17. From The Prairie
17. From The Prairie (original release 2005)
Wayward Wind - Five Foot Woman - 16 Tons – Nice Country Song - plus tributes to The Sons Of The Pioneers: Cool Waters, Riders In The Sky, Tumblin' Tumbleweeds and Bob Wills: Faded Love, Corrine Corrina, Deep Water, Troublin' Mind, Old Fashion Love, Bring It On Down To My House, Time Changes Everything, Yearning, Misery, Take Me Back To Tulsa, Steel Guitar Rag
BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL have earned many nicknames over more than 20 years on the road. They have been called, "A Brass Kickin' Band", "The Midwest's Premier Showband", "The World's Funkiest Cowboy Band", "The Brass Band from the Grassland”, and "The Big Band from the Prairie", but they still remain one of America's best kept secret. In the 1990's, they began touring with legendary country acts, and worked as the backup band for music legends like Ferlin Husky, Dick Curless, Bobby Helms, and LeRoy Van Dyke. They did several tours with their all-time favorite groups, "The Sons of the Pioneers", and, "Riders In The Sky". This album showcases the cowboy and western side of BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL. When Britt was about 8-years old, one of the first popular songs that he sang in public was, "The Wayward Wind", which has some autobiographical parts to it. Britt has always been, "the next of kin to The Wayward Wind". It could almost be considered his theme song. Britt's deep bass notes are showcased once again by, "16 Tons", a song made famous by Tennessee Ernie Ford, but Britt adds some extra "really low" notes. The Canadian influence pops up again with, "Five Foot Woman", written by George Brothers, a musician in Nova Scotia, in a band called, "Ole Blue". He also wrote “A Nice Country Song”. He just made it up right on stage one night, when a drunk in the audience yelled, "Play a nice country song", so George did just that. A concert promoter asked Britt to arrange a medley of songs by the Kings of Western Swing, "Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys". The medley turned out to be a big hit on the tour circuit, so the group put it on this album. With vocals by Britt, Mark, & Becky, and a frantically-paced version of, "Steel Guitar Rag", by Stan, the medley of western swing tunes by Bob Wills brings the album "From The Prairie" to an exciting close. When BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL toured with "The Sons of the Pioneers", the "Sons" were celebrating their 65th year together. When they heard the BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL recording of their songs, they wrote a letter telling the group, "You recorded our songs just like we always wanted to hear them recorded.” That was a major compliment. And then on top of that, during the tours the "Sons" had BRITT SMALL & FESTIVAL join them onstage to sing the finale of each concert. It was a dream comes true. So, this album contains the tribute medley of songs by "The Sons of the Pioneers".