Customer Reviews

Esta Bueno

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just about everyone thought once Doug Sahm left us back in November of 1999, and then Freddy Fender in October of 2006 that The Texas Tornados were gone forever. However, any one familiar with Shawn Sahm, knew the gene was still going strong, recordings live forever, and are by some, never forgotten! He, with the help of long time Doug Sahm friends and collaborators, Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiménez knew about both.

This is an excellent record produced by Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson. The recording is reverently laid-out, with Doug and Freddy being the first two elements you hear on the record, and I believe it sets the pace for the entire record. At first, the record pays homage to the founders then our ears, filled with new Tornados' tunes, give the record an enormous amount of freshness, while never abandoning the idea of this also being a fantastic tribute album, ultimately keeping the listener interested throughout this set of thirteen songs.

Shawn Sahm steps into the spotlight on several tunes on the record, including the first track, "Whose to Blame". When the younger Sahm began to sing, tears started swelling up in the corner of my eyes. He reminds me so much of his Dad. There is no doubt it's Shawn belting out the tune, but there is also no qualm left as to who his Father was.

Freddy Fender is featured on "Another Shot of Ambition", a simple little honky-tonk drinking song with the Texas Tornado signature written all over it but with Freddy Fender standing firmly in the spotlight. He later does it again with the beautiful "Llevame", a beautiful Tejano treat for the ears.

The last tune on the record is "Girl Going Nowhere", sung by Sir Douglas himself. Doug Sahm could rock, he could blues it up, he could twang as good as anyone, he could play Tejano, and he could mix it all up in a big old bowl of musical joy. It would appear the producer pays tribute to the man by finishing the record with this great piece of songwriting. Whatever the motive, it was a fantastic way to finish the record.

`Rebel' Rod says; check it out! It's Good or should I say, Esta Bueno!

OK, who expected another CD from the Texas Tornados? Doug Sahm's death in 1999 essentially ended the band. Then we lost Freddy Fender in 2006. We had some great music to listen to, but I didn't expect anything new -- maybe some live shows would be released someday was the best we could hope for. But what a surprise! Enter Shawn Sahm, Doug's son, who often played guitar and other instruments with his dad and the band. Driven by Shawn, the Texas Tornados are back! Don't underestimate the great songwriting abilities of the younger Sahm, as well as longtime Sahm companion Augie Meyers and the ever-awesome Flaco Jimenez! They've turned out some toe-tappin' tunes.

This CD is good! It's not quite 5-star material, but it's not bad. The CD closes with a cut featuring Doug Sahm on vocals, a live performance, and a "podcast" of Esta Bueno. None of those are especially compelling, but taken as a whole, there are 51 minutes of decent music here. I know, it'll never equal their classic debut (nothing can ever eclipse Hey Baby, Que Paso!), but Texas Tornados, version 2.0, is actually quite good! It's worth getting.

This is a successful comeback of the original Tex-Mex veterans who present us some good "Happy go lucky music".

Augie Myers organ and Flaco Jimenez' harmonica are still the trademarks of the group which sounds as fresh as ever even though the two are both around 70 years of age.

The album is a tribute to their original Texas Tornados companions Doug Sahm and Freddie Fender and they also have some background musicians from the original Tornados.

This is a real good buy ! The album contains unreleased songs from Freddie Fender, Doug Sahm, Augie Myers and Flaco Jimenez.

Go and get it and then enjoy the good times !

Peter Vontobel, Switzerland

"Esta Bueno!", the final album from the Super group The Texas Tornados is out and if you are a fan of the group, it will have to be added to your music collection. The disk, Produced by Shawn Sam and Executive Produced by Ray Benson (Asleep at The Wheel) under his Bismeaux Records label is a 13 track Texas Groove that incorporates 4 previously unreleased tracks recorded by the late Freddy Fender and one by the late Doug Sahm.

This incarnation of the band consists of original members Augie Meyers (Vocals, Vox Organ, Piano), Flaco Jimenez (Vocals, Accordion), Louie Ortega (Guitar, Background Vocals), Speedy Sparks (Bass) and Ernie Durawa (Drums). Stepping in for the late Doug Sahm is his son Shawn Sahm (Guitars, Vocals, Drums) who has been furiously working to get his legendary father enshrined into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Shawn doesn't just stand in for his pop, it's as if he is channeling Sir Doug himself not only on this record, but in every live performance I've seen so far.

The album kicks off with "Who's To Blame" which sounds like vintage Tornados and leads into the first Freddy Fender song released since his death, "If I Could Only". The song is classic Freddy Fender and features San Antonio's own Westside Horns (Al Gomez, Spot Barnett, Louis Bustos). This song felt like an instant classic the first time I heard it and should get major air play over the Americana airwaves. Throughout the record, the distinctive Flaco Jimenez accordion is prevalent and as lively as ever and the Grammy Award winner has never sounded better.

The record also displays the Tornados fun side with songs like Augie's "Velma From Selma," the title track "Esta Bueno", "In Heaven There Is No Beer" and "Chicano," a remix of the classic 1973 recording by Doug Sahm and Flaco Jimenez which, according to the song notes, "introduced Flaco to the rock and roll side of the world...".

"Llevame," a song written by Louie Ortega, has a classic Spanish song feel with excellent guitar work by Shawn. It's a festive number that makes you want to see it live. That song is followed up by my personal favorite, "Girl Going Nowhere" written and sung by Doug Sahm. It's a throwback to Doug's heyday and to hear great new material from Sir Doug made me a little misty, I must say. After you hear it, send a note to his son Shawn and thank him for letting us in on another great Doug hit. I know he'll be glad to hear from you just as Doug would have.

