Customer Reviews

Doug Sahm & Band

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A must have disc for the Doug Sahm fan. Originally on Atlantic records and recorded in 1973 this is Doug Sahm primetime. Every song covered on this classic album is a jewel. Sahm's own composition "Don't Turn Around" has gutsy vocals and blistering horns provided by members of the infamous Tower of Power. A very diversified collection of tunes covering country,rythem and blues,tex-mex and fusion. Super guest appearences by Bob Dylan, Dr. John,Tower of Power,Flaco Jiminez and others. Check out great blues with "Papa A'int Salty", "Dealers Blues" with guitar riffs that make your spine tingle. Country songs covered include "Is Anybody going to San Antone", "It's gonna be easy" and "Faded Love" done with class,heart and soul. Check out pseudo-rock anthem "I get off" with the horn arrangement and guitar mix producing raw energy and power. Not the slicked up stuff so common this day and time. Dylan does lead vocals on "Wallflower" with backup form Flaco on the accordian and you get full appreciation for this piece with the cd version. The original albums were usually warped and the cassette tapes were of poor quality. You may have to pay more for this imported version and wait a while to get it, but this disc will blow your socks off. You cannot officially be a "DougHead" without this Disc,his best ever!!!

I thought I had lost this album, an old fashioned vinyl, in my divorce. But who has a turntable these days, anyway? Well, I was thrilled to find this album here. It has a bit of everything that is Doug - Texas country, blues, a little rock. And this has "It's Gonna Be Easy", which I haven't found on any other compilation. Unrefined, rough, but pure music. It takes me back to 1973, going to the ol' Soap Creek Saloon just outside of Austin. Driving up "George P's Memorial Highway," hoping to not get stuck in the mud. Waiting for some band called the Sir Douglas Quintet to play, the lead singer holding things up to finish his game of pool. But once they did get up on stage, it blew me away. I was hooked and became a regular at Soap Creek and the "Dillo whenever Doug played there. I loved hearing him play Texas Country, the blues, conjunto, zydeco, and rock. Ahhh, the rock. He would literally raise the roof of Soap Creek with his version of "Purple Haze" - I wish that was on a CD somewhere!!. Enough memories. A great CD that I will never lose. Now if I can just find Alvin Crow somewhere.

I have reviewed this album previously. This is the best it gets from Doug Sahm. The best back up guest list you will ever find on a doug sahm album. Everything a-1, from performance to song selection. features Doug at his peak. A must,must have for any true fan!!!

Here 'tis folks...The long awaited US release of Doug Sahm's classic all-star session, "Doug Sahm & Band". Produced by the peerless Arif Mardin these sessions bring together such diverse talents as David Bromberg, Flaco Jiminez, Andy Statman, Augie Meyer, Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, Robert Zimmerman, aka Bob Dylan and so many more. Would such an eclectic lineup of session players and stars yeild a bumper crop of tracks, or would they crash and burn, like so many other "super session" recordings of their time? Kudos to Arif Mardin for keeping the egos in check and getting the most out of his super-star talent pool.

So what can be said about the music? Here's a banquet of styles and generes that take you from Tex-Mex to Bluegrass, from R&B to Country and everything in between. I won't bore you with a song by song analysis. Suffice to say, (Is Anyone Going To) San Antone, Dealer's Blues, Poison Love and Dylan's Wallflower are all standouts. Simply put....They don't make 'em like this anymore! Thank goodness Doug Sahm & Band is back and spinning on my CD player. I'm sure I'll soon wear out the grooves just as I did my old vinyl copy way back in 1972.

I was so excited to see that this recording will finally come out on CD. This is Doug at his finest. Doug and his collaborators put together the best, raw, spontaneous set that I have ever heard in my entire life. Not only is this my all time favorite Doug Sahm recording, it is my all time favorite recording, period!! Doug and his Band groove out Blues, Country, Swing, Tex-Mex and Rock....and it is all raw, fun and powerful. Guest stars include Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Flaco Jimenez, Jack Barber, Augie Meyers and David Bromberg to name a few. This CD is well worth the wait and the price.

