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For the Last Time documents two historic moments in American music: The last time Bob Wills would ever attend or participate in a recording session -- he never made the final day of the session, having suffered a severe stroke the night before -- and the reunion of the great Texas Playboys, who began in the 1930s and recorded and toured together through the beginning of World War II. All living members were present, as well as Texas Playboy-for-a-day Merle Haggard, who drove all night from Chicago to make the session (he literally begged Wills to be a part of the sessions). These sessions took place on December 3 and 4, 1973, in Dallas, a short ride from Wills' home, with most of the '30s and '40s band in place, including Leon McAuliffe and Leon Rausch acting as vocalists for the lion's share of the material, with Wills singing on six tracks and Haggard guesting on three and playing fiddle as part of the string section. Haggard's singing on "Texas Playboy Theme" is particularly moving, and one can hear the pride in his voice as Wills gives his patented "ahhhhhh-haaaaaaawwwww!" to show his own pleasure with the proceedings. Wills was seated in the center of the band and actually directed it from his wheelchair. What is most remarkable is that on certain cuts -- such as "Blue Bonnet Lane," a track recorded for a movie in 1942 and not performed since -- the band nailed it on one take. Tommy Allsup's production is flawless in that it is so minimal it's almost as if the band were playing in the listener's living room. He captures the warmth, immediacy, and overwhelming emotion in the proceedings as they happen on such Texas Playboy classics as "San Antonio Rose," "Faded Love," "What Makes Bob Holler," "Big Ball's in Cowtown," "Bubbles in My Beer," "That's What I Like About the South," "Milk Cow Blues," "Twin Guitar Boogie," and "When You Leave Amarillo," just to name a few. Fiddle great Hoyle and son Jody Nix actually guest on a couple of tracks in the vocal seat, and Wills gives them his approving nod with his drawling yodel. In all, this is far from the lame tribute record we see so frequently these days; this is a deeply moving and inspiringly executed presentation of Bob Wills as not only a bandleader, but as an innovator and mentor. In other words, it is the only fitting tribute possible, with the man still very much alive sitting among his bandmates for the very last time. ~ Thom Jurek
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys includes: Bob Wills (vocals, conductor), Tommy Duncan (vocals), Leon McAuliffe (steel guitar), Johnny Gimble, Eldon Shamblin.
Liner Note Author: Charlie R. Townsend.
Recording information: Sunset-Burnet Studio, Dallas, TX.
Personnel: Bob Wills (vocals).
Bob Wills / Wills, Bob & His Texas Playboys - For The Last Time Songs
| 1 | Playboy Theme | | | |
| 2 | Yearning (Just for you) See All 2 | | | |
| 3 | Faded Love  | | | |
| 4 | What Makes Bob Holler | | | |
| 5 | Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer) | | | |
| 6 | Goin' Away Party | | | |
| 7 | Big Ball's in Cowtown * See All 2 | 2:09 | $0.99 | (From different album) |
| 8 | Keeper Of My Heart See All 2 | | | |
| 9 | Twin Guitar Boogie | | | |
| 10 | Bubbles in My Beer See All 2 | | | |
| 11 | Blue Bonnet Lane See All 2 | | | |
| 12 | When You Leave Amarillo (Turn off the Lights) | | | |
| 13 | San Antonio Rose * See All 3 | 2:48 | $1.29 | (From different album) |
| 14 | I Wonder If You Feel the Way I Do See All 3 | | | |
| 15 | My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You | | | |
| 16 | Miss Molly See All 2 | | | |
| 17 | I Can't Go On This Way See All 2 | | | |
| 18 | That's What I Like About the South See All 3 | | | |
| 19 | Silver Lake Blues See All 2 | | | |
| 20 | Milk Cow Blues * See All 3 | 2:23 | $0.99 | (From different album) |
| 21 | Comin' Down from Denver | | | |
| 22 | Baby, That Would Sure Go Good | | | |
| 23 | She's Really Gone | | | |
| 24 | Crippled Turkey | | | |
| (*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for. |
For The Last Time Music Review
Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)   great steel guitar
the back up band was great!!!!
Submitted by ritzul_a (fairfield, ct.) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No For the purest
I cried through the entire cd. This is the must have CD for any true Bob Wills fan. You can hear the emotions of the musicians voices as they recognized this was the last time they would all play together. Unbelievably haunting Bob Wills.
Submitted by a reviewer (Chicago, IL)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No I'VE ALWAYS LOVED BOB WILLS
Well! Where to begin. If you've got any Texas soul then you can jest hunker down with Bob and Tommy and the boys and commence to toe tappin' and singin' along with the GREAT TD, and I don't mean Tommy Dorsey. I'm a-talkin' 'bout Tommy Duncan. My only regret about this album is that they didn't throw on eof my favorite Bob tunes, Old Fashioned Love, in, but you can only squeeze so many good-uns in there fer sure. My hope is that some of these younger folks, who have a musical appreciation for great rhythm and soulfelt lyrical lines would jump abard the Bob Wills Western swing bandwagon and go for a ride. They'd never be the same for it! I was so afflicted with Bob I named my first born James Robert after him. I've got just about everything Bob ever recorded and For The Last Time, for me, just reaches out and grabs at my hearstrings leavin' me more than a wee-bit misty-eyed. I dedicate this simple review to my good, late friend Joe Andrews, who sang with Bob. Bob was an amalgam of black blues, dixieland and so many other forms and comin' from the poor roots he did was a real slice of what we call Americana. For me ole Texas Red Steagall in is rendition of "Bob got a Swing Band in Heaven" says it all for us true blue fans of the real King of Western Swing. Hold him close Lord for he was truly one of a kind.
Submitted by bobweiss (Grand & Glorious Empire of Texas, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Music to Cut Your Teeth On
I was first introduced to this album almost the time it was released,.... althought back in the early 1970's Country music wasn't exactly cool,.... Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Linda Rondstat were the exception for the contemporary listener. Who knew that those musical influences were fostered by the likes of the incomprable stylings of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys?
This album is both a tribute album and an anthology from someone who has virtually influenced music in a way that can be shared by only Hank Williams.
At the time of this recording, Bob Will's health was failing,... the recording studio was booked for two days,.... All the previous members of the Texas Playboys were in attendence to record this album. Playing fiddle from his wheelchair, Bob Wills played with spirit hollaring as he always does when the music hits a sweet note. However, Bob Will's health was too poor to make it on the second day of recording All the musicians present for the second day knew a page had turned in their lives. Bob Will's never entered the recording studio again. The second day of recording there are audible moments of emotion from the musicians; voices were cracking;,... the music became almost like a wake,....at times spirited, and at other times mournful. In this way, "For the Last Time" is truely like two distinct works where on the first album Bob Wills is present and the second one the Texas Playboys are left eulogizing his legacy.
This is one of the most beautiful recordings
I have owned over the years,... and I rank it above almost all others in Country and Western in addition to any other genre of music (and my tastes are broad). Buy this CD,... From it you can get a sense of musical cross-overs of jazz, big band, blues as well as Bob Will's own innovations in the Country music field of 'Western Swing'. It is too bad the Texas Playboys only played together 50 years,.... they could have been something. I jest,... they allowed me to enjoy so many other styles of music,... and primarily due to this album/CD.
BUY IT!
Submitted by orion (Regina, Saskatchewan, CANADA)
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