10 (Asleep At The Wheel Album)

''10'' is the ninth studio album (tenth album overall) by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bee Creek Studios in Spicewood, Texas and the Austin Recording Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced solely by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released in March 1987 as the group's first album back on Epic Records. ''10'' was the group's first album on a major label since 1980's '' Framed'', and its first to register on the US ''Billboard'' charts since 1978's '' Wheelin' and Dealin'''.

Following the release of ''Pasture Prime'' in 1985, Asleep at the Wheel experienced a resurgence in popularity which led to them re-signing with Epic. The group settled with a new lineup of Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis, four of whom had featured on the 1985 record. ''10'' was the band's first album since the departure of Chris O'Connell, although she appears as a guest.

''10'' was a critical and commercial success. The album was Asleep at the Wheel's second release to reach the top 20 of the US ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 16. The collection also spawned four singles, all of which registered on the Hot Country Singles chart, with " House of Blue Lights" peaking at number 17 – the band's second to reach the top 20 of the chart. Critical reviews of the album were mainly positive, praising its return to the band's Western swing sound.

Background

In 1986, Asleep at the Wheel introduced a new lineup comprising lead vocalist and guitarist Ray Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis. The band signed with Epic Records and recorded its ninth studio album that year, which was its first since Chris O'Connell's departure after becoming pregnant. In early 1987, Epic imprint CBS/Nashville Senior Vice President Rick Blackburn reported that the album was "just about done", claiming that "They're better now than they've ever been and their confidence level is soaring".

"Way Down Texas Way" (written by Billy Joe Shaver) was issued as the lead single from ''10'' in January 1987, reaching number 39 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart. The album was released in March. " House of Blue Lights" (first recorded by Freddie Slack) was released as the album's second single in May and became the band's second song to reach the top 20 of the ''Billboard'' country chart, peaking at number 17. Two more tracks were issued from ''10'' and registered on the Hot Country Singles chart – Ray Benson's "Boogie Back to Texas" peaked at number 53, and Guy Clark's "Blowin' Like a Bandit" peaked at number 59.

Reception

Commercial

''10'' entered the ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums chart at number 45 in April 1987, later becoming the band's third album (and their first release in eleven years) to reach the top 20 when it peaked at number 16 in July. It also reached number 12 on the ''Cash Box'' Country Albums chart.

Critical

Media reviews of ''10'' were generally positive. ''Billboard'' magazine described the album as "a solid collection of mainly Western swing numbers", praising " House of Blue Lights", "I Want a New Drug" and "Blues Stay Away from Me" in particular. ''Cash Box'' also highlighted the Freddie Slack and Delmore Brothers tracks, as well as Fontaine Brown's "Big Foot Stomp". Canadian magazine ''RPM'' outlined that "he band'sbrand of Western swing music is almost legend", hailing the record as "a fun album" and describing it as "the real country mood music".

Accolades

''10'' earned Asleep at the Wheel its second Grammy Award, winning Best Country Instrumental Performance for its original track "String of Pars".

Track listing

Personnel

Asleep at the Wheel
*Ray Benson – lead guitar, vocals, production
*John Ely – pedal and Hawaiian steel guitars
*David Dawson – bass
*Tim Alexander – piano, accordion, backing vocals
*David Sanger – drums
*Larry Franklin – fiddle, guitar, backing vocals
*Michael Francis – saxophone
Guest musicians
*Tom Anastasio – bass
*Chris O'Connell – backing vocals
*Johnny Gimble – fiddle
*Pete Anderson – guitar
*Ray Campi – slap bass

Production personnel
*Huey Lewis – production
*Leea Mechling – production assistance
*Spencer Starnes – engineering
*John Bentley – engineering assistance
*Joe Bogan – remixing
*Larry Seyer – remixing
*Denny Purcell – mastering
Additional personnel
*Bill Johnson – art direction
*Antonin Kratochvil – photography
*Scott Newton – photography assistance

Charts

References

External links

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Asleep at the Wheel albums
1987 albums
Epic Records albums