Are you looking for the best Texas blues of musical genres? Look no further than this guide. Here are the 10 best Texas blues of musical genres, perfect for your listening pleasure.
Table of Contents
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Texas Flood
George Strait – 50 Number Ones
George Strait’s 50 Number Ones is a great collection of some of his best work. There are a few tracks on here that are not Strait’s best, but overall this is a great collection of songs. “I Cross My Heart” and “Heartland” are two of my favorites off of this album, and “The Fireman” is another great one. This album also includes “Baby Blue” which is one of Strait’s more popular tracks. If you’re a fan of Strait’s music, then this album is definitely worth picking up.
Willie Nelson – The Essential Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson has been one of the most popular and influential country artists of the past few decades, and The Essential Willie Nelson is a great collection that showcases his many talents. The two-disc set features 40 tracks spanning Nelson’s entire career, from his early days as a honky tonk singer to his more recent work as a pop/country crossover artist. Highlights include Nelson’s signature hits “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind,” as well as fan favorites like “Night Life” and “Bloody Mary Morning.” The Essential Willie Nelson is a great introduction to the work of one of country music’s true legends.
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
The album that put ZZ Top on the map, “Tres Hombres” is a true classic of 70’s rock. The band’s signature sound is already fully formed here, with Billy Gibbons’ growling guitar and Dusty Hill’s thumping bass laying down the groove while Frank Beard keeps the beat. The songs are all classics, from the opening riff of “La Grange” to the slide guitar workout of “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” to the stomping boogie of “Tush”. This is an essential album for any fan of hard rock or blues-rock.
Asleep at the Wheel – Western Swingin’ Party: Live from Mountain Stage
Asleep at the Wheel is one of the most successful and enduring bands in country music history, with a career spanning over 50 years. The Wheel has won nine Grammy Awards, released over 30 albums, and had 20 singles on the Billboard country charts. The band’s founder and leader, Ray Benson, is a true icon in the world of country music, and his influence can be heard in the music of Asleep at the Wheel to this day.
The Wheel’s latest release, Western Swingin’ Party: Live from Mountain Stage, is a live album recorded during the band’s recent appearance on the popular radio show Mountain Stage. The album captures the spirit and energy of The Wheel’s live shows, and features some of their classic songs like “Miles and Miles of Texas” and “The Letter That Johnny Walker Read”. Western Swingin’ Party is a must-have for any fan of Asleep at the Wheel, and is sure to get your feet moving and your toes tapping.
The Gourds – Bolsa de Agua
The Gourds – Bolsa de Agua
If you like The Gourds, then you will love this album. It’s a collection of traditional Mexican songs done in The Gourds’ own inimitable style. The arrangements are interesting and the playing is, as always, top-notch.
The stand-out tracks for me are “La Cucaracha” and “La Bamba.” The former is a rollicking good time, with some great slide guitar work from Kevin Russell. The latter is a more subdued take on the classic Mexican folk song, with an absolutely gorgeous lead vocal from Jimmy Dale Gilmore.
This is a fun album that’s sure to please fans of The Gourds and traditional Mexican music alike. Definitely worth checking out.
The Flatlanders – More a Legend Than a Band
The Flatlanders – More a Legend Than a Band is an album by The Flatlanders. It was released in 1972 on the Rounder Records label.
The album is a collection of previously unreleased recordings made by the band in 1970 and 1971. The songs were recorded in various studios in Texas and Nashville, Tennessee.
The album was reissued on CD in 1990 by Rhino Records.
The Flatlanders are an American country music group formed in Lubbock, Texas, in 1972. The group’s original lineup consisted of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock, and Joe Ely. The trio first met as students at Lubbock High School in the late 1950s.
Gilmore and Hancock began playing together as a duo in the early 1960s. They released their first single, “I’m a Ramblin’ Man”, in 1967. Ely joined the duo shortly thereafter.
The group released one self-titled album in 1972 before disbanding. Gilmore and Ely pursued solo careers, while Hancock continued to record and perform with other artists, including The Frames and Calexico.
