Living in a major metropolitan area has some advantages in terms of left of the dial radio options. In addition to the usual line up of pop, country, rock, talk, and sports radio, the Dallas market has a fine listener supported independent station (KXT) and a community radio station (KNON) that airs weekly programs on jazz, Texas blues, and Tejano music. However, due to the magic of the internet, the best Texas music listening experience is available weekly to everyone in the world. Every Saturday night from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. central time, Joe Nick Patoski hosts the Texas Music Hour of Power on Marfa Public Radio (here). It has turned into not only an exceptional radio program (how rare is that these days), but also an online interactive experience. While the program is occurring, listeners post comments on Joe Nick Patoski’s facebook page while the “Image Wranglers” post relevant pictures of the artists on the program. It’s the best party you can attend each week without leaving your couch.
Patoski has been immersed in Texas music his entire life and has written books on Selena, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Willie Nelson. The program is an eclectic mixture of Texas legends (Nelson, Bob Wills, Ray Price), one hit wonders, and rarities. Rock, blues, country, and Tejano music are all part of the mix, with the emphasis being on rocking fun. Remember when you were young and you would hear music on the radio that would knock your socks off? That’s what this program does for me. I hear artists every week that I know and love and I’m exposed to a rich variety of old and new music that I’ve never heard. Do yourself a favor and tune in on your next free Saturday night. It’s cheaper than going out, as tasty as Texas beef brisket, and you’ll have great company with the Image Wranglers on Patoski’s facebook page. Or, as Bob Wills might say, “A-HAAAAAA!”
Here is the playlist from the April 12th program:
First Hour
Rudy’s Monkey – Rudy and the Reno Bops
Lone Star Blues – Delbert McClinton
Stay a Little Longer – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
Rock Around With Ollie Vee – Buddy Holly and the Crickets
Well All Right – Lyle Lovett
Let Her Dance – Joe Ely
Action Packed – Ronnie Dawson
Be Thankful for What You’ve Got – Emily Gimble
The Moon Is For Lovers – Richard Dobson
Si Acaso Vuelves – Chelo Silva
When I Think of You – Sunny and the Sunglows
Mr. Thrill – Mildred Jones w. the Pluma Davis Orchestra
Baby Work Out – Grady Gaines and the Texas Upsetters
Heartaches by the Number – Ray Price and His Cherokee Cowboys
Bloody Mary Morning – Willie Nelson and His Family Band
Don’t Come Home If You’re Mad at Me – Greezy Wheels
Outro – Young Rabbits – Jazz Crusaders
Second Hour
Well Oh Well – Moon Mullican
Ride – Wayne the Train Hancock
Hully Gully – Big Bo and the Arrows
RC Cola and a Moon Pie – Big Bill Lister
Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
Big Sweet Life – The Resentments featuring Jon Dee Graham
Didn’t We Have a Good Time? – Mystics
Starry Eyes – Roky Erickson and Lou Ann Barton
Big Town Playboy – Angela Strehli (w SRV, JLV, Kim Wilson, Denny Freeman)
Jack of Spades (or Diamonds?) – Mance Lipscomb
Cotulla – Santiago Jimenez Sr and Jr
If You Were a Bluebird – Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Mate Like a Cheetah – Homer Henderson
She’s Got – True Believers
One More Time – Traits (featuring Roy Head)
Walkin’ With Frankie – Frankie Lee Sims
Funky Butt – El Molino (featuring Rocky Morales)
