Asleep At The Wheel on Austin City Limits

[Drumr56]

smokkin'.........



[barriedude1]

Great Band and a great tune by Cindy Walker

[gear6911]

Been listening to Micahel Buble's version but both Michael's and Ray's are terrific. Nice to see different genres of music come together.

[attymsd1]

This is an absolutely fantastic band!

[lesterwyoung]

Jon Doyle, one of Austin's jazz treasures, on tenor saxophone.

[MyFreeHomeSearches]

Always awesome. Enjoy the distinct tyle.

[cyoteblues]

Hands down the best version of this song.

[pro3tlb]

Cindy is a true master of the steel guitar. She is one of the best I've ever heard using the volume pedal and touch and tone. I think Jerry Byrd is smiling down from Heaven.

[db95018]

used to see them at the Catylst in Santa Cruz CA, were so great

[kcuhca1953]

next to dixieland jazz, i'll take this stuff! austin city limits used to have great

country western music, but like our political leaders they have gone to hell!

[sixpakshaker88]

Even though these guys are mainly a cover band, they are just phenomenally talented musicians.

[aog1251]

why can't i play the videos

[ceeza314]

Ray Benson has so much swag..

[pro3tlb]

Although he is associated mostly with Texas and Texas Swing music Ray Benson is originally from a small town in Pennsylvania called Selinsgrove.

[steveyraynelson]

I used to have a triple neck Fender when I was a kid, learned steel on that thing. Belonged to my uncle.

[quinsedlethorpid]

nothing sexier than a sexy lady on slide

[MegaSqrl]

thanx to ASATW for almost single handed have kept WS music alive, love ya' Ray!!!!

[Yeadaki]

I saw them on this our at Gruene Hall. I stood right up against the stage looking up at Cindy all night. What a great show. I'll always cherish the memory of that night.

[propellerdiver]

Cindy Cashdollar knows just where to drop the notes without hogging the spotlight. That's why bands love her. Her slide is alway tuned right, tasteful and sweet. Five time Grammy winner: a "musicians' musician".

[wmbt62]

@propellerdiver She's an excellent steel player with a great touch. BTW, that's not a "slide" she's playing in this video. It's a triple neck T8 Fender Stringmaster non-pedal steel guitar. More recently she's been playing a triple neck T8 Remington Steelmaster. She does play a good bit of Dobro stuff too, but those are not usually referred to as slides either.

[littlepiaf]

Oh the great Cindy Cashdollar on steel...Love the hair!

[Patsik]

@littlepiaf ...Crystal Carrington....?

[loungecruz]

go Cindy

[TheUnclebobby75]

i could literally feel it

[lynrray]

Hey we hear this stuff all the time on the first Thursday night of the month at the Stars Over Texas Jamboree in Waco, Tx. It is great . Oh the location is the Lee Lockwood Library 2801 West Waco Drive

[MustangCoupe1951]

I wish ACL would return to their roots - Americana, Alt Country, and swing. They need a shake up in their management fer sure. It is a national institution which was far more enjoyable on a regular basis than anything on television. Now they go for pop crapola. Where are the greats you saw once a week?

[namelessrevisited]

This is just about the finest example of musical craftsmanship I have ever watched and listened to.

[2253glen]

Really cool. I guess I'm just an old fart 'cause you sure as hell can't find anything like it, or anything I'd like to watch, on Aus.CityLim. today. Man, they put on some crap now.

[southernrockfan1]

pure magic love it thank you

[mendodawg]

Such a FINE rendition!

[kurocker1]

This quality music ,and there ability to interperit the song , it's the hight of real

excellence , Ray has the voice the skill ,and all superb muscians they don't beat

you up they emote and produce some very pleasing sounds .

Texsas Swing could never be better .

[pwea1]

... Bro Ray an Co. makes the aug and dim chords ring so well, tieing in the whole package to a totally romantic, timeless tune written by the great songstress Cindy Walker  ... thanks for the great post , @pwea

[icefire65]

Ha! I'm going to see them tonight at the woodlands!

[capitalismforme]

With the most sincerity, without putting my credentials on a public forum and to save from embarrassing myself, Ray Benson is the best musicologist I've ever known of in my generation; post 1970. Regardless of genre.

[FreedomZealot]

This is KILLING me, it's so gorgeous. Someone should erect a shrine to these guys.

[Igmont]

Great song... never heard this before.

[hootowlholler]

That was just what my ears needed. Thanks, guys.

[terrryc]

The best overlooked band in the business, regardless of style or gendre...

[LRooster4Prez]

@terrryc amen!

[dandamagetoo]

always loved every note these guys ever played or sang. Nothing quite like a bunch of musicians that can really play doing the stuff they love.

