Customer Reviews

Texas Rock for Country Rollers

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Truthfully this is my first review. But when it comes to Doug I could not resist. Doug is was and always will be the man. This album originally came out in the cosmic outlaw alt-country era. It was voted Texas album of the year. The title alone is what Doug was all about to me. I was raised on rock, but could not turn a deaf ear to Doug. My fav "Give Back the Key to my Heart" along with "Cowboy Peyton Place". Buy this cd now. Then buy every cd Doug released.

It's a pity that this album is again unavailable on CD. It's not Doug's best by any means but has a few real classic tracks on it. "I Love The Way You Love The Way I Love You" is ones of Doug's best songs; written, I think, by his friend Attwood Allen (who provides fantastic back-up vocals throughout this album). Then there's "Country Groove" and "Cowboy Peyton Place", both of which reappear in Doug's catalogue. And then there's "Give Back The Key To My Heart", one of his most covered songs. Throw in "Wolverton Mountain", "Texas Ranger Man" and "You Can't Hide Your Redneck" and you have a little ripper of an album. It's a bit on the short side but then Shania puts out long albums and that doesn't make them any better. Doug's backed by his "regular" rhythm section of Jack Barber and George Rains, Augie Meyers handles keys and Attwood Allen on vox. Because Doug recorded for so many labels his catalogue looks like a dog's breakfast which is a real shame as he is/was probably the premier roots music artist in America. Bits and pieces are slowly coming onto the market from enterprising indie labels and Atlantic has done a nice box set of his time there, while Mercury did one also but both of these were "collectors" editions which went out of print quickly. Doug and Augie did a great album for the Teardrop label in the 70's called "The Westside Rolls Again" which I'm trying to get but it's like trying to find hen's teeth. Anyway, "Texas Rock For Country Rollers" is well worth hunting out as it contains quite a few classic songs and is essential for any good Doug Sahm collection.

This classic of Texas music is best experienced on vinyl, and well-loved vinyl at that. If you are new to Sir Doug and are unaware of the legendary Sir Douglas Quintet, this particular record will do you well, especially in this day and age of cell phones, awkward sweaters and square glasses, suicidal stock markets and Smart cars that seem so dumb. Do yourself a favor and take this trip with Sir Doug and the original Texas Tornados, including the patron saint of the Vox Continental himself, Augie Meyers. Throw it on, crack a beer and run your toes through that long shag carpeting. You'll be glad you did.