Songs of Sahm

Bottle Rockets

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 19, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B00005Y1UF
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #90,395 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This seems like a can't-miss concept, with a powerhouse band paying labor-of-love tribute to Doug Sahm, the alt-country avatar whose legacy extends from the Sir Douglas Quintet of the '60s through the Texas Tornados of the '90s. Yet the results often fall curiously flat, as the Rockets engage in mimicry rather than making the sort of interpretive leaps that could mediate between Sahm's freewheeling eclecticism and the band's harder-rocking strengths. The song selection leans heavily on Sir Doug's San Francisco daze (hippie anthems such as "Lawd, I'm Just a Country Boy in This Great Big Freaky City") rather than the twangier and bluesier strains of his Texas roots. In addition to soundalike renditions of hits such as "Mendocino" and "She's About a Mover," the collection honors underheard classics including "At the Crossroads," but only the explosive "I'm Not That Kat Anymore" represents the band at its unbridled best. --Don McLeese

Product Description

"Who is Doug Sahm?" you might be asking yourselves? For shame, take two steps back on the rock history game of Life. Doug Sahm spent most of his lifetime making the world a better place with his music. From his mid-60’s British Invasion meets proto-garage rock in the Sir Douglas Quintet, to the cowboy psychedelia inspired by time served in ‘Frisco, to the Tejano roadhouse free-for-alls in the Texas Tornadoes, few figures have cut as wide and varied and influential a path as Sir Doug. The Rockets easily assume his mantle of versatility, infuse his songs with their singular brand of American soul, and get DOWN

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars COME AND GET "SAHM", February 25, 2002

By	cd-heaven (ROCK CITY) - See all my reviews

Well, its a Brand New Year, and just what I've been waiting for, A New Bottle Rockets Cd!!!! Sure, I knew they weren't going to release an album of all original material, that'll come later in the year. I knew they were going to release a tribute album to cosmic, psychedelic Texas cult hero Doug Sahm. Leave to a bunch of Missourians to pay tribute to a Texan! Doug Sahm, just like any Texas songwriter, wrote songs about living life in Texas. Songs about hats, the Lone Star flag, cowboys, beer, true Texan stuff. The Bottle Rockets write about all that too, except they hailfrom Festus, Mo. (so no Lone Star flag songs). Doug Sahm could easily be the 5th member of the Bottle Rockets through these songs as many of them ring true to the Bottle Rockets own material (even if some material dates back to the 60's). This is a joyous, free-spirited collection of songs, from an artist the band truly loves and admire and have been strongly influenced by.
Even thou some songs might get the awkward eye into why the band paid tribute to them. But the fact is, at least one band out there recognizes a true original American songwriter, Doug Sahm.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's the problem?, July 17, 2002

By	George (Kirkland, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This is a great record. It's really fun to play while driving - over and over. Whether you lived during the late 60s, are a fan of the late 60s music or think you are, or wish you were, this album captures all of it, with some great modern guitar work added in. Doug Sahm was great at many things but above all he absolutely loved music (and baseball) and loved to entertain. "Songs of Sahm" does a great job of putting this all in perspective, and the song choices are terrific as well. Some have said that the album is imitative, but so what? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and the Bottle Rockets flatter Doug wonderfully, with lots of energy and freshness. As for the Bottle Rockets fans who might not get it. I'm not surprised, but if they would put aside their preconceived notions and try to have some fun, they might gain an appreciation of one of the great blenders of rock, conjunto, and psychedelic music. In Doug's words, this record is "in the Groove." I especially liked "Floataway", "Sunny Sunday Mill Valley Groove Day", and the spoken introductions that were so typical of Doug on record and in concert. Doug Sahm was truly unique and a great talent. "Songs of Sahm" does Dougie proud.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars stoned faces do lie and they review records, January 22, 2003

By A Customer

i cannot believe a couple of the reviews i have read of this most outstanding record.not only is this classic bottle rockets this was the best disc of '02 by any artist.no other cd gave me as much pure pleasure as this one and i buy hundreds.so whoever is giving this one and two star reviews please go back to your dave mathews records and phish concerts.leave the real music to the rest of us.if you do not already own this disc BUY IT NOW!!!!