[brisketslapper]

Great Cindy Walker tune done by Ray Benson. Nice Cindy Cashdollar steel guitar too!

[JohnDilao]

A@TW has always been an innovative and versatile band. They're professional all the way. This is what is all about. Hats off to Asleep At The Wheel.

[SpartacusFrye]

gotta love the sound of that tele! looks great too.

[shakeypitt]

@SpartacusFrye That's what being in the hands of a Master does for a Tele!

[BruceHamiltonMusic]

I've heard a lot of people cover this tune and I think Ray and the Wheel just nailed this one. Until I heard this my favorite was the Ray Charles version.

[dgtxdutch]

Another great song from the pen of the beautiful Cindy Walker of Mexia Texas.

[Mattea68]

absolute best group for Country Swing, no one else copares

[dgtxdutch]

@Mattea68 Have you ever been to a dance by Jody Nix, Bobby Flores, Billy Mata or Jake Hooker? ALL pretty hard to beat on the REAL hardcore Western Swing!

[hutchi13]

Great Vocal Ray Could you be singing about that girl next to you?

[KennyKaufman]

I was a hard core rock & roller until I saw them on ACL in about 1973. It was like a religious transformation. Within a month, I had gone out and bought a pedal steel guitar and was playin' country and western swing. Still one of my favorite bands ever and Cindy Cashdollar has no equal on steel guitar.

[stuka52]

I accidently saw Asleep at The Wheel about 15 years ago. I was given two free tickets to see Willy Nelson. (I'm not a country music fan by any means) but the price was right. Asleep was the opening act, for me they stole the show. Three songs into Willys set I was asleep. He did bring them back out for a jam session though.

[hd343]

WOW, IF THAT DON,T BUILD A FIRE INSIDE YOUR SOUL, WOW

[Tmar1970]

Cindy Cashdollar is awesome.

[jonnythegreek1]

Sweet!

[OkinQel]

This is the worst trash thing i ve ever seen in my life.

[Sointula2]

@OkinQel There has to be an edge on this side too eh. Guys that are trying to get 'out there' playing death metal (or whatever it is these days) are only 'out there' relative to our ol' pal Ray. Keep in mind, the universe abhors a void - and Ray for sure did his share that night.

[anarubric]

really great band

!!!i wish i could see one of their performances

[Bigdaddyshideout]

I was born in the late 60's and I love this band. My wife and I traveled from Mckinney, Tx to San Angelo for my 30th birthday and she surprised me tonight and told me tomorrow night we will see them at House of Blues in Houston tomorrow night. Anyone that doesn't like ASATW can kiss my successful redneck ass!!!!!!!

[HABU52]

Austin City Limits has caved in and catered to the new generation who want to hear talentless people dance around the stage and play the three chords they know over and over while screaming into the microphone....

[joeshittheragman1]

Ray

[davnjan73]

If you don't love Ray Benson's voice you gotta be dead inside. Thanks Ray

[68sgstandard]

Austin City Limits sucks today.

[mspartimarti]

@68sgstandard

stop the hate

[DivideByeZero]

Great solo at 3:29!

Fantastic post, thanks so much.

[joeyguitarlo]

I love the guitar intro. Sweet

[1SmartCoquette]

Asleep At The Wheel -- my favorite Western Swing Band!!!!!

[mb19512002]

Cindy and Ray make it all happen for me. Missed them when I was living in davenport, ca.

[pelfly963]

I've always loved this western swing band!

[littlewashyo]

playing on march 19th kickapoo lucky eagle casino

[tiaregirl]

I saw this band called Asleep at the Wheel about a thousand years ago in Santa Cruz California.

I always thought that they were a local band there, and yet, here is the same(?) reincarnated??

Does any one know if this is the same band?

[joannajetson]

Well, they lived in the Bay Area in the early '70s, and I saw them at the Palomino in LA about that time. They've gone through about a million personnel changes since then - I think Ray Benson (the tall hippie-cowboy) might be the only original member!

[sully1615]

Are they the "Austin City Limits" band?

[revsonny]

There is no "Austin City Limits band". This group has been around for a long time, based primarily in Texas. Very popular in the Lone Star State.

[wlfee1969]

just heard this band on xm ("willie's place).

played the song "this ol' cowboy"

Damn, not bad for a remake!!!

[JohnDavis45]

When it got to 5.14 Was he really gonna sing S.O.B.!!!!??? yep! I reckon he was ! Nice One!....

[XOkie]

This weekend on ACL! Willie and The Wheel! I miss Cindy Cashdollar darn it even though the current Wheel sounds better than ever.

