | Bemidji, MN United States | 01/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although the cover states that it is a CD by Tex Williams & His Western Caravan, this CD also features 7 tracks with Spade Cooley (he sings the lead vocals), including the #1 hit from 1945, Shame On You. The CD starts with the title track which was a #4 hit in 1947 and then it follows with the Spade Cooley tracks. Aside from Shame On You, it also has I've Taken All I'm Gonna Take From You (#4, 1945), Detour (#2, 1946), Crazy 'Cause I Love You (#4 in 1947) while the rest of Spade's hits can be bought on the CD "Spadella!" on Columbia/Legacy. Next it features many more of his Capitol hits including his biggest hit, "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette" which was Capitol's first million selling single in 1947, peaking at #1 for 16 weeks, plus the "California Polka" which is a western-swing styled polka, the novelty tracks, the #6 hit in 1948, "Who? Me?," a cover of Carson Robison's "Life Gits Tee-jus, Don't It" that peaked at #5 in 1948, plus his 2nd biggest hit on the country charts entitled "Never Trust a Woman" which has this punch line for anybody who's dating: "Never trust a woman, or else she'll make a monkey out of you." Another highlight is "Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph, Tell a Woman" the self-explanatory #2 hit from 1948. Even if you already have the now out of print "Vintage Collections" CD, this CD is essential for all fans and for people who are listening to his music for the first time, this is the CD to buy, and as usual for ASV, the sound is excellent."