Be sure to catch The Tornados at an in store appearance at Waterloo Records on March 2, 2010, at SXSW on March 19th and over the airwaves on KLRU on March 13th with Raul Malo.

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Additional Information

Texas Tornados "Esta Bueno" available at:

Waterloo Records and at the Texas Tornado webpage

Features:

Freddy Fender (Vocals), Flaco Jimenez (Vocals, Accordion), Augie Meyers (Vocals, Vox Organ, Piano), Shawn Sahm (Vocals, Guitars, Drums), Louie Ortega (Guitar, Background Vocals), Speedy Sparks (Bass), Ernie Durawa (Drums), George Rains (Drums), Michael Guerra (Bajo Sexto), Nunie Rubio (Background Vocals), Neal Walker (Bass, Background Vocals), Westside Horns: Al Gomez, Spot Barnett, Louis Bustos.

Produced by: Shawn Sahm

Executive Producer: Ray Benson

Booking By: Bismeaux Productions

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Touring Information:

Wed June 16| Austin, TX US

Venue: Blues On The Green at Zilker Park

> BUY TICKETS (Free)

After the loss of two of their finest the Texas Tornado's regrouped came an excellent album in the tradition of the previous albums. Austin City limits had a presentation on some of the songs that drove me to buy the new album. Of course this music is not for everyone but if you loved the previous album you'll love this one.

According to information in the CD package: Augie Myers and Flaco Jimenez reunite with the son of legendary Doug Sahm (a late/great founding member) Shawn Sahm, in a recording that includes the final work of the late/great founding member Freddy Fender, as well as a lost demo from Doug himself. Esta Bueno!!! It's Good!!! The last song "Girl Going Nowhere", features the late/great Doug Sahm.

The information in the cd package contains a long list of musicians included in this CD. It does have Shawn Sahm listed on vocals, guitars, & drums. Altogether there are 14 musicians listed.

Also, listed in the liner notes to the Cd, are brief write-ups about every song on the cd, to give you a little background story about the song. These were written mainly by Shawn Sahm, but some are written by other members.

This CD is Dedicated to Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender!!!'

It includes a great picture of the current line-up of the band, which consists of 7 members.

This is an outstanding cd, full of great new music. It does include the late/great Freddy Fender on some vocals. If you liked the original version of the Texas Tornados, you'll love this CD. It continues in the same traditon, as the originals.

At the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, they have a picture of the original Texas Tornados, along with a guitar, signed by all the original members. If you like this band, and get a chance to go the Dallas Hard Rock, you'd enjoy these pieces of memorobilia. Thanks!!!!

If you like Rock & Roll, Country and the traditional folk music from North-

Mexico and mix them all, then you have the genuine Tex-Mex or Conjunto sound

developed at its best in South Texas.One of the most important artists of that

wonderful music was Freddy Fender who started out as a local R&R singer in

his home-town San Benito. He translated all the R&R classics from Elvis, Jerry

Lee, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly etc. into Spanish in the late 50's. After some

trouble years in the 60's with Justice and years in jail, he came back recording

Country Music with a slight latin background becoming a super star in the 70's

with # 1 Country hits that crossed over and also scored #1 on the Pop charts.

After 10 years of a tremendous succesful Country carreer he formed a group with

Texas pop star Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers and last but not least the best accordian

player Flaco Jimenez. They called themselves The Texas Tornados and became very

popular during the 90's playing live shows all over and making hit after hit

until Doug passed away in 1999. The group split up and Freddy joined the Lobos,

Rick Treviño and other popular pop & country artists and created The Super Seven

another incredible Tex-Mex band that lasted some 3 years. Freddy went solo again

and won the best selling CD of 2003 where he displayed his wonderful voice to

world famous Mexican boleros sung entirely in Spanish. He would repeat success

in 2005 together with Flaco Jimenez singing duo and interpreting another entire album of traditional Mexican songs. In 2006 Freddy died of cancer and left us

a remarkable 50 years of dedication to R&R, Country, Tex Mex and all kinds of

other Latin sounds. I tell all this to understand the fantastic job Doug's

son Shawn has undertaken to revive for all of us The Texas Tornados group again! The CD holds 4 "new" songs by Freddy who had left several recordings unreleased. With the presence of Augie and Flaco + Shawn's voice that sounds exactly the

same like his father's, Shawn has put together a fantastic and incredible CD

of Tex-Mex at his best. Exactly 10 years after the end of the Texas Tornados

we again have an album by this super group and it makes you feel as if Doug

and Freddy are still with us. The liner notes are written in present and when

Freddy, Shawn, Augie, Doug and Flaco start singing their songs backed up by

themselves on all of them you're listening to some kind of miracle. Probably

the best CD of this year!

Ever since I first saw Doug Sahm, I have been a fan of this music. Now that his son is carrying on the family tradition I think it is great. I love this CD. I hope they do more.

I recently saw the Tornadoes over the Labor Day weekend in RI & they were "bueno" live as well. My Wife picked up the cd from a local vendor & was pleased to hear the results. First I dont' envy Shawn Sahm & the shoes that he has to fill here. Live, he is a very capable axe man & his dad would be proud. He can deliver a decent or very serviceable vocal but this is one area where you do miss Doug very much & that of Freddy Fender who were 2 of the most soulful & distinct voices in Tex-Mex. That aside, Shawn has assembled a fine record that includes 5 finshed Freddy trax & 1 stunning demo from dad which closes the LP. Fans should also take heart that as it appears there are numerous demos left behind by the legendary Sir Doug that I hope Shawn will release to the legions of fans. The current Tornado line up is still very potent & delivers the goods on this excellent release. It will be interesting to see what they can do going forward.

Nice to see son of Sahm carrying on the family tradition. Great stuff! Old fans will not be disappointed.