Customer Reviews

Texas Tornados

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Texas Tornados are like the reverse of the old big-box-containing-a-smaller-box-containg-a-smaller-box joke that your sister pulled on you when you opened your Christmas present. The band presents you with a brightly-colored package (graphically and musically) that seems somewhat modest at first but over time grows into a dear treasure. The songs unashamedly pluck at all the heartstrings with no apologies and you have to laugh at their brazen chutzpah. The musicians' credentials are voluminous and undeniable. The melding of Sahm-Meyers, Fender and Jimenez is a classic case of the whole being more that the sum of the parts. This Tex-Mex album is the AM-radio soundtrack for a sunny spring day driving south on Interstate 25 with the top down and a couple of shots of tequila just starting to warm your gut. Only the most pretentious or dour of listeners will fail to get a spiritual lift from this little gem. Don't cheat yourself-add Texas Tornados to your road collection.

There's that game show on TV where comedians try to make the contestants laugh. If the contestants can keep a straight face they win a toaster-oven or some such. With that in mind I defy you to listen to this albumn without smiling, It's harder than times in twenty-nine. This is fun tex-mex style of the highest order. Flaco Jimenez is a god to me. Doug Sahm is a true classic. Augie Meyers still belts out the cheesiest roller rink organ tones on the planet.(But I mean that in a good way.) Freddy Fender, yes that Freddy Fender, rounds out a steller cast of characters on this jumping albiet short offering.

With the caliber of musicians in this band this music is destined to live forever. How will any other group hope to mach the diversity of the late Doug Sahms, from down and dirty blues to the twangy pedal steel guitar, this home grown Texas superstar will shine forever. This collection of various Tornado tunes highlights well the sound and soul of the TEXAS TORNADOS.

This is always a favorite to share with others on road trips. Everybody loves to sing along! The songs are sad but they make you feel so happy. Buy this album. I've had to replace it a couple of times. Can't say that about too many other items in my music collection. Have purchased it as a gift several times too for the people who've come to love it on camping trips.

I bought this album on a whim and loved it. When I'm sitting in traffic I put it on and find myself belting out the songs at the top of my longs. Buy this album, it is pure fun.

This is some pure "Cosmic American Music" or "Alternative Country Music" at its best!!! On this CD, and in this band, you get Texas music legends, the late/great Doug Sahm (formerly from the Sir Douglas Quintet), on lead vocals & electric guitar, the late/great Freddy Fender, on lead vocals & electric guitar, Augie Myers, on lead vocals & vox organ & accordian, and also Flaco Jiminez on co-lead vocals & accordian (squeeze box). Also, you several other backing musicians, with various instruments.

The songs are as follows:
1.Who were you thinking of
2.Hey Baby Que Paso
3.Laredo Rose
4.A Man Can Cry
5.Soy DE San Luis
6.Adios Mexico
7.If that's What You're Thinking of
8.She Never Spoke Spanish to Me
9.Dinero
10.Baby! Heaven Sent Me You

This is some "Alternative Country" at it's best. Also, I highly, recommend the DVD of the Texas Tornados, it is available from Amazon, and it is fantastic. Thanks!!!

...and not many artists can reasonably be said to _be_ a genre unto themselves. Van Morrison, perhaps, with his inimitable Celtic soul. And these guys. Amazon suggests the tags "alt country" or "roots rock" for this album. but it really isn't either. It's just The Texas Tornados.

Named after co-founder Doug Sahm's 1973 album with the Sir Douglas Quintet, The Texas Tornados were a super group of Tex-Mex veterans formed in early 1990. Freddy Fender, Augie Meyers, Flaco Jimenez, and Doug Sahm form sort of a Tex-Mex "Travelling Wilburys", playing everything from unapologetic pop and country weepers to driving garage rock and Mexican ballads. And somehow it all sounded like it did indeed belong on the same album.

Flaco Jimenez' accordion accounts for much of the album's characteristic sound, and the singers take turns or let their soulful vocals blend together like on the exquisitely melodic ballad "Laredo Rose", or the irresistable Tex-Mex-rocker "Who Were You Thinkin' Of".
Yes, Freddy Fender's "A Man Can Cry" is about as smaltzy as it gets, but his nasal, slightly fragile vocals somehow pull it off anyway.
Doug Sahm provides the driving rocker "Adios Mexico", which rides along in its deep groove propelled by Augie Meyers' Vox organ. And Augie Meyers brings his own "Dinero" to the party, sung by himself in a dry tenor voice.

We also get a delightful "Soy De San Luís", sung in Spanish by Fender and Jimenez, and then in slightly more clichéd English by Sahm, and beautiful renditions of "Baby Heaven Sent Me You" and "She Never Spoke Spanish To Me". And, well, they're all highlights, really.
The Tornados' first album was also their best, an irresistable and unique mix of numerous musical genres, and a clean five stars. There you have it. Saints and sinners all agree: Spanish is a loving tongue!

Every song on this CD is one that you'll want to listen to over and over again. I have it on my car CD player and never tire of listening to the Texas Tornadoes. People beside me at red lights look over and see me belting out the songs. Love it! Great buy if you love great Mexican-American musica! Ha! "Musica" rocks!!!

you must buy this if you like great texas musi

Again...this style of music is quite variable! The songs on this CD were interesting and told many stories! I had little trouble understanding the lyrics! I would reccomend this to all who are interested in this style!