37 years and 9 Grammys later, the "Wheel" is still rollin'. Enjoy our 1st collection of new songs in a decade. - Ray Benson

Ray Benson’s Song Notes
Reinventing The Wheel

1. The Devil Ain’t Lazy (Featuring The Blind Boys of Alabama)
This Bob Wills tune, written by Fred Rose, was the perfect vehicle for a duet with the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama. They were in Austin for the ACL Fest in September of 2004 and came over to the studio to record. We were so lucky to record this when we did as one of the original members, George Scott, passed away a few months later. What a great combination. Southern black gospel and modern day western swing. I think Bob Wills would approve!
2. Your Mind is on Vacation
This song, written by the great pianist and vocalist Mose Allison, says it all! Think before you speak! Mose is one of those great artists often called too jazz for country music and too country and blues for jazz! All I know is his music is great and his songwriting is clever and timeless.
3. I Don’t Care if the Sun Don’t Shine
Elizabeth was listening to Bob Dylan’s radio program on satellite radio and he played this great tune done by Dean Martin. We adapted it for a western swing arrangement and it’s one of our big request tunes live now.
4. Am I Right (or Amarillo)
Jason wrote this tune after hearing the saying all his life. We all tried to write a song with this title but Jason got it right first and sings the heck out of it!
5. This Ol’ Cowboy
This Marshall Tucker Band tune was written by my old pal the late Toy Caldwell. We added a kinda Latin beat to it and let all the instrumentalists play solos. The original featured Charlie Daniels and Andy Stein on fiddles and Sam Lightning suggested we do it. I hope you are listenin’ Toy and approve.
6. I’m an Old Cowhand (from the Rio Grande)
Cole Porter wrote this tune about life as a city slicker headed west without ever leaving New York City! The story is that a friend clued him into the lingo of the wild west and he incorporated the terms in the song. Elizabeth reprises the tune inspired by Maryann Price’s version with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks.
7. Pop A Wheelie
Me and Jason wrote this one day to showcase the instrumental talents of the band. We added banjo virtuoso Rolf Siecker to the track to show the great variety of instrumentation that can play swing music.
8. Misery
Another Bob Wills tune, this version of Misery is the one we do in our musical play A Ride With Bob. Jason, Elizabeth, and I sing together on this, one of Bob Wills’ really great western blues numbers.
9. Hot Like That
I have been writing this tune for 10 years and finally finished it for this CD! Women come in all shapes, sizes, hues and temperatures. I like mine HOT!
10. Saturday Night Fish Fry
This was the first Louis Jordan tune I ever heard and I’ve been a fan ever since. We have recorded Choo Choo Boogie, Ain’t Nobody Here but Us Chickens, This Chick’s Too Young to Fry so I figured it was time for this epic story of a New Orleans house party. Boy there are a lot of words!!
11. You’re my Sugar
Mike Mercer and Tater suggested this old Tennessee Ernie Ford Kay Starr duet and Jason and Elizabeth started doing it live. Besides bein’ cute and clever it’s a challenging up tempo swing tune that really cooks!
12. The Cape
I learned this Guy Clark tune for a friend of mine who loved it and asked me to play it at a charity function. It really touched me so I recorded it for this CD. Guy and his co-writers must have known me as a kid! I hope this is how I live my life!

Credits:
David Sanger: Drums, Percussion
Jason Roberts: Fiddle, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Mandolin, Electric Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
Ray Benson: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
John Michael Whitby: Piano, Background Vocals
Floyd Domino: Piano (#9 only)
Elizabeth McQueen: Vocals, Background Vocals
Eddie Rivers: Steel Guitar, Sax
David Miller: Bass, Background Vocals
Rolf Sieker: Banjo (#7 Only)
The Blind Boys of Alabama: George Scott, Jimmy Carter, Eric McKinnie, Tracy Pierce, Joey Williams, Caleb Butler (#1 Only)
James Rabitoy: Additional Percussion (#5 only)

Produced by Ray Benson, Sam Lightning Seifert & Asleep at the Wheel
Associate Producer: Peter Schwarz
Assistant Producers: Bridget Bauer, Dan Skarbek

Engineer: Sam Seifert
Additional Engineers: Cris Burns, Will Armstrong, Mike Mercer
Mastered by Hank Williams at Mastermix, Nashville, TN
Enhanced CD Mastering by Nick Landis at Terra Nova Digital Audio, Inc. Austin, TX
Enhanced CD Video directed and filmed by Dan Karlok

Mixed and Recorded on Nuendo
Bismeaux Studio would like to thank the following:
AMD, Yahama/Steinberg & Event Audio

Cover Illustration: Scrojo
Art Direction & Design: Dick Reeves, assisted by Helen Pryor
Asleep at the Wheel photos by Ed Verosky
Blind Boys photos by Brio Yiapan

Thanks:
Charles Driebe, Kate Rogers, Dale Carter, Matt Eskey, Kellie Schroeder, Charlie Boswell, Kelly Stuart, Ron Backer, Missi Callazzo, James Rabitoy, Dan Karlok, Martin Audiology, Justin Boots, Ronda Espy, John Michael Whitby thanks Yamaha Pianos, Hammond Company, David Sanger thanks Fibes Drums, Promark Drum Sticks, Sabian Cymbals and Rhythmtech Percussion, Ray Benson thanks Gibson Guitars, David Miller thanks Messenger Bass.