Customer Reviews

The Truckin' Sessions

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To say that this is the absolute BEST Truckin' album of all time, would be both misleading to the general public as well as unfair to Texan Dale Watson. Make no mistake--this IS a Truckin' CD of the highest order. Songs like, "Good Luck 'N' Good Truckin' Tonite", "Makin' Up Time", and "Flat Tire", as well as the remainder of this superb fourth effort by Watson should definitely excite and inspire trucker as well as country music fans. But, labels can mislead the uninitiated casual fan, and those who would never, ever, consider giving a listen to "Truck Drivin' Music" would be missing out on what may possibly be the best pure country music album of 1998 (and 1999, now that I think about it). Folks, Dale Watson is the absolute best Country/Americana/Honky Tonkin' and, yes, Truckin' artist currently recording in America! Although his musical influences might not necessarily register with most fans today, one need only listen to this CD to hear echoes of Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Dave Dudley, Commander Cody, and many other hard drivin', hard drinking, masters of country-soul. These are songs I guarantee that you will very soon sing along with, whether knocking back the miles delivering a load of Ford-150's to Tuscon, or just traveling down the interstate to visit sweetie. Although every song is a true gem, the personal favorite for this ole' boy is, "Have You Got It On....". What man hasn't eyed a lovely young thing driving down the interstate and wondered what it would be like to initiate conversation that might lead to...? In this case, she's got the CB..she just doesn't appear to have it on--"Come on, come on, come back babe, have you got it on". Winsome, yet touching, it hit a bullseye with this non-trucking romantic. Keep up the good music, Dale...your day in the spotlight will come soon. Until then, you'll be the best country performer nobody's heard of.

The Truckin' Sessions - Dale Watson

Put the pedal to the metal ! After three almost perfect discs on the classy and farsighted Hightone Records, Dale Watson is back with a gear-jammin', double clutchin' collection of real country with a truck driving theme aptly called "The Truckin' Sessions. This guy is almost like a trip back in time, his voice sounding a bit like Ernest Tubb's rich baritone, but he's absolutely on the cutting edge of today's country with a distinct sound miles fom the homogenised ... on the satellite-fed "country stations" of today. Whether it's a tear-jerking ballad or something more rockin', Watson delivers the goods. In the last few years, country music has enjoyed a huge renaissance. Country music today is big,bigger than rock has ever been. Early next year is is expected that Garth Brooks will surpass the Beatles as the biggest selling recording artist of all time (Billy Joel is number three..go figure). Most of these "hat acts" are basically top 40 with fiddles. Some are downright embarrassing ! And line dancing ? Yikes ! But amidst it all are artists like Dale, Joy Lynn White, and Junior Brown ( who also has a killer new album out). The Lone Stars are a svelte four members including Dale, and let me tell you they lack for nothing at all. Tremendous truckin' songs (fourteen of 'em) are laid out in a nonstop menu of white line fever.From the starter "Good Luck And Good Truckin' Tonight" listeners are treated to an authentic blast of tear jerkin' pedal steel, gallopin' guitars and Dale's full vocals. The arrangements are perfection, as is the sound quality. Those of you lucky enough to have caught Dale Watson's show at the Iron Horse recently, Know that at least some of the acts in country music have iron clad integrity. High points include "Big Wheels Keep Rollin'", "Help Me Joe", "Drag Along And Tag Along, and "Exit 109". My personal favorite is "I'm Fixin' To Have Me A Breakdown". But, hell, they're ALL good ! Not just a " best kept secret" anymore, ... Can this mean a change in direction for country music ? Bet on it !