The Flatlanders reunited in 2002 and have since released three studio albums: More a Legend Than a Band (2002), Wheels of Fortune (2004), and Hills and Valleys (2010).
The Dixie Chicks – Wide Open Spaces
The Dixie Chicks are one of the most popular and successful country music groups of all time. They have sold over 30 million records and won 13 Grammy Awards. Their 1998 album, Wide Open Spaces, was a massive success, selling over 12 million copies in the United States alone. It is considered one of the best country albums of all time.
The album’s lead single, “There’s Your Trouble”, was a huge hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Country charts and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, “Wide Open Spaces”, was even more successful, spending four weeks at #1 on the Country charts and becoming one of the biggest crossover hits in country music history, reaching #4 on the Hot 100. The album’s third single, “You Were Mine”, was another huge hit, reaching #1 on the Country charts and #5 on the Hot 100.
Wide Open Spaces was met with widespread critical acclaim. Allmusic gave the album 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it “a near-perfect record” and “one of the great country albums of the ’90s.” The Los Angeles Times called it “a triumph” and praised the Dixie Chicks for their “maturity and confidence.” Rolling Stone gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and said that it was “full of good old-fashioned country fun.”
The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, making the Dixie Chicks only the second country music group to ever win that award (after Alison Krauss & Union Station). It was also nominated for six CMA Awards and won three, including Single of the Year for “Wide Open Spaces”.
In recent years, the Dixie Chicks have faced some backlash from fans for their political views. But despite all of that, they remain one of the most successful and popular country music groups in the world. And Wide Open Spaces is still considered one of their best albums.
Lyle Lovett – I Love Everybody
Lyle Lovett’s third album, I Love Everybody, was released in 1994, and it’s a gem. It’s a bit more polished and produced than his first two albums, but that’s not a bad thing. The songs are top-notch, and Lovett’s voice is as smooth as ever.
The album opens with the title track, a fun little ditty about how Lovett loves everyone, even the “big fat guy” who “eats too much.” It sets the tone for the rest of the album, which is full of love songs, both lighthearted and serious.
Highlights include “She’s No Lady,” a rollicking ode to a independent woman, and “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas),” a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Lovett’s home state. But the real standout is “North Dakota,” a beautiful ballad about lost love. It’s one of the most gorgeous songs Lovett has ever written, and it’ll break your heart.
I Love Everybody is a terrific album from start to finish. If you’re a fan of Lyle Lovett, or just great songwriting in general, it’s essential listening.
The Refreshments – Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Blue
The Refreshments were an American rock band, formed in Tempe, Arizona in 1992. The band’s original lineup consisted of lead singer and guitarist Roger Clyne, bassist Bill Elm, and drummer Paul “P.J.” Jones. The Refreshments were best known for their 1996 single “Banditos”, which peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The band released three studio albums: Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy (1996), The Bottle & Fresh Horses (1998), and Roll Out (2000). The Refreshments toured extensively throughout the United States during the 1990s and early 2000s, opening for such artists as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and the Dave Matthews Band. The band also performed at a number of major music festivals, including Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.
In 2006, the Refreshments announced that they were breaking up. Since then, Clyne has continued to perform and record as a solo artist. In 2016, the Refreshments reunited for a one-off show in Tempe to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut album.
The Refreshments were known for their catchy, hook-laden songs and energetic live performances. Their music was a blend of pop, rock, country, and punk influences. The band was also praised for their clever lyrics, which often contained humor and social commentary.
The Refreshments were one of the most popular bands to come out of the 1990s alternative country scene. They achieved commercial success with their debut album, Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy, which featured the hit single “Banditos”. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and received positive reviews from critics.
The Refreshments’ follow-up album, The Bottle & Fresh Horses, was not as successful as its predecessor, but still managed to sell over half a million copies worldwide. The band’s third and final album, Roll Out, was released in 2000 to mixed reviews. It failed to match the commercial success of the previous two albums and ultimately led to the band’s breakup in 2006.
Despite their relatively short career, the Refreshments left a lasting impact on the music world. Their debut album is considered a classic of the 1990s alternative country movement. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked the band’s song “Banditos” at No. 34 on its list of the 100 Greatest Country Songs of All Time.