Song: Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) / Roundup Polka
Artist: Tex Williams and his Western Caravan
Record Label: Capitol Records 40001
Recorded: March 27, 1947
Location: KTI Radio
A catchy number that you’ll hear driving around Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, we don’t get much real tobacco down here. Ryan reckons that outside imports should be banned and Rapture be self-sufficient. I hear that Suchong’s been working on making nicotine from seaweed. Almost tastes the same albeit slightly fishy. Still, despite all the ads, I don’t like hearing the little half-pints hacking their lungs out.
Born Sollie Paul Williams, he took on the moniker Tex Williams and performed what is known as Western swing. It typically has a faster tempo and combines elements of jazz with country. He was able to develop country music from its rural, acoustic origins and present it as more danceable pop hits.
Williams was known for his “talking blues” style which can be heard prominently throughout the song. “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” would become his biggest hit, reaching number one for six weeks in 1947.
The song has become fairly popular and has been covered by Sammy Davis Jr. and Willie Nelson. Perhaps ironic to the plot, it has also been featured in Thank You for Smoking.
His backing band, Western Caravan, was notable for fluidly changing between an eclectic mix of instruments including: electric guitars, steel guitars, fiddles, basses , harps, accordions, and trumpets.
Some of his other hits include “Just a Pair of Blue Eyes”, “Bluebird on Your Windowsill”, and “Who? Me?”.
detrixsta liked this
kingofrapture liked this
rapturerecords posted this