Wolf Tracks

by Tom Morrell

Overview

Whoever said western swing is dead was wrong. Tom "Wolf" Morrell and his band have taken it upon themselves not only to keep it alive, but to bring it up to date and chronicle its ongoing vibrancy, just as they did on the ten-volume series How the West Was Swung, from which the 12 tracks on this compilation were selected. For all but the most die-hard fans of the genre, this album will probably do just fine; there aren't any vocal tunes, unfortunately (Tommy Duncan's singing was always about half of what made those old Bob Wills albums so great), but the instrumentals collected here are all perfectly serviceable. The group delivers a great twin-fiddle arrangement of "River Road Two Step" and equally fine versions of "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "Some Like It Hot," yet Morrell's own "Pterodactyl Ptales" is a particular highlight. The only complaint one might have is with the rather slick-sounding production and a sameness of mood that encourages your attention to wander, but the album's end might take you by surprise. Still, this is a great disc and a welcome reassurance that Texas country-jazz is still alive and well. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/08/2005
Label:	Dualtone Music
UPC:	0803020118126
Rank:	111888

Tracks

1. Lupus #1
2. Some Like It Hot
3. River Road Two Step
4. My Best to You
5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
6. Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis
7. Curtain Call
8. Pterodactyl Ptales
9. The Things I Might Have Been
10. Sweet Lorraine
11. Velociraptor Rag
12. Celery Stalks

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tom Morrell   Primary Artist
Randy "The Owl" Elmore   Fiddle,Guitar,Mandolin
PeeWee "Packrat" Lynn   Piano
Rich "Badger" O'Brien   Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar
Leon "Wylie Coyote" Chambers   Guitar
Rodney Booth   Trumpet
Pat Applewhite   Vocals
Bob Boatright   Harmonica,Fiddle

Technical Credits

Tom Morrell   Producer
Isham Jones   Composer
Clifford R. Burwell   Composer
Pee Wee King   Composer
Robert Vosgien   Mastering,Mastering Assistant
Redd Stewart   Composer
Kerry Mills   Composer
Andrew B. Sterling   Composer
Hugh Martin   Composer
Pete Papageorges   Mastering Assistant
Rich "Badger" O'Brien   Liner Notes
Donald Kallaus   Photography
Unknown Composer   Composer
Joan Pelosi   Design
Tom Wolf   Composer
Larry Scott   Liner Notes
Mitchell Parish   Composer
Jimmy McHugh   Composer
Dorothy Fields   Composer
Matty Malneck   Composer
Ralph Blane   Composer