Doug Sahm And Band* – Doug Sahm And Band

I bought this when it came out, and never quite warmed up to it. Maybe because it had the aura of a super-session gimmick, counting on the presence of bigger stars than Doug to sell it—and that cover! Looks like something one of those caricaturists who work state fairs would come up with, with everyone smilin' like they was all buddies, with a horseface Doug front'n'center. But really, it's not terrible for what it is, but as a launching pad for Doug, he didn't need to do it and had done better work in the past. I don't usually care much about musicians' personal odysseys but Doug seemed to have had an interesting time of it and it showed in his songs, no self-pity, just a guy who'd been around and had a lot to say and an uplifting way of saying it. Incidentally, when he toured after this came out, he didn't have these musicians (no Dylan, fancy that) and other than "San Antone" didn't play these songs, so make of that what you will.

Was 1973's "Doug Sahm and Band" my favorite Doug Sahm album ? Nah, there were way too many country influence scattered across the twelve selections for my tastes. At the same time, the album included a couple of Sahm career classics. Co--produced by Jerry Wexler (who was also responsible for g Sahm to Atlantic), Arif Mardin, and Sahm, the album featured a loose, almost live in-studio feel. Today I guess you'd call this a prime slice of Americana. The album also featured a truly impressive collection of "friends" and guests including David Bromberg, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, former Sir Dougles Quintet sidekicks Flaco Jimenez and Augie Meyers. Just be forewarned, with the exception of 'I Get Off', anyone looking for either Sir Douglas Quintet-styled moves, or pristine, state-of-the-art sound, was going to be disappointed. It's certainly an album I play on a regular basis, but the country influences ('Me and Paul' and Dylan's painful 'Wallflower') are always distracting. With the exception of his cover of 'Faded Love', none did much for me. Still, there are those highlights - 'I Get Off' and the single '(Is Anybody) Going To San Antone' should've been massive hits; the ragged country-rock ballad 'It's Gonna Be Easy' had a refrain you can't shake, and his cover of Johnnie & Jack's "Poison Love' was truly rollicking. Critics weren't particularly kind to the album and it proved a poor seller, peaking at # 123 on the US album charts.

"Doug Sahm and Band" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) (Is Anybody) Going To San Antone (Dave Kirby - Glen Martin) - 3:10    rating: **** stars
Looking at the instrumentation on this one - pedal steel guitar and twin fiddles and the fact Bob Dylan was singing, I was certain this was going to irritating. Hum. So much for pre-judging a song. Yeah, it was a country-tinged number, but Sahm and company turned it into three minutes of pure joy. Wonderful country track for people who don't like country. The song was tapped as a single in various countries:

- 1973's '(Is Anybody) Going To San Antone' b/w 'Don't Turn Around' (Atlantic catalog number 45-2946)
2.) It's Gonna Be Easy (Atwood Allen) - 3:31    rating: **** stars
Oh my goodness ... as attractive as the first song was, the ragged country-rock ballad 'It'd Gonna Be Easy' was even better. There was something almost magical hearing Sahm and longtime buddy/accompaniest Atwood Allen croaking their way through the song. Fantastic melody and a refrain I can't shake out of the memory banks.   
3.) Your Friends (Deadric Malone)- 5:20 rating: ** stars
Lots of folks love Sahm's blues work, but I have to it his stark cover of 'Your Friends' didn;t do much for me. For hardcore fans, the songwriting credit Deadrick Malone was a pseudonym for label owner, songwriter, and producer Don robey.   
4.) Poison Love (Elmer :Laird) - 4:21    rating: **** stars
Johnnie & Jack had a country hit with this one way back in 1951 ... The combination of David Bromberg on dobro, long-time sidekick Flaco Jimerez on accordion, and Auguie Meyers on keyboards made this one nearly irresistible.
5.) Wallflower (Bob Dylan) - 2:29 rating: ** stars
It was certainly generous of Dylan to contribute a tune to the album. Shame it was 'Wallflower'. Dylan apparently wrote this one back in 1971 and shelved it. Sounding like warmed over, slightly out-of-tune The Band, it was almost painful hearing Sahm and Dylan (particular Dylan) try to howl their way through this one. For hardcore Dylan fans, Dylan's version was released on 1991's "The Bootleg Series: Volume 1-3".
6.) Dealer's Blues (Doug Sahm) - 2:59    rating: **** stars
Judging by how good the slinky blues-rocker 'Dealer's Blues' was, it was a shame Sahm didn't record more of his one material. Sahm also provided the scorching lead guitar. Albert Collins would have approved.

(side 2)
1.) Faded Love (J. Willis - Bob Willis) - 3:55    rating: **** stars
Rock fans probably won't have a clue what to do with it, other than skip the track, but about all that needs to be said is this was a timeless slice of Texas swing. Hearing Sahm and Altwood Allen sharing lead vocals should have you break out in goosebumps.
2.) Blues Stay Away From Me (Alton Demore - Rabon Demore - Wayne Raney - Henry Glover) - 4:47 rating: ** stars
Even for Sahm 'Blues Stay Away From Me' was a bit on the rough side ... To my ears it sounded like an in studio demo that was never intended for release. Geez, you can hear someone coughing. Sham apparently liked the tune so much he re-recorded it in 1981 with The Texas Tornados.
3.) Papa Ain’t Salty (T-Bone Walker - Grover McDaniel) - 4:29 rating: ** starsConventional electric blues that was energetic enough, but hardly the most exciting performance on the album.
4.) Me And Paul (Willie Nelson) - 3:32 rating: ** stars
Simply too country for my tastes.
5.) Don’t Turn Around (Doug Sahm) - 3:28   rating: *** starsWow, almost a Sahm one man show with the man credited with vocals, bass, guitar, organ, piano, and strings.
6.) I Get Off (Doug Sahm) - 2:35    rating: **** stars
Ever wanted to hear Sahm in a Memphis blues mode? Well, check out the sterling 'I Get Off'.

Why is there no listing for the Rhino Handmade edition? Is it a boot?

Apologies this was an accidental order, can I please cancel?