Willie and the Wheel (2009)

I’m at 691 songs and 1 ½ days of Willie’s music on my nano. I’m not a huge fan of Western Swing, but I’m seeing how it has influenced Willie’s style, especially the fiddle playing. It’s slower on Willie’s albums, but the fiddle runs seem like slowed down Western Swing. The music is fun, danceable music. Adding horns on some tracks makes this sound like Preservation Hall New Orleans-style jazz.

“Fan It” and cool it, honey, till the cows come home. Reminds me of some Hank Williams, some blues, some New Orleans jazz (Louis Armstrong’s Hot fives), some Ray Charles. You can’t play a sad song on the banjo, and you can’t be sad listening to Western Swing (or Louis Armstrong, for that matter). You can be sad listening to Miles Davis, but not Louis. I hear George Straight’s roots in this music, especially “Right or Wrong.” Sounds like those early 80s Straight and Travis traditional country albums. Bouncy yet mournful with the fiddle and steel. You are playing upbeat dance music with instruments designed to be sad—steel and fiddle.

One of the few Willie albums without Mickey Raphael.

“Shame on You” may be my favorite track on this album. Willie’s voice sounds stronger on this than on American Classic. Maybe the bounciness of the band gives his voice more pep.

“South” is a fun instrumental with Vince Gill on electric, Paul Shaffer on piano, and Ray Benson introducing the soloists like the host of a square dance.

Thematically, not much in these lyrics relates to Willie’s running themes of love, time, and memory. This is more of a collection of instrumental influences. Also the mood of these songs I think finds its way into Willie’s Buddhist philosophy. He approaches life like one of these songs. These songs move fast, and yet they feel relaxed. It is relaxed speed. Easy speed. Speeding down the road with a smile. Speed without angst. More Taoist than Buddhist. Hurry slowly. Don’t just do something, stand there. Still is still moving to me. Willie seems to be standing still even as he plays such fast Western Swing. Lighthearted, calm, easy in the speed.