Live at Billy Bob's Texas (Asleep at the Wheel album)

Live at Billy Bob's Texas is the fourth live album and first video album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded on April 18, 2003 at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on October 14, 2003 by Smith Music Group, as part of the Live at Billy Bob's Texas series. The album is the band's first release to feature fiddler and guitarist Haydn Vitera, and features former steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar as a guest.

Live at Billy Bob's Texas
Live album by
Asleep at the Wheel
ReleasedOctober 14, 2003 (2003-10-14)
RecordedApril 18, 2003 (2003-04-18)
VenueBilly Bob's Texas (Fort Worth, Texas)
Genre
Length53:38
LabelSmith
ProducerRay Benson
Asleep at the Wheel chronology
Wide Awake! Live in Oklahoma
(2003)		 Live at Billy Bob's Texas
(2003)		 Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo
(2003)

Although it did not register on record charts, Live at Billy Bob's Texas received positive reviews from the majority of critics. Multiple commentators praised the band's choice of songs to perform at the show, as well as the performances of several band members including the lead vocal deliveries of fiddlers Jason Roberts and Haydn Vitera on one song each. Reviewers also praised the sound and video quality of the DVD release, which also features interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Background

Live at Billy Bob's Texas is Asleep at the Wheel's first live album and video release.[1] Speaking about the show recorded for the collection, frontman Ray Benson commented that "if there's one place that typifies where you should see Asleep at the Wheel, it's Billy Bob's. It's as purely Texas as you can get."[1] The performance features former steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar as the sole guest musician, alongside regular steel guitarist and saxophonist Jim "Miracle" Murphy.[2]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Media response to Live at Billy Bob's Texas was generally positive. AllMusic's Thom Jurek wrote in a four-star review that, despite the band's prolific release schedule at the time, "This live show at Billy Bob's is scorching hot; full of tight, Western swing, R&B, blues, and honky tonk," describing it as "one of the finer Asleep at the Wheel live outings available".[2] Jurek claimed that the album "sounds better than most folks' studio recordings", as well as praising the choice of songs to perform as "a great grab bag".[2] Similarly, Robert Wooldridge of the website Country Standard Time praised the collection of songs performed during the show, describing it as "representative of [the band's] best work" and concluding that "With this outstanding effort, Asleep At The Wheel do their part to keep western swing vital."[3]

Vintage Guitar columnist Steven Stone particularly praised the video release of the album, claiming that "Unlike many live-performance DVDs, this disc has excellent production values, including fine editing, good camera angles, excellent sharpness, sumptuous color saturation, and lively cinematic pacing."[4] Describing it as "easily the best concert DVD I've seen", Stone praised recording engineers Paul Whitehead and Bob Wright and concluded that "If you are an Asleep at the Wheel fan, Live at Billy Bob's Texas is simply a must have. Even if you have only a moderate interest in western swing, this disc can turn you into a hardcore fan."[4]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Miles and Miles of Texas" (originally recorded by Jim McGraw and the Western Sundowners)
  • Tommy Camfield
  • Diane Johnston
3:38
2."Get Your Kicks on Route 66" (originally recorded by the King Cole Trio)Bobby Troup3:27
3."One Six Pack to Go" (originally recorded by Hank Thompson and his Brazos Valley Boys)
3:06
4."Hang Up My Spurs and Saddle"Ray Benson2:47
5."Don't Fence Me In" (originally recorded by Edward Nell and the Foursome Quartet)
3:06
6."Before the Next Teardrop Falls" (originally recorded by Duane Dee)
3:39
7."Dance with Who Brung Ya"Benson3:56
8."Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" (originally recorded by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five)
3:25
9."Amarillo by Morning" (originally recorded by Terry Stafford)
3:11
10."Take Me Back to Tulsa" (originally recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys)
3:51
11."You're from Texas" (originally recorded by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys)Cindy Walker2:56
12."If I Needed You" (originally recorded by Townes Van Zandt)Townes Van Zandt3:56
13."Boogie Back to Texas"Benson3:53
14."Cotton Eyed Joe" (originally recorded by Fiddlin' John Carson)Traditional4:27
15."Big Balls in Cowtown" (originally recorded by Hoyle Nix's West Texas Cowboys)Hoyle Nix4:20
Total length:53:38

Personnel

References
  1. Skanse, Richard (November 1, 2003). "Q&A: Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel". Lone Star. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  2. Jurek, Thom. "Live at Billy Bob's Texas - Asleep at the Wheel: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  3. Wooldridge, Robert. "Asleep at the Wheel - Live At Billy Bob's Texas". Country Standard Time. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  4. Stone, Steven (March 2004). "Asleep At The Wheel – Live at Billy Bob's Texas". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
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