I may be short, kinda fat in the middle
But never have I had to play the second fiddle
If you read my review of Vol. 1 of The Tiffany Transcriptions archival release series, you’ll be able to predict what I’ve got to say about this probably. My opinion about this astoundingly fun album is downright glowing. If you missed my first review, the long and short of it is that Bob Wills and his group recorded a few hundred tracks in the 1940s for the Tiffany Music Company and, based on what I’ve heard so far, it’s some of the most good-natured, fun-spirited party music ever created. I think, if anything, Vol. 2 is stronger overall than Vol. 1 which is not to say that I’m backing down on my love of Vol. 1 at all. This one kicks off with one of Wills’ biggest hits, Take Me Back to Tulsa, and it’s a killer version of the song. The second track is a version of another of Wills’ biggest hits, Faded Love; Faded Love would be Wills’ final chart hit in 1950 , but that was a different recording. This recording is, for my money, better than that one with each member of the band getting a moment to shine with special marks to that jazzy trumpet solo from Alex Brashear Steel Guitar Rag is a fantastic showcase for Noel Boggs and Ida Red is a standard played at a downright breakneck pace. Time Changes Everything and Maiden’s Prayer are catchy songs that actually have nice, if very simple, lyrics. And then the album closes with a recording of San Antonio Rose, the song that was Wills’ biggest hit back in 1938, a song he recorded countless times over his career. The standout here though absolutely has to be Bring It On Down to My House, Honey, a nearly five minute tune that finds Wills and usual vocalist Tommy Duncan trading verses that leave little doubt as to what the “It” of the title is. Each verse features the couplet, “Bring it on down to my house, honey/there ain’t nobody home but me,” and then a couplet that is either vaguely absurdist or risqué or, sometimes, both: “That’s my girl, she’s the one who did it/she began to like it and then she couldn’t quit it.” This song always makes me laugh; it’s just such a joyous, swaggering number with a great beat and incredible energy and lyrics that are just silly enough to put a smile on your face. Like I said, this volume may just be better than the first one. And that’s really saying something. 4 stars.
tl;dr – second volume of archival releases from Western Swing pioneer is even better than the first one, which is really saying something; high-energy, fun-filled party just never stops. 4 stars.