It's hard to think of Christmas at a time like this, but would you consider 1983's An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas with T-Birds, Charlie, Angela Strehli, Sarah Brown, Lou Ann Barton, Paul Ray, Kaz Jazz, and Willie on the later editions. Also, the 2012 Austin Christmas album recorded at Same Sky Studio brings in the holiday spirit with Tameca, Johnny Goudie, John Pointer, Michael Kingcaid, Tje Austin, Gina Chavez, Tee Double, Kalu James, Clyde & Clem's, and Lacy Rose. Ho Ho Ho.
You could add any half of the tracks on Jon Dee Graham's 'Escape From Monster Island' but I'd nominate $100 Bill, Faithless and Airplane (as well as that album to your Greatest Austin Recordings list). I'd also nominate his Laredo off of 'Hooray For The Moon' as another greatest Austin recording for your playlist.
I would vote the True Believers album, recorded at Arlyn Studio in 1986. It's only got 2 Jon Dee songs on it but they're both great. The balance of the album, mostly written by the Escovido brothers is really strong.
“Drunken Angel” is an incredibly powerful and poignant song about the killing of Blaze Foley.
Speaking of Blaze, “Live at the Austin Outhouse” is another to consider. It’s poorly recorded and really rough around the edges…just like Blaze. I personally consider it mandatory to have Blaze in your compilation…otherwise “the Wolfman is gonna get you”
Good list Michael. But you missed one—“NyQuil Blues” by Alvin Crow & the Pleasant Valley Boys on LongNeck Records. Recorded at Odyssey Sound on 6th Street. Chet Himes engineer. Produced by Crow-Smith Productions. Writer: Herb Steiner. Publisher : Lone Grove Music.
Truth to tell, the only streaming version of the LongNeck Records version of “NyQuil Blues” is the one I posted on YouTube a few years ago. Alvin recut the song but those versions don’t hold a candle to the original. That Pleasant Valley Boys band 1974-1978 was hotter than a pistol. I’ve been in good bands all my life but that one was kickass, full stop, bottom to top.
Thank you for making the correction/statement of fact that The Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson was recorded in GARLAND at Autumn Sound, and the ENTIRE Girls Go Wild LP by the Fabulous Thunderbirds was recorded at Sumet-Burnet Studios in DALLAS.
And Freddy King lived in DALLAS and was managed by Jack Calmes at SHOWCO, in DALLAS.
For more, check out WHEN DALLAS ROCKED for free, on YouTube.
Don't take it wrong. Austin is now the king of music in Texas and the Southwest, but in the 60s and 70s it was DALLAS. The downfall of vinyl started Big D's decline in influence.
And enjoy tunes on Spotify. Whenever I try to use them in my rock docs they want $10,000 per song!!!
I think Patty Griffin’s Impossible Dream and Children Running Through were both recorded in Austin, no? that would be high up on my list. maybe Independent Worm Saloon as well?
I was told that the Willis Allan Ramsay album was recorded in the space that is now the Hole in the Wall. I don’t know if it’s true, or if “legendary” qualifies as a criteria, but maybe it’s worth considering(?)
That's on the Hole in the Wall website, but it's wrong. WAR did use the space as a makeshift studio between the time it was Longhorn Cleaners and the Hole, the none of the album was recorded there.
Noelle Hampton’s Thin Line was recorded at Congress House by Mark Hallman. I happen to think it’s a pretty great record if you’re still open to suggestions. =j
The majority of the album has to have been recorded in Austin, so although Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time" has four tracks from Arlyn it doesn't qualify.
Bongo Fury, Zappa/Beefheart at the Armadillo is probably greatest live recording in Austin history. The live recording compilations of the original Threadgill's Wednesday night sessions are a close second.
Johnny Winter Progressive Blues Experiment recorded at The Vulcan Gas Company 🌵🌴🎶
No list like this would be complete without the seminal Live at Raul's.
