The Wheel (Asleep at the Wheel album)

The Wheel is the fifth album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by Tommy Allsup at Sumet-Bernet Studios in Dallas, Texas, it was released on March 14, 1977 as the group's third album on Capitol Records. Unlike the band's previous releases, all of which included covers of songs originally recorded by popular country and jazz artists, The Wheel features entirely original material (save for one traditional song), most of which was written by band member LeRoy Preston.

The Wheel
Studio album by Asleep at the Wheel
Released	March 14, 1977 (1977-03-14)
Recorded	January 1977 (1977-01)
Studio	Sumet-Bernet Studios (Dallas, Texas)
Genre	Country Western swing
Length	36:39
Label	Capitol
Producer	Tommy Allsup
Asleep at the Wheel chronology
Wheelin' and Dealin' (1976) The Wheel (1977) Collision Course (1978)
Singles from The Wheel
"Somebody Stole His Body" Released: June 1977 (1977-06) "My Baby Thinks She's a Train" Released: June 1977 (1977-06) (UK only)

Following the release of Wheelin' and Dealin' the previous year, Asleep at the Wheel expanded to an 11-piece unit with the addition of second saxophonist Patrick "Taco" Ryan. For the recording of The Wheel, the band and Allsup opted to work entirely in Texas for the first time, rather than returning to Nashville, Tennessee. As well as being the first all-original album by the band, it is also their first not to feature multiple additional musicians, with Leon Rausch the sole guest on just one track.

The Wheel was Asleep at the Wheel's third consecutive album to register on the US Billboard 200 albums chart (on which it peaked at number 162) and to reach the top 40 of the Top Country Albums chart (on which it peaked at number 31). Just one single was issued from the record – the Rausch-featured "Somebody Stole His Body", which failed to chart. Reviews for the album were generally positive, with critics praising the "fun" nature of the music alongside the high quality of the performances.

Background

For the recording of The Wheel, Asleep at the Wheel opted not to work in Nashville, Tennessee for the first time, instead recording their fifth studio album at Sumet-Bernet Studios in Dallas, Texas where Bob Wills' final studio album For the Last Time was tracked.[1] The band's pedal steel guitarist Lucky Oceans recalls that the album was recorded "basically live" with no overdubs, resulting in what he describes as the group's "most live sounding studio album".[1] After the recording completed in January 1977, the album was released by Capitol Records on March 14, 1977.[2] "Somebody Stole His Body" was released as the sole single in June 1977.[3]

Reception

Commercial

Upon its release, The Wheel debuted on the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart at number 40 and the Billboard 200 top albums chart at number 181.[4][5] It later peaked at number 31 on the country chart (12 places lower than Wheelin' and Dealin') and number 162 on the main albums chart (18 positions higher than Wheelin' and Dealin').[6] The album also reached number 23 on the Cash Box Top 50 Country Albums chart,[7] number 153 on the Record World Album Chart,[8] and number 14 on the publication's Country Album Chart.[9] "Somebody Stole His Body" did not chart.

Critical

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[10]
Robert Christgau	A–[11]

Reviews for The Wheel were widely positive. An uncredited review of the album in Billboard magazine hailed the record as "Some more first-rate western swing ... from a group that has mastered this form," noting that it features "a powerfully authentic feel for music in the Bob Wills tradition".[12] Similary, Cash Box described the record as "a highly compatible coupling of country and big band sounds that assures this band its own special niche," proclaiming that "Western swing never had it so good."[13] Both publications awarded particular praise to Tommy Allsup's production,[14] with the former enjoying the "solid, bouncy instrumentation" throughout.[12]

AllMusic writer Michael Ofjord awarded The Wheel four out of five stars, detailing that "The Wheel finds Asleep at the Wheel consistently making music full of fun, along with fine musicianship and a sense of purpose". In his review, he added: "What sets this record above other bands ... is a sense of integrity beneath the surface. However, that sense of purpose is never so heavy-handed that a feeling of festivity is too far away. [...] Asleep at the Wheel has made a fine record that will appeal to both the average fan and serious students of the Western swing tradition."[10] Music critic Robert Christgau gave the album an A– grade, his highest for the band since debut Comin' Right at Ya.[11]

Accolades

Following the release of The Wheel, Asleep at the Wheel were nominated for two Grammy Awards: the album received a nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, while "Ragtime Annie" was recognised in the category of Best Country Instrumental Performance.[15]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Wheel"	Asleep at the Wheel	4:14