When this Record was released in 1972, this one was gonna be the ONE. Sir. Doug was now on a Major Record Label, and they were marketing this Album big time. Doug had been a performer, songwriter and all around Wiz-Kid since the late 1950's. The Sixties had been very kind to Doug when he left Texas and set up camp in Swingin' San Francisco. Every Dance party in America had: "She's About A Mover" on that pile of 45's right along side: "Louie, Louie" & "Satisfaction"...Doug Sahm WAS the party for a bunch of us. This was a Good-Time Boy who grew up in the shadow of the Alamo, who was now partying with Dylan, Lennon & Garcia, and Doug was enjoying every minute of the party.

In 1969, Bob Dylan's record: "Nashville Skyline" shocked a few folks because Dylan had done the impossible, he had made Country Music...Cool.
Doug was signed to Atlantic Records by Jerry Wexler, because Wexler, knew that Doug was the Goods. Here in this one Artist was Country, Tex-Mex, R & B, Folk, Blues and Rock, all in one lanky Texian that could play and sing up a storm. Doug was gonna be the next BIG THING, and this Record was to be the Springboard to Huge Arenas, Private Jets and $$$.

With some good friends joining Doug on this record, {Dr. John, Bob Dylan, T-Bone Walker and David Bromberg} and some real nice tunes: {"Is Anybody Going To San Antone","It's Gonna Be Easy", "Papa Ain't Salty" & "Blues Stay Away from Me"}. This LP could have been a major seller, but it didn't strike Gold with the Record buyers. The playing is wonderful, and many Musical Styles are imployed herein. As always; Doug's pal, Augie Meyer is onboard playing Piano and Organ. You can here Bob's Harp on a few tracks and Doug's fiddle is tasty as it always sounds.

Doug Sahm is American Royalty, a Musical Dynomo who would join you at the bar for a long-neck and a funny story. This Man enjoyed hie Life, and his Great Music reflects that Joy. When you hear the Music of Sir Doug Sahm you are gonna smile. This is great American Music. Doug was an: "One-Off" as guys like him don't come around very often. If you want to hear one of his best Records, here you go..."Doug Sahm & Band".

Grab a lone Star, and crank this Puppy up!
Four Stars !!!

I actually found this LP (yeah, vinyl) in a used record store [a local store]about three weeks ago, and couldn't believe my luck. This is a fine collection of songs, with incredible guest artists (most notably, for this son of New Orleans, Mac Rebennack). Buy this disc...kill if you must!!

From the first cut "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antoine" (one of Doug's minor hits) to the last, this is one great CD. The tune "Wallflower" by Dylan is one of Doug's best ever; the only problem with the album is there are a few too many covers, but his version of "Faded Love" is outstanding. A little more country-oriented than some of his other albums, this is certainly one of the best. If you're new to Sahm and enjoy his country material, then pick this up. There's also some straight blues and tex-mex included as well, but a country vibe dominates.

I got to listen to this album when the vinyl version was released way back in the early 70's, and I loved it. For several reasons I didn't get to listen to it again until it was re-issued on CD and I was completely taken aback, once more, by the quality of the music which, like wine, got better through the years. Bob Dylan's contribution on 4 of the tunes is one of the highlights of the album.

One of the first and perhaps the best recording by Doug Sahm, other than Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados. A blend of C&W, Tex-Mex and Texas Blues performed by such great musicians as Sahm, Bob Dylan, Dr. John, Augie Meyer, David "Fathead" Newman, David Bromberg, Wayne Jackson, Flaco Jimenez, Jack Walrath, to name just a few, and produced by Jerry Wexler, Arif Mardin (who also plays electric piano on the recording) and Doug Sahm. From the opening title "(Is anybody is going to)San Antone", every single track is great. "Blues stay away from me", with Bob Dylan sharing vocals with Doug Sahm and playing a guitar solo is superb. "Poison love" has great solos by Augie Meyer on piano, Flaco Jimenz on accordion and David Bromberg on dobro. Dylan's own recording of one the tunes, "Wallflower", is available on the Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3. Strongly recommended.

If you like country/blues then this C.D. should be in your collection. The guest list of musicians reads like an all star cast. This album is pure fun, and may well be Doug at his best. Great party album!