Leon Rausch, a longtime singer for Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys, has collaborated with Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel on a new album, “It’s a Good Day,” that’s out tomorrow.
And since Asleep at the Wheel’s favorite song is “Route 66,” you’d think that the band would persuade Rausch to perform it with them. And you’d be right — “Route 66” is on the new album.
Samples of all 12 of the songs, including “Route 66,” can be heard here.
The Dallas Morning News graded the album an A:
The musicianship is stellar, with horns, fiddle, guitars, drums, piano, mandolin and upright bass expertly produced by the Wheel’s unflappable leader, Ray Benson. Leon Rausch, 82, who sang with Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, remains in fine crooning voice. He’s particularly smooth on “Snap Your Fingers.”
If you want to see Rausch and Asleep at the Wheel together in a genuine Route 66 town, you can on Sept. 9 in Claremore, Okla., during the annual Bluegrass & Chili Festival. That’s only about 30 miles from Tulsa, where he got his first big break when he was hired by Bob Wills during the 1950s.
Asleep at the Wheel’s drummer, David Sanger, also was a producer and/or drummer for the compilation albums “Songs of Route 66” and “More Songs of Route 66,” of which the rest of his band also played a prominent role. Asleep at the Wheel also organized a music tour of Route 66 on the road’s 66th anniversary.