Search - The Tractors :: Trade Union

There's something in the soil in Oklahoma that produces some

Steven I. Ramm | Phila, PA USA | 05/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's something in the soil in Oklahoma that produces some great music performers



Oklahoma is not the first place you think of when you think the hotbed of music. But when you realize that Western Swing legend Bob Wills was based out of Tulsa (even though he was born in Texas and his band was called "the Texas Playboys"), and both Leon Russell and J.J. Cale were born there, you realized this Midwestern state shouldn't be overlooked.



Guitarist Steve Ripley formed the Oklahoma-bred super group The Tractors in 1994, and is good friends with Russell and Cale. They had one major Country/Pop hit with "Baby Likes To Rock It".



Now, 15 years later, Ripley has reformed the Tractors for this new album which recaptures much of the energy from that first album. But this is mostly a Ripley project with the guitarist on lead vocals and the composer, or co-writer, of seven of the ten tracks. The disc starts off on high energy with the rocking "Up Jumped the Boogie" (no, not the old Sugarhill Gang hip hop classic, but a new song which Ripley co-wrote with Russell) and keeps up the energy with the Harlan Howard classic "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down". Cale composed - and plays on - "Rhythm Bone" and Russell wrote, and plays, piano, on "Good Old Days". So all the best tracks are grouped up front. The pace only slows on two tracks ("My Blue Heart" and "That's Where It Hurts") but picks up on "Midnight Train" which sounds like a traditional ballad given a blues band treatment (and it works). At over five minutes, it's the longest track on the album.



The instrumental arrangements are creative and varied. Along with Ripley's acoustic guitar there's piano, Hammond B3 organ, accordion, and - on the final track - "It's only Love" - soprano, alto, tenor and bass saxophones (all played by Joe Davis)!



As noted above, not all tracks work - but most of them do - which is why I only gave this album four stars. But, it you want your "Country" music with a "Kick" this CD should make you pretty darn happy.



Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"

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Awesome!

Jeffrey L. Yates | Paducah, KY | 08/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had given up on ever seeing another CD from the Tractors, one of my favorite foot-stompin' ass-kicken' groups.



As soon as I saw this on Amazon.com I ordered without hesitation.



This is true Tractor entertainment.



Don't pass it up!"

Another great release from the Tractors

Phillip Hall | Texas | 01/11/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've enjoyed The Tractors music for over a decade now and they're still kicking out the same old music. To some "same old music" means bad, terrible and stagnated. To me this band had some great songs you could just tap your feet to and couldn't help but want to dance around a bit. Well every album I've ever put on of theirs makes me feel just like it did 10 years ago. Not many bands can do that. I love change but sometimes the "same old same old" is A-okay by me."