Hot dang! After two long years in the making, the first two volumes of our Western series, "Western Bliss" and "Western Bling" are here! Featuring Stephanie’s extraordinarily unique and soulful voice, both projects include an amazing array of rare and classic western, swing, western swing, standards, and even the new original theme song to Stephanie's upcoming “Trail’s End Ranch Radio” show. Ace guitarist Rich O'Brien leads an all-star lineup of Texas musicians, and collector-quality cover art by Montana’s incredible Monte Dolack make this a series you’ll want to collect and display. Absolute artistry--a must-have for music lovers everywhere!
What Others Are Saying:
"The songs will follow you around...you'll find yourself listening over and over to her unique, dazzling voice." Margo Metegrano, www.cowboypoetry.com
"Silky, sparkly, plenty of horsepower, simply delicious...downright blingriffic!"
Hal Cannon, Founding Director, West. Folklife Cntr.
"Stephanie Davis is one of Western music's mega-talents." Rich O'Brien, guitar player extraordinaire
STEPHANIE’S WESTERN BLING "Track-by-Track" Notes:
1. TALKIN’'BOUT YOU: A fun opening romp of an old Bob Wills tune, featuring the boys’ Louie Jordan-style vocals, Cindy Cashdollar’s delightful steel work, Reggie Reuffer’s breathtaking fiddling, and Rich (“Badger”) O’Brien's and Clint Strong's positively celestial twin guitars. Roll up the rug!
2. I DIDN’T REALIZE: Another wonderful Bob Wills tune that I learned from Rich. Features some extra tasty, “How’d he do that?” solos by Clint and Reggie.
3. SOON: Lovely…wistful…a perfect marriage of melody and lyric…This George and Ira Gershwin gem, from the 1929 Broadway show “Strike Up The Band,” shimmers and sparkles with our Western Bling treatment.Check out Rich’s always-tasteful, understated guitar work and Reggie’s swoonarama triple fiddles.
4. HUBBIN’ IT: If the only bailout you’ve been the recent recipient of involved the “gentle as a kitten” stud horse your cousin Lester brought back from the sale barn and an amorous cow moose, here’s your song, Western Bling-style.
5. NEVERTHELESS: Another classic from 1931, also a hit for The Mills Brothers in 1951. Ah, the terrible/wonderful angst of standing shivering atop the High Dive Of Love…here’s to all of you brave hearts, and remember to check to see that there’s water in the pool…
6.BEYOND THE SEA: We “Western Blinged” this wonderful Bobby Darin classic, and danged if it doesn’t take to it like a newly washed dog to a mud puddle. Even if your kitchen window looks out onto the parking lot of Bubba’s Lube, Oil, and Filter, Bakery, and Internet Café (“Have a Baguette and Surf The ‘Net While We Service Your ‘Vette”)in Bedsore, Oklahoma, this one will have you swaying, swooning, and staring dreamily out to “sea.” Somewhere out there is a handsome/beautiful, exotic, financially independent, sane, sober, non-incarcerated, well…you get the picture…
7. BABY, THAT SURE WOULD GO GOOD: Can you tell we’re crazy about Cindy Walker songs? This one features Oakland’s wonderful Paul Daniels’ velvety background vocals and some sultry instrumental riffs. Our webmaster, manager, and chief cook and bottle washer, Rick, recommends a ’74 Petrus, decanted and at cellar temperature for this track.
8. SLOW POKE: Dealing with someone who’s always running late? Tired of sitting around and waiting? This charming Pee Wee King song has probably saved countless marriages, governments, and even an Earthlink Technical Support operator or two, by encouraging martyrdom, codependency, and a splash of Stockholm Syndrome. We just like making the ticking clock noises.
9. IF I HAD YOU: The dreamy standard, recorded by everyone from Rudy Vallee to Bing Crosby, slips into our Western Bling format like deer guts on a doorknob. Features some ridiculously fabulous steel playing by Cindy.
10. THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE: Economy getting you down? Hey, try being a musician. Or a songwriter. Or a rancher. Or all three at once. Ah, heck, life is still pretty wonderful, and our take on this sweet classic by the legendary Tin Pan Alley songwriting team of Lew Brown, Ray Henderson, and Buddy DeSylva is guaranteed to put the spring back into your step.
11. GOING AWAY PARTY: My favorite Cindy Walker song, and my favorite track on the whole project. Magical, live, first-take vocals (if I say so myself.) Achingly exquisite solos by Rich, Cindy, and Reggie. The reason God invented Western Bling. If this doesn’t land you sobbing in a fetal position, check your pulse.
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