Tex Williams was one of the leading figures in the distinctive sub-genre of country known as Western Swing, beginning his career as the vocalist in the highly successful band of Spade Cooley during the early 1940s, before leaving to launch his own band. He developed a highly distinctive approach to the music with a large 12-piece orchestra which he called the Western Caravan, with a dynamic blend of electric and steel guitars, fiddles, bass, accordion, trumpet and drums, and occasional other instruments so that their music ranged from country square dance and polkas to mainstream country, with Williams also specialising in his individual brand of "talking blues". He topped both the pop and country charts in 1947 with a classic example of that style "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette!", which effectively launched his career, and over the next few years he had a further dozen hits, subsequently falling out of favour until a chart comeback in the mid-'60s. This great-value 54-track 2-CD set comprises selected A & B sides of his forty or so releases on the Capitol label during these years, before he moved to RCA in 1951. It naturally features his landmark No. 1, along with the other dozen country chart entries he had during this era, including the somewhat politically incorrect No. 2 hits "Never Trust a Woman" and "Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph (Tell a Woman)". As a fairly substantial overview of his output in this key period of his career, it showcases his ability to range across the spectrum of the styles in a highly individual and entertaining fashion.

Tracklist:

The California Polka
Rose Of The Alamo
I Got Texas In My Soul
The Leaf Of Love
Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)
Roundup Polka
Big Bass Polka
Cowboy Polka
Miss Molly 1
That's What I Like About The West 1
Downtown Poker Club 1
Never Trust A Woman 1
What It Means To Be Blue 1
Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph, Tell A Woman 1
Blue As A Heart Ache 1
Artistry In Western Swing 1
Happy Birthday Polka 1
Suspicion 1
Flo From St. Joe Mo 2
Banjo Polka 2
Pretty Red Lights 2
Who' Me' 2
Foolish Tears 2
Just A Pair Of Blue Eyes 2
Talking Boogie 2
Life Gets Tee-Jus, Don't It' 2
Big Hat Polka 2
The Traveling Salesman Polka 2
Old Paint's Complaint 3
Hurry, Don't Delay 3
I Cried Myself To Sleep 3
You Broke Your Promise 3
Castle Of My Dreams 3
Johnstown Polka 3
Ham And Eggs 3
A ; E Rag 3
Rakes Of Mallow 3
Hot Pretzels 3
Cotton Eyed Joe 4
Bluebird On Your Window Sill 4
Crocodile Tears 4
The Winter Song 4
With Men Who Know Tobacco Best (It's Women Two To One) 4
Three Little Girls In Blue 4
Great Big Needle 4
Birmingham Bounce 4
Wild Card 4
Don't Make Love To Mary 4
Tulsa Trot 5
She Didn't Even Kiss Me Goodbye 5
I Lost My Gal From Memphis 5
Good Night Cincinnati 5
Black Strap Molasses (Wheat Germ Bread) 5
I Want To Be Near You (You're The One, The One)

UPC: 824046331726
Label: Acrobat
Release Date: 12.13.19
Format: CD

Tex Williams - Capitol Years 1946-51 (CD)