[ProTwoAm]

Asleep At The Wheel is a fantastic band, a Ray Benson is an extraordinary singer.

[rustyBIGKITTY442]

Can't believe they played a street dance in Lovington N.M. this summer for FREE!!!!! It was great!! You wouldn't ever see that in Nebraska.

[kc5tng]

Just a comment about Lovington, NM...I used to live there...for about 15 years. Just where did Asleep At The Wheel play in Lovington?

[rustyBIGKITTY442]

They played for a street dance right in front of the courthouse. on the east side. We went to Jody Nix the week before up in Tatum for free too!!! One of the BEST also!!!!!!!!!!! Check out Jody on utube

[UrbanSludgewater]

Ah Cindy Cashdollar, yeeees indeed!

[ProTwoAm]

An absolute classic. This band is the BEST.

[blargfromouterspace]

What a beautiful solo from such a beautiful woman. Brings a tear to the eye:..-(

[PCPrabbit]

anyone else find this similar to the quintessential "stardust" album? really really nice.

[jerrycali]

just terrific !!!!!

[rainmanx63]

I think Ray kinda looks like Donald Fagin. Regardless I love these guys.

[ProTwoAm]

When I first saw Ray I thought he was John Anderson. :)

[2308pd]

This is GREAT WHAT MUSIC STLE

[blargfromouterspace]

Western swing, at it's smoothest

[steelguitarboy]

This is like watching the muppet show.

[mrdjjames]

That is so funny! Your right!

[netw52]

I saw the Wheel do this in Crockett right after Cindy Walker died ... it was the best performance I've ever seen Ray give ... he blew the top of the venue and there was not a dry eye in the house.

[bigroy38]

my favorite Austin skyline!

[Samuijazz]

Cindy Cahsdollare is one of the best non-pedal steelers

out there, and one of the nicest people too.

It is coincidental that she is also the prettiest.

[treefishing]

I had no idea Ray could sing like this. Smooth guitar playing. I've been aware of Asleep at the Wheel for a couple of decades and have a couple of there tapes but never heard anything like this. Sounds and looks like the steel player has got it going also. Thanks for posting.

[machrochronic]

ray kicks ass, he just opened a new club at the austin airport and i would give my left nut to record in his studio. his music gets better with every year. yep im a huge "asleep at the wheel" fan

[mrdjjames]

your right nut would miss it.

[selatik1]

What year was this? Who's the vilonist? Is that Anastasio?

[piepoute]

Fantastic song!

What's the title though?

[lanadoitch]

Cindy is HOTTTT!!!

[pinehouseboy]

i sure miss ray

[pinehouseboy]

ya he fucked it up!

[garyguitar]

Great band, so versatile, and tasty. Ray where's the 335 you bought from Glen Keener? It would have sounded mighty fine on this.

[sepod]

Just Beautiful.

[bigblockgm]

That's a top of the line performance!TKS

[jf29bmd]

One of the greatest bands, and a band that can play almost any style of music you want to hear. What is nice that in the ___ years they have been playing as a band, there is not a style they have not played. (The resaon for the lack of a number is that I don't want to age how long the band has been playing. However, this is a fan who can take their music and listen to it on 45, 8-track, LP, Cassette, CD and DVD. Swing On Ray!!!

[kje65]

Asleep at the wheel since 1970,,,

[papa62old]

@jf29bmd

In all my years of music I think I just heard the most perfect thing I have ever heard. I have been listening to Ray for only about 10 years and he never lets me down. This version of You Don't Know Me just mellows me out so much. I play a pretty good guitar but Ray has a real touch when he plays. I would say God bless him but I think I am to late. He has already received the blessing

[taoistcowboy123]

Added to my "Vocalists" playlist. Very nice.

[ChefOfSoulKitchen]

lol nice outfit

[standback27]

Was this from the 2001-02 season? If so, does ANYBODY have video of earlier in the same show with Delbert McClinton (and Bekka Bramlett singing backup)?

[resopicker]

God this was beautiful stuff. You don't hear this on Austin City Limits today....

[jhnstn1]

You don't hear much of anything on ACL these days.

[Blackdog46]

Had to listen to this twice to be sure the memory I dredged up was correct. I think I've only heard one other recording of this song. It was also by Ray -- Ray Charles -- recorded in the late 50's or early 60's. Great songs never grow old!

[dsskt]

Cindy Cashdollar is the best! I wish she was still playing with Ray and the Wheel.

[AlamoCityCello]

Wow! Bravo!

[coleyman1]

Great Cindy Walker song.. Lots of great tunes from her pen.

[ramitupursnout]

CLASS. These guys are outstanding. What a voice.