It's hard to think of Christmas at a time like this, but would you consider 1983's An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas with T-Birds, Charlie, Angela Strehli, Sarah Brown, Lou Ann Barton, Paul Ray, Kaz Jazz, and Willie on the later editions. Also, the 2012 Austin Christmas album recorded at Same Sky Studio brings in the holiday spirit with Tameca, Johnny Goudie, John Pointer, Michael Kingcaid, Tje Austin, Gina Chavez, Tee Double, Kalu James, Clyde & Clem's, and Lacy Rose. Ho Ho Ho.
You could add any half of the tracks on Jon Dee Graham's 'Escape From Monster Island' but I'd nominate $100 Bill, Faithless and Airplane (as well as that album to your Greatest Austin Recordings list). I'd also nominate his Laredo off of 'Hooray For The Moon' as another greatest Austin recording for your playlist.
Great suggestion. I was wondering which Jon Dee album was the best. I know he recorded one in LA.
I would vote the True Believers album, recorded at Arlyn Studio in 1986. It's only got 2 Jon Dee songs on it but they're both great. The balance of the album, mostly written by the Escovido brothers is really strong.
yeah, gotta have at least one John Dee record. he’s also produced some other great Austin albums.
“Drunken Angel” is an incredibly powerful and poignant song about the killing of Blaze Foley.
Speaking of Blaze, “Live at the Austin Outhouse” is another to consider. It’s poorly recorded and really rough around the edges…just like Blaze. I personally consider it mandatory to have Blaze in your compilation…otherwise “the Wolfman is gonna get you”
Good list Michael. But you missed one—“NyQuil Blues” by Alvin Crow & the Pleasant Valley Boys on LongNeck Records. Recorded at Odyssey Sound on 6th Street. Chet Himes engineer. Produced by Crow-Smith Productions. Writer: Herb Steiner. Publisher : Lone Grove Music.
Truth to tell, the only streaming version of the LongNeck Records version of “NyQuil Blues” is the one I posted on YouTube a few years ago. Alvin recut the song but those versions don’t hold a candle to the original. That Pleasant Valley Boys band 1974-1978 was hotter than a pistol. I’ve been in good bands all my life but that one was kickass, full stop, bottom to top.
Can't wait to dig in to this, will check tonight.
Thank you for making the correction/statement of fact that The Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson was recorded in GARLAND at Autumn Sound, and the ENTIRE Girls Go Wild LP by the Fabulous Thunderbirds was recorded at Sumet-Burnet Studios in DALLAS.
And Freddy King lived in DALLAS and was managed by Jack Calmes at SHOWCO, in DALLAS.
For more, check out WHEN DALLAS ROCKED for free, on YouTube.
Don't take it wrong. Austin is now the king of music in Texas and the Southwest, but in the 60s and 70s it was DALLAS. The downfall of vinyl started Big D's decline in influence.
And enjoy tunes on Spotify. Whenever I try to use them in my rock docs they want $10,000 per song!!!
I need to write about THAT.
I think Patty Griffin’s Impossible Dream and Children Running Through were both recorded in Austin, no? that would be high up on my list. maybe Independent Worm Saloon as well?
Excellent play list !
I was told that the Willis Allan Ramsay album was recorded in the space that is now the Hole in the Wall. I don’t know if it’s true, or if “legendary” qualifies as a criteria, but maybe it’s worth considering(?)
That's on the Hole in the Wall website, but it's wrong. WAR did use the space as a makeshift studio between the time it was Longhorn Cleaners and the Hole, the none of the album was recorded there.
Thanks for clearing that up! Good to know. Was any of the album even recorded in Austin?
No.
Apparently it wasn’t. I just looked up the liner notes in Wikipedia 😂
Noelle Hampton’s Thin Line was recorded at Congress House by Mark Hallman. I happen to think it’s a pretty great record if you’re still open to suggestions. =j
The majority of the album has to have been recorded in Austin, so although Bonnie Raitt's "Nick of Time" has four tracks from Arlyn it doesn't qualify.
Bongo Fury, Zappa/Beefheart at the Armadillo is probably greatest live recording in Austin history. The live recording compilations of the original Threadgill's Wednesday night sessions are a close second.