Album Review – Dale Watson and Ray Benson’s “Dale & Ray”
It was bound to happen at some point. It’s almost strange it took so long. Two guys who have long called Austin, TX their main haunt, and who have made careers out of steadfastly sticking to their guns in their particular styles of country music, be damned of the financial ramifications, what fleeting trends come and go, or what Nashville thinks of it all, joining forces on a duets record where their twin baritone voices are allowed to flourish in a tandem of traditional country greatness.
Though country traditionalist Dale Watson, and Western Swing ringleader and frontman for Asleep at the Wheel Ray Benson have certainly been crossing paths for many years in Texas and beyond, it’s just been in the last few years where a true friendship has clearly emerged. In 2014, Dale Watson started his Ameripolitan genre and awards, and one of the first distinctions he chose to dole out was for the best Western Swing proprietors of our time. Ray Benson, the current caretaker of the Western Swing sub-genre, didn’t have to be sold on the idea. In 2016, Ray Benson became the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Ameripolitan Awards held every February in Austin, and a working collaboration and close friendship ensued.
Dale & Ray do still make a little bit of an odd couple though. Dale Watson is not sawed off or anything, but he’s slightly shorter of stature. Ray Benson on the other hand is a mountain of a man. Ray comes from the dope-smoking “cowboys and hippies” generation of early Austin music, while Dale Watson has always played it pretty straight laced. But sometimes it’s the odd couple that fits perfectly together, and the duo plays off both their musical similarities and cultural differences in the slightly humorous title track of this ten track collaboration, which started as a stage gag for the Ameripolitan Awards, and slowly morphed into the idea for this album.
Humor, and a love for traditional country are the recurring themes of Dale & Ray. The duo pays homage to the recently-passed Merle Haggard in the second song on the album, “Feelin’ Haggard,” and they eulogize their love for Buck Owens on “Cryin’ for Cryin’ Time Again” referencing the old Bakersfield B-side standard. The humor emerges in songs like “Bus’ Breakdown,” which is a fast-paced tune similar to one you may be used to hearing on one of Dale’s Truckin’ Sessions installments, and the Western Swing-structured “Nobody’s Ever Down in Texas.” Dale & Ray definitely has a playful, lighthearted feel to it, punctuated by the well-written and timely “Forget About Tomorrow Today.”
With the talent of Dale Watson’s ultra-tight touring trio, and the extended family of musicians comprising the main lineup and auxiliary of Asleep at the Wheel, you knew the musicianship of Dale & Ray would be spot on. The duo also chooses to record a couple of covers—The Louvin Brothers’ “I Wish You Knew,” and Willie Nelson’s “Write Your Own Songs,” which is a little awkward when you get to the lines chastising country’s traditionalists, which folks like Dale & Ray—who’ve both been outspoken about the quality and direction today’s country—comprise for this generation.
The folly of Dale & Ray would be to take it too seriously. This isn’t two titans of traditional country coming together to bring Nashville to its knees. It’s two guys who like to kid each other and have a good time chumming around in the studio for the enjoyment of themselves and whomever chooses to listen in. In that respect, some of the songwriting is a little cheesy and cliche, especially in the first two songs. And though a few of the other selections rise above your average side project fare, you do get a sense Dale & Ray saved some of their best material for upcoming main projects.
Now that so many titans of country music have left us, especially in the last year, it’s up to the second generation of stalwarts to keep it all moving forward. Dale Watson and Ray Benson are two men who’ve always put the music ahead of their personal goals, and though this record will probably not register at the top of either man’s musical legacy, it is fun to hear them together for the first time, and having such a good time in the process.
1 1/2 Guns Up (7/10)
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Mike2
January 9, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
Is “Write Your Own Songs” really chastising country’s traditionalists? I always assumed that reference to “Mr. purified country” was referring to the non-traditional countrypolitan sound of the era.
Trigger
January 9, 2017 @ 9:12 pm
I’ve always felt that song was misinterpreted. At the time Willie and Waylon were being criticized for being too rock by country critics and industry types. But I guess that’s open for interpretation.
Luckyoldsun
January 11, 2017 @ 9:51 pm
I never thought of it too deeply.
But in the first verse, Willie calls the person he’s speaking to “Mr. Music Executive” and then in the next verse he calls him (assuming he’s still addressing the same guy) “Mr. Purified Country.”
