Asleep At The Wheel

Album: The Wheel

Release Date: 1977

The Wheel is the fifth album from Asleep at the Wheel and the original core lineup has gelled into a formidable force. The ensemble has expanded to include eleven total musicians, including two sax players that bring a pronounced jazziness to the recording. The result is an eclectic mix of songs that were recorded “basically live” and capture the boisterous spirit of a honky tonk. This album fits in the Jazz section of your collection and plays nicely in succession with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and Count Basie. It fits as easily in the Country section and plays nicely in succession with Waylon Jennings and Commander Cody. It’s a versatile, timeless album that shows off the depth of talent that makes Asleep at the Wheel legendary performers on the Texas music scene.

Asleep at the Wheel are a band that have had many, many chapters. This album captures the band as they are approaching the end of the first one. Soon, this lineup would splinter, leaving Ray Benson to pick up the pieces and a forge a new path forward. This is a special lineup for the band. These are the men (and woman) that were on the front lines of establishing the cosmic cowboy sound that Austin was famous for in the seventies. They rocked the stage of the Armadillo World Headquarters, the Broken Spoke, and the Soap Creek Saloon. All iterations of the band are good, but this one is special.

In classic AOTW fashion, they paid tribute to Bob Wills by recording the album in the same studio where he recorded his final one. It’s the first album from the band that consists entirely of original material. It was a well received album that climbed to thirty-one on the country charts and grabbed two Grammy nominations. There are some standout songs on the album – I particularly enjoy “Am I High?” and “A Dollar Short, and a Day Late.” It featured the first release of Leroy’s song “My Baby Think She’s a Train” which Roseanne Cash would later take to number one on the charts.

The Manhattan

The Manhattan is a simple cocktail that contains only three ingredients: whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. The classic recipe is provided below but you can decrease the amount of vermouth to create a drier drink or increase it for a slightly sweeter rendition. Adding a dash of Luxardo cherry liqueur strays from the classic recipe but adds a pleasant dimension if you are feeling adventurous. (For more context on Luxardo’s role in the history of the cocktail, check out the recipe for it’s “parent cocktail” The Martinez.)

When a drink is simple the technique used in mixing becomes part of the recipe. How much ice you put in the shaker and how long you stir determines how much water is included in the final product. How heavy your dash of bitters is impacts the spice level. How much syrup you include when dropping the cherry garnish varies the level of sweetness. Perfection is in the execution.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Rye whiskey or bourbon
• 1 oz Sweet vermouth
• 2-3 dashes bitters
• Luxardo cherry for garnish

Instructions:

• Fill shaker with ice
• Add whiskey, vermouth, and bitters and stir for 30 seconds
• Strain into martini glass
• Garnish with cherry