BOB WILLS
20th Century Masters (MCA)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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Western Swing was redefined by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in the 40s and 50s, even if the public only seemed to notice the first half of that period. There were a lot of great bands in that genre, but none of them were as talent-packed as the Playboys. This entry in the 20th century Masters/Millennium Collection series offers a dozen examples of that fact. With ground-breaking tunes like "Bubbles In My Beer," which introduced the modern, stripped-down ensemble after years of the big band approach, and oft-covered classics like "Milk Cow Blues" and "New Spanish Two-Step," this disc comes as close to representing Bob Wills' legacy as any 12-song comp can. As with just about all of the 20th Century Masters releases, its real value is as a starting point for those interested in acquiring the taste, or for fans of the genre who just want a little bit of everyone. The 12 dollar sticker price makes it a little more logical.

© 2000 - DJ Johnson