I’ve gotta agree with Mike that Willie’s talking about the people who were in power in the country recording industry at that time and the narrow boundaries that they were trying to impose on artists.
Lyrics
We write what we live and we live what we write is that wrong
If you think it is Mr. Music Executive
Why don’t you write your own songs
Mr. Purified Country don’t you know what the whole things about
Is your head up your ass so far that you can’t pull it out
The world’s getting smaller and everyone in it belongs
And if you can’t see that Mr. Purified Country
Why don’t you just write your own songs
jessie with the long hair
January 9, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
That’s a lot of fun! I love hearing them singing together. What a great idea.
Jacob Ware
January 9, 2017 @ 8:37 pm
Man, I love those teles. I hadn’t ever thought of Dale Watson as straight laced; more as hard drinkin, motorcycle riding, troubadour that might be genius or batshit crazy. Ray Benson is a champion like SCM of independent, Americana, Tx and roots country. See Texas Music Scene every Saturday. I don’t own any of his albums, but have watched a lot of his performances(including the movie The Roadie lol). But I will buy this album cause I think Dale might have been created in a lab with the dna of Johnny Cash, Elvis, George Jones, and a little bit of Waylon. This looks pretty cool.
D
January 10, 2017 @ 4:38 am
Yeah, Dale as straight laced sounded strange to me. He loves to clown, clearly loves to drink and as it turns out, shock! Likes to smoke pot as he and Ray sinG about on the new album.
Trigger
January 10, 2017 @ 8:23 am
I guess what I meant there is he’s not one to partake in the wacky tabacky or anything like that. I’m not saying he’s straight edge, just that he’s got Jesus tattoos and is probably not going to take the pills you hand him. He’ll crack a Lone Star at 11 a.m. though.
Ryan
January 13, 2017 @ 8:08 am
Always found that interesting, I am sure times will change it, but wacky tabacky at 11 am is much less damaging than a lone star at 11 am.
Bertox
January 13, 2017 @ 9:49 am
In moderation, neither is particularly damaging. But where’s the fun in that? As Kinky Freedman says, “Find what you love and let it kill you.”
hoptowntiger94@gmail.com
January 10, 2017 @ 1:47 am
I don’t know. Maybe I went into this project taking it a little too serious (like you stated not to), but I hate it. No disrespect to either of these icons, but it feels mailed in, flat, and uninspired. On some of the tracks, they sound like they are just going through the motions. And there’s no doubt, most of these songs were found on the cutting floor.
I had high hopes for this album, so I’m very disappointed. But, these kind of projects seldom pan out.
Trigger
January 10, 2017 @ 9:34 am
I can understand that assessment. As I said in the review, if you’re hoping for something groundbreaking, you’ll be mightily disappointed. But as a fun side project, I think it works and has some good songs to take away from it. I agree they could have put more effort out and really made this something more memorable.
Kevin Smith
January 10, 2017 @ 8:38 am
I have tickets to their upcoming show in Ohio. Can’t wait to see what it sounds like live. Maybe they will each do some of their own material as well as the album duets. I’m sure it’ll be great. Dale is always excellent.
seak05
January 10, 2017 @ 8:42 am
Hey Trigger any plans to review the Natalie Hemby album?
Trigger
January 10, 2017 @ 9:32 am
It’s definitely on the radar and will be considered for review. Just depends if I feel like I have anything interesting to say about it or not.
The Senator
January 10, 2017 @ 8:45 am
I’ve got tickets to see them on their current tour, should be a great time.
Corncaster
January 10, 2017 @ 4:58 pm
Damn, I remember when Dale played a place on the outskirts of Madison, WI, around 1990 or so. Short guy, black hair, thin from being on the road. Good then, good now. His band handled every request with pleasure.
Leon Blair
January 11, 2017 @ 9:11 am
I honestly found this to be a grower of an album. In terms of their vocals…well they have a lot of chemistry, and while I know they aren’t exactly giving energetic, fun performances (meaning their showing their ages as singers), I still think it’s a fun album overall. I think the writing has the energy you need for this type of project. Yeah, it’s not as good as Randy and Wade’s buddy album, but I’d argue the front half of this album is stronger than many will give it credit for.
Leon Blair
January 11, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Ugh, “they’re” showing their ages.