Released to coincide with Will's tour of the UK during September 2018 (see http://www.willbanister.com/Will_Banister/Welcome.html for details) This album title tells the story - a collection of recordings that cover the early years of the Portales, New Mexico artist who discovered that British country fans like their music the real thing.
Will Banister came, saw and conquered back in 2012 when, as a total unknown, he played Wembley’s International Festival of Country Music and received a wildly enthusiastic standing ovation, many saying he overshadowed the headlining Reba McEntire and Ricky Skaggs. Daily Telegraph reviewer Douglas McPherson critiqued: “The most memorable moment [of the festival] found 23 year old Will Banister wowing the crowd with a sublimely straightforward Lovesick Blues. Sixty-three years after Hank Williams sang the same song, it was proof that country, like rock 'n' roll, will never die."
Then, as the Banister devotees will know, he’s been taking time away from his home schedules, to return to British shores and further build his popularity with several short tours.
He runs against the grain of contemporary country music. Whereas Nashville has morphed country into a pop/rock hybrid, and its young contenders sell their music to pop and rock audiences (incidentally, at the same time, thoroughly distorting the term “country music”), Will Banister keeps his music to traditional roots. He first fell under the music’s spell when, as a child, he listened to his family’s Hank Williams record collection. Then he made his own discoveries with iconic superstars like Lefty Frizzell, Marty Robbins and Merle Haggard.
He started singing when he was ten and, within a fairly short time, began creating songs himself with “Turned Her On To Country” being one of his earliest compositions to create a buzz. It was also of the title of his debut cd, released in 2010, that caught the attention of country enthusiasts on our side of the Atlantic.
This collection of previously unreleased recordings reveal how it all began, songs that Will Banister sang on stage before developing his skill as a songwriter with original material that well belied his tender years. And, as a bonus, the cd presents the chance to relive that astounding Wembley stage debut.
TONY BYWORTH
.......................................TRACKS...........................................................................THE RACE IS ON; IS ANYBODY GOING TO SAN ANTONE?; MIAMI, MY AMY; DIM LIGHTS, THICK SMOKE (AND LOUD, LOUD MUSIC); GOOD TIME CHARLIE’S GOT THE BLUES; MILK COW BLUES; TEACH ME TO FORGET; BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS; BANDY THE RODEO CLOWN; THE SEASHORES OF OLD MEXICO; TURN IT ON, TURN IT UP, TURN ME LOOSE; BONUS TRACKS: Recorded at International Festival of Country Music, Wembley Arena, North London. (February 26, 2012); TURNED HER ON TO COUNTRY; GIVE ME ONE MINUTE; LOVESICK BLUES; WHITE LIGHTNING; YOU REMIND ME; I’VE NEVER BEEN ANY OTHER WAY; TURN ME LOOSE |
