Pee Wee King

Pee Wee King's Country Hoedown – 1999 (Bloodshot Revival/Soundies)

Reviewed by Stuart Munro

CDs by Pee Wee King

This is the fourth in the Revival series of radio transcriptions issued jointly by the Bloodshot and Soundies labels, and they're still batting a thousand with the double-disc release of 51 songs and two hours of music.

In a way, "Country Hoedown" is a misnomer. There's an impressive variety of music here: western stuff, country, polkas and fiddle songs, swing, and goofy novelty tunes. But what dominates is a pop sound; in the words of the grandaddy of country music scholarship, Bill Malone (who provides liner notes), "we hear a body of music that anticipated the country-pop sounds of the late fifties and early sixties" (songs like "Hog Wild Too," complete with pig-snorting sounds, keep things from getting too urbane, however). That sound is due in no small part to the smooth-as-churned-butter vocals of King's long-time singer Redd Stewart, which are front-and-center throughout; as well, Stewart contributes via the songwriting front as a frequent writing partner with King, who wrote or co-wrote most of the songs included.

The release of this album rectifies the existing paucity of available material from King, and it's also a rewarding collection in its own right.