Release Date: 12 November 2021
Label: Real Gone Music
Packaging Type: Brilliant Case (Jewel Case size, Holds 2 CDs)
No of Units: 2
Barcode: 848064003885
Genres: Rock
Description
Pop music has seen its share of supergroups, but none of them were (and are) as infectious, buoyant and plain ol' fun as the Texas Tornados. And make no mistake—the Tornados were a supergroup; in fact, when it comes to roots and ethnic music, the pedigree of the band was unmatched. Accordionist Flaco Jiménez is The King of Conjunto Music, and has played with everybody from the Rolling Stones to Buck Owens, while keyboardist Augie Meyers basically is the Vox organ, having played it with the Sir Douglas Quintet and on countless other releases by Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, John Hammond…the list goes on. Freddy Fender was the rare Chicano artist to achieve crossover pop success with a style that blended swamp pop, rockabilly, country, and Tejano influences together with a beautiful, crooning vocal style, and Doug Sahm—well, Doug Sahm was Doug Sahm, an American original if there ever was one, a one-man melting pot of country, soul, Tejano and rock and roll. Together, these four legends cut four albums (or five, if you count the Spanish-language version of their debut) for the Reprise label during the '90s that were among the greatest roots-rock records ever made, a rollicking, utterly irresistible body of music made for dancing, drinking, laughing, loving and living.
Now, Real Gone Music has gone deep into the vaults to present the ultimate Texas Tornados collection, a 2-CD, 39-track set that includes prime cuts from all of their albums—the Spanish and English versions of their self-titled debut, plus Zone of Our Own, Hangin' On by a Thread and 4 Aces—together with rarities and six unreleased sides including four instrumentals and a Miller Lite beer spot! Among the non-album tracks are such Tornados touchstones as "Una Mas Cerveza" and the Fender favorite "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights," while the album sides are highlighted by "(Hey Baby) Que Paso," "Little Bit Is Better Than Nada," "Who Were You Thinking Of," the Doug Sahm anthem "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," and many more. Friend of the band Randy Poe has penned the notes based on a fresh interview with Doug Sahm's son Shawn, latter-day leader of the Tornados and authority on all things to do with his dad, while the photos come from the dim recesses of the Reprise label archives. Remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision and assembled with love by compiler Mike Johnson, A Little Bit Is Better Than Nada—Prime Cuts 1990-1996 is the roots music anthology of the year, and a long-overdue look at a band that has never stopped going strong.
Tracklisting
Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
Joe Simon
Joe Bataan
Jimmy Webb
Jefferson Airplane
James Horner
Texas Tornados