[lakenurse]

Oh my! What a voice. Some pretty work on those Fenders too!

[cherryred511]

Great voice...

[beromp]

John, Happy Easter and all your Aussie friends. Maria

[boomac62]

what he hell???...this sounds like country music!....I thought this wasn't allowed on any ariwaves....it's for sure not allowed on the radio.

Thanks....great memories

[dksayt]

The song was written by Eddie Arnold

[lanahill]

Sung by Eddie Arnold but written by Texan Cindy Walker. She wrote some of the greatest songs ever. Others that sang her songs were Jim Reeves, Bob Wills, Bing Crosby, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson--just to name a few.

[garyguitar]

not to mention...Ray Charles...

[birddoggarton]

Oh my! How I do miss seeing Cindy.

Good times back in the early 90's.

[735263]

Dont mind who wrote this, best performance of this song sinds..

[fost6586]

the best version i that i ever herd ray please come to nc

[FLS69]

"PICK THE BARK OFF OF IT RAY!!"

[Kevin2534]

Please Add Yourself To My Myspace/ Kevin Nicks

[tbcass]

Thanks. Funny thing but after I posted this I found out about an album by Nelson called "You Don't Know Me, The Songs Of Cindy Walker". Arnold and Ray Charles both did excellent versions. I've been a Fan of Asleep at The Wheel since the early 70's. There was another group called Cowboy Jazz that did similar stuff.

[tbcass]

Was this written by Willie Nelson? It has his writing style stamped all over it.

[WesternSwingFan]

It was written by one of the greatest Texas Song writters of all time the late Cindy Walker and Eddy Arnold. According to Mr Arnold, he was in RCA's Famed Studio B recording one day and Cindy Walker stopped by and he told her he had an idea for a song about a "shy ole boy, who was in love with a woman but was to bashful to tell her." Mr Arnold and Miss Walker are both members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Cindy Walkers influence is stamped on many song writers including Willie.

[resopicker]

Hey kooodeal, check out Ray's vid on "Route 66". He's clean shaven, in a black suit, etc. Is this the dude you are thinking of?

[TimeSearcher52]

Ray Benson's a pretty tasty jazz guitarist too... Lovely solo in "You Don't Know Me".

[ehhjeep]

remember when

[Hero1957]

Damn

[melody7979]

What a voice, what a player.  Love it!

[herringbone28]

what a great song. Ray Price is awesome as is ASATW

[kooodeal]

I saw him in concert in the 70s,but he was all clean shaved and in a suit.lol..He dresses like an Outlaw country singer now..Or was that another Ray?

[sambal5038]

Absolutly love this band......Been a fan for a long time and my ride to work is not the same if I did not bring one of their cd. Love them!!

[cuzinkevin]

Now thats COOL

[resopicker]

Lovely just lovely, and what a sweet solo Cindy took!

[resopicker]

I keep coming back to this tune....awesome!

[NickRatnieks]

I have been a fan of AATW since 1977 and saw them at the Broken Spoke in 1997. I can safely say that they are brilliant and almost to a man/woman, so are their fans too.

[bustaplz]

I love this video. I watch it every time I get drunk. =P

[NickRatnieks]

Yes, this si good, but if you want the ultimate version, get hold of Charlie Rich's last album "Pictures and Paintings" track 2- amazing vocal and piano by THE MAN.

[xms32]

Charlie Rich? lol. He's not even on the same level as this group of musicians. Charlie Rich was a class A prick that barely had any talent outside the studio.

[l345]

This is the best interpretation of this song, I've ever heard. Between RAy and Cindy, it just doesn't get any better. Great music.

[dougmael]

After Tower of Power and the Subdudes, AATW is my all-time favorite band! I don't know why someone commented about Ray Benson being "hard to look at", but he sure is a FINE SINGER!!!

[BigBoiJC]

Ray Benson...hard to look at...but easy to listen to! these guys are fantastic..of course..who am I telling, right????

[jcrane722]

I got the chance to see these great performers in person one night at a hotel with my brother, in San Antonio TX. It was great and I love AATW.

[dougboyd1963]

That is so smoothe....The newer groups today just don't have a clue. Awesome video! Thanks!

[jefferyalbergo]

ray is about the best band leader. up there with spade cooly & bob willies.

[personnosrep]

bob "wills" not willies

[bignoise2]

If you ever get to see AATW live, GO GO GO! One of the best shows I've EVER seen. They are the best in the business, bar none. A Fan for Life!

[mojogypsy]

Great song, and great interpretation...!

[cap10ed]

Thanks rspaceball.

[JACKIEANN65]

Ray Benson's so cool!!