During the mid and late 1990s, the Tractors, five Tulsa-based session musicians who seldom toured, enjoyed a platinum-studded run on the charts with their good-timey, groove-laden, rockabilly-injected, retro-country-rock s... more »ound. Without fanfare or a name change, the Tractors have more or less become the Tractor on this 2001 release, which is their/his first in nearly three years. Fast Girl is largely the creation of guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Ripley, who has replaced his erstwhile bandmates with a revolving lineup of nearly 30 distinguished guest musicians, including Leon Russell, James Burton, Willie Weeks, Sam Bush, Fats Kaplin, and D.J. Fontana. Not surprisingly, considering Ripley's studio savvy, tracks like "Can't Get Nowhere," "Nine Eleven," "Computer Controlled," and rollicking covers of Moon Mullican's "Don't Ever Take My Picture Down" and Dylan's "On the Road Again" possess all the hooks, levity, and down-home élan of the Tractors' previous hits. The icing on the cake comes with more heartfelt tracks like the forlorn "Ready to Cry" and the gospel-flavored "Higher Ground," where Ripley injects some real soulfulness into his dexterous bag of tricks. --Bob Allen« less
During the mid and late 1990s, the Tractors, five Tulsa-based session musicians who seldom toured, enjoyed a platinum-studded run on the charts with their good-timey, groove-laden, rockabilly-injected, retro-country-rock sound. Without fanfare or a name change, the Tractors have more or less become the Tractor on this 2001 release, which is their/his first in nearly three years. Fast Girl is largely the creation of guitarist and lead vocalist Steve Ripley, who has replaced his erstwhile bandmates with a revolving lineup of nearly 30 distinguished guest musicians, including Leon Russell, James Burton, Willie Weeks, Sam Bush, Fats Kaplin, and D.J. Fontana. Not surprisingly, considering Ripley's studio savvy, tracks like "Can't Get Nowhere," "Nine Eleven," "Computer Controlled," and rollicking covers of Moon Mullican's "Don't Ever Take My Picture Down" and Dylan's "On the Road Again" possess all the hooks, levity, and down-home élan of the Tractors' previous hits. The icing on the cake comes with more heartfelt tracks like the forlorn "Ready to Cry" and the gospel-flavored "Higher Ground," where Ripley injects some real soulfulness into his dexterous bag of tricks. --Bob Allen
"Ready to Cry is now one of my favorite all time songs and a rare treat these days -- a real soulful ballad with a groove. The rest of the album is great fun that makes you want to dance or drive fast or both. Country doesn't quite describe it. It's more like the work of someone (Ripley) who's worked with Leon Russell and Bob Dylan and Roy Clark and "Gatemouth" Brown and J.J. Cale and Sam Bush and Bonnie Raitt and Jim Keltner and James Burton and so on. It's another real treat from The Tractors, and apparently we only get one of these every four years or so."
Disappointing
B. Michael Thorne | small town in the South (USA) | 09/25/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"After really enjoying their first two albums (the Christmas album doesn't count), I found this quite disappointing. My advice to the Tractors would be to listen again to "Baby Likes to Rock It" and try to recapture the magic that made them something special. This album doesn't have it--the magic, I mean."
No "Boogie Woogie..Train" - but a lot of fun
Victor L. Peters | San Francisco, CA USA | 09/02/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Tractors self titled "The Tractors" CD is one of my all time favorite CDs. I don't think this CD has any songs that are as good as "Boogie Woogie Choo-Choo Train" or "The Tulsa Shuffle" from that other CD, but it is a consistently fun, upbeat, excellent CD from start to finish. There isn't one bad song on this CD.
If your buying your first Tractors CD, buy "The Tractors" instead. But, if you already own and love "The Tractors", then buy this one too. You'll be bopping along from start to finish."
Fast Girl is just too much fun....
Stevie Ray Robbins | Frankfort, KY USA | 05/02/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Out of the vast wasteland that is country music today the Tractors come rolling back into our lives in the nick of time!! Steve Ripley and his merry band of musical plowhands surely do it up right on this superb album. 99 and 44/100 percent pure Tractorstyle celebration of life , love , family, friends, fast girls and the memory of Ricky Ricardo. Ripley drives this Tractor outta Tulsa powered by a rhythm and blues engine and Bob Wills transmission with an ease and style that is at once unique and oh so familiar . What a rare treat this album is ..and boy howdy, is it a fun listen ! If you love REAL music, Fast Girl is a MUST HAVE !! ...and you know I'd never tell ya' no lie !!!"
Western Swing Fun as only the Tractors can deliver.
musicnu | Deerfield, IL | 07/22/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"There are few groups who are as fun as the Tractors. The Tractors deliver a western swing sound with a little boogie woogie, some rock, and a smattering of R&B. As on previous efforts, the songs are not to be taken seriously but to be enjoyed for the whimsical outings that they are. This third CD is more of a studio effort than the past two, as the original members are not to be found. Steve Ripley has surrounded himself with the likes of Leon Russell and others to deliver the same fun sound that the Tractors are known. There is nothing on CD that comes close to the Tractors and the unique sound is the main attraction. Great toe tapping music that will make a long trip in the car go by fast."