Steve Markwardt – This Is Swing Country

New Review by Rick Huff " Best of the West Reviews ", Steve Markwardt - This Is Swing Country

Steve Markwardt – This Is Swing Country, Yes, “this Is Swing Country,” basically done as Bob Wills would have liked its styling! And I’d bet he would have approved of a Steve Markwardt fronting his Playboys, too. Many of the tracks here are two steps and shuffles of varying tempos.
This album is a very nicely done mix of originals and Country covers. Some picks include the up-tempo collection opener “Jamboree Of Western Swing,” the shuffle “Oklahoma’s Calling Me,” “Long Gone Blues” (done a bit slower than usual), “These Boots” (…are made for walking back to you…), the holiday novelty “Swinging Santa” and “You’ve Been Talking In Your Sleep” (a real rouser)!
As we’ve said of him before, vocally Markwardt has a bit of “Rex Jr.” in him, particularly in his higher registers. Fact check: On Markwardt’s baseball analogy song “Swinging For The Bleachers,” the lead lyric goes “people call me ‘Babe Ruth’ on the dance floor…just like him I’m the ‘King of Swing’!” Actually Ruth was the “Sultan.” Wills was the “King!” But you royally get the idea…
The ‘Willsian’ horns aren’t present on all of the songs. There are budgets to consider, after all! But you shouldn’t miss them. Thirteen tracks, highly recommended.




CD: (google by artist)
– by Rick Huff

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Steve Markwardt – This Is Swing Country

1. Jamboree of Western Swing 3:09
2. Oklahoma’s Calling Me 4:10
3. Your Memory (Can Go Straight to Hell) 3:18
4. I Just Can’t Stay Gone 2:55
5. Long Gone Lonesome Blues 3:53
6. Your Old Used to Be 3:00
7. She Took Me Back Again 3:15
8. These Boots 3:25
9. Swinging for the Bleachers 4:51
10. You’ve Been Talking in Your Sleep 4:03
11. I Can’t Go Home to Heaven 3:52
12. Where I Am 3:36
13. Swingin’ Santa Claus 2:58
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