Billy Jack Wills, the youngest of the Texas Wills Western Swing dynasty, which also included the well-known Bob Wills, is the next artist to be featured in the 'Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight' series. Unlike his brother Bob, Billy Jack didn't quite get the success he deserved. At Bob's suggestion, Billy Jack held the positions of drummer and bassist in his band the Texas Playboys for a while. But Billy Jack also contributed to the success of the Texas Playboys as a vocalist and songwriter. He lent his bluesy voice to 'Cadillac In Model 'A' and wrote the lyrics for Bob's smash hit 'Faded Love'.
Jack's performances flirted with rock 'n' roll and their covers of the then scoring rhythm & blues songs drew the crowd to the dance floor. Also unique is the sparse application of jazzy elements. You can convince yourself of this with the 31 tracks of this compilation.
This compilation not only honors Billy Jack Wills, but also shows how he managed to combine Western Swing with rock 'n' roll and jazzy outbursts at the time. For that alone, he should have become more famous.

​Let's be clear for once ……. This series is not intended for softies! The rebellion associated with the genre, especially in the early days of rock and roll, is also in the 30 formidable instrumental tracks that fill volume 2 of the ‘Whip Masters Instrumentals’ series. Fire-breathing guitars, all searing saxophones that hit you relentlessly in the face and the vocal primal screams, certainly contribute to this. Features that can all be found on this album.
With the creation of the Whip Masters Instrumentals, composer Mark Armstrong has tapped an area that offers an abundance of fantastic rock and roll, rockabilly, surf and western swing. Just like the previously published volume 1, this edition is also worth having in your collection. Curious what will follow!

​Cliffie Stone made a career in the country, was one of the founders of rockabilly, was a talented songwriter, in-demand session musician and respected A&R man at Capitol Records. In the latter capacity he was the discoverer of Hank Thompson and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Cliffie also made recordings under his own name for the same label.
On this compilation released by Bear Family you get 31 tracks, all recorded between 1947 and 1955. In addition to songs he recorded with Bob Roubian, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Les Gotcher and Jeanne Gayle, this album contains a lot of songs that Cliffie recorded under his own name. Expect Western Swing, hillbilly boogie and rock and roll at the highest level. Naturally, an extensive booklet with information about the artist and the recordings is included.

​The attention that the Atomicat label pays to hillbilly and rockabilly bop through this series certainly fills a gap in the market. With the exception of a few other labels, these genres are treated poorly. Moreover, all Atomicat releases invariably boast a sublime sound quality, as does this volume. Again, Western Swing, based on a bop beat, is on the menu.
‘The Barnyard Hop’ again features 28 hillbilly and rockabilly related high flyers. "Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ is a treasure chest filled with awesome songs.

​It has often been said that hillbilly is the basis of rockabilly. The merging of hillbilly and rock and roll clearly manifests itself in volume 3. The typical instruments related to the classic hillbilly, such as fiddle, acoustic guitar and steel guitar, remain present, but the electric guitar from the rock and roll moves away effortlessly between. That of course provides a good dose of Western Swing on a boppin 'beat and that is what you get on this album in the most infectious forms. Whether they lean towards more authentic hillbilly or rather rockabilly bop, the fact is that all 28 tracks are very swinging. The ‘Hillbilly and Rustic Rockabilly Bop’ series has with "Rattlin" Daddy "a wonderful follow-up to the previously released volumes.

​The 26 tracks that contain a beautiful mix of traditional country, western swing and hillbilly will give you the ultimate feeling of a nostalgic country Christmas. And just like we did with ‘Headin 'For The Christmas Ball’, we once again can conclude that ‘Christmas On The Range’ can also be played without a corresponding Christmas tree.

​Hillbilly, authentic or with the addition of Western Swing or rock from the past century, you get it all beautifully and in excellent sound quality served on this compilation. It is becoming a habit, but we cannot help it that this album also deserves a place in your collection.

​Although they played country boogies and Western Swing as the Western Melody Makers, they made with 'Sag, Drag And Fall' before the term 'rockabilly' was found, a song that has since become 'classic' in the genre. With this album, Jasmine Records gives a nice chronological overview of a band that was involved in the birth of the rockabilly.

​Shame On You' is not only the title of the song with which Spade Cooley led the countrycharts for 9 weeks in 1945. Unfortunately it also relates to himself for the murder of his wife. Cooley's recorded Western Swing between 1945 and 1952 is certainly not bad, although Bob Wills together with his Texas Playboys rightly remain the title 'The King Of Western Swing'.

​Fan of Pokey Lafarge and CW Stoneking? Then the purchase of this danceable album by Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra is a must. And ........ years of fun guaranteed!

Sublime mix of country, western swing, gypsy jazz and rock 'n' roll. Recommended!

​This Canadian trio brings in a beautiful rockabilly and western swing way a tribute to the great Merle Travis. 

Great Jive, Jump and Western Swing by a German band with lots of delicious piano and lapsteel. With the New Years eve party in mind, is this the perfect dance record. Enjoy!

Jacob Tovar and The Saddle Tramps bring old school country, honky tonk and western swing back to life in a brilliant way. Highly recommended for real country fans!