Hate country music? Judging by this album, Dale Watson is not too crazy about what passes for country music nowadays either. If you're lookin' for over produced, watered down pop songs, MTV style "country divas" and hair sprayed pretty boys whose last sweat-breaking activity was havin' to tune their own guitar (those that actually play) before the CMA awards...Look elsewhere... Dale Watson is the real deal... This is country music like I remember my dad playin' for us in the 70's. Dirt under your fingernails, keys hangin' from your belt loop. A beer on top of your Fender Twin Reverb... Dave Dudley, Red Sovine, Johnny Cash country music. No flame shirts, no headset microphones, no 110 piece bands, no mechanical bull, John Travolta is not here. What is here, is the voice of America's workin' man. A voice that hasn't been heard for a long time. So long in fact, that hardly anyone, it seems, remembers what that voice is supposed to sound like. Dale Watson remembers. "Good Luck N Good Truckin' Tonight" starts a tear that doesn't end 'til the last note of "I Gotta Get Home To My Baby". The only problem with this album is that it's not a double. I can't do justice to Dale Watson by writing a review. If you want to hear what country music is supposed to sound like, order this album. 14 original songs, that are instantly familiar, and a voice that will not let you go. Albums like this are few and far between. Why you can't turn on a country radio station and hear this guy is beyond me. It's a shame that one of the purest voices in country music, real country music, is kept in the background, so that "performers" with air-brushed promo pictures and with more in common with the Spice Girls than with Lorretta Lynn can be granted a pass to "stardom". Legendary radio host Bill Mack says that he considers Dale Watson to be the "New Giant"... I say, do yourself a favor. Take a trip to the valley of this "giant" now. It's a trip that's long overdue.

It doesn't matter if you don't know anything about trucking. This is real honky-tonk country music. There's no airbrushing, no poofy hair, no designer cowboy hats, no rewritten 70s California folk rock songs passing themselves off as "country." Wussies who dig Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, and other such pale milkweeds are advised to stay away; this stuff will be too strong for your blood. This is country as it was meant to be. Songs about women, coffee, and truckin', dang it. As completely honest and out-of-style as Dale's hair-tonic endowed haircut and the tattoo of the state of Texas on his arm.

If you're sick of these poseurs with their fake fluffy pop passing themselves off as "country," climb into the cab with Dale, fire up, and get rollin', friend. It'll do your heart good.

Great honky tonk country. Best "non radio" country singer in America today. When he breaks, he'll break in a big way. Best of his 4 albums, but hte rest are real close.

Dale Watson's music is about America so I wouldn't simply call it country, especially with the corporate syrupy pop drivel being marketed to the ignorant masses as country music now days.

Dale Watson is in the same league as Johnny Cash, Haggard, Waylon and other artists who have traveled life's highway and have survived to sing about it. They didn't grow up on their moma's --- and sure don't sing like they long for it like those "hat-acts."

If you long for Pure Americana this is it.

Watson's baritone purrs and rumbles, his telecaster climbs through the gears, and His Lone Stars roll out the road rhythms that pace this celebration of all things truckin'. Fourteen originals wind from the lure of the road and the longing for home to breakdowns and break-ups, CB lingo and coffee, coffee, coffee. The spirits of Dave Dudley, Red Sovine and C.W. McCall appear like black dogs in the headlights.

Recorded in a single 7-hour session, these two-steps and ballads sound fresh from the stage of Roadhouse, USA. This CD adds four tracks to the original cassette issue, giving you 15 extra miles before spinning it again.

Take it on your next haul to Shaky City, or a quick flip on the freeway.

Most of these songs are as good or better than anything Dave Dudley, Red Sovine, or Red Simpson have recorded. Of course, Dale is performing his original trucking songs firmly in the tradition these guys started and Dale would be the first to take his hat off to them and say that without them there would be no him. Once again, Dale is recording music that both honors the rich traditions of real American country music and at the same time blowing the listener away with his incredible voice (that's an understatement, really) and songs. This CD is one of my favorites of Dale's because the songs are so funny and loaded with lots of trucker/CB lingo and lore that make the CD, well...educational.

It's amazing to hear what main-stream radio is playing these days. Even more amazing is what you're missing. Dale Watson's latest is a showcase not only for his excellent song writing but his top notch band and musical ability. Five stars all the way! Even if your not a twanger.

good music to listen to when you are in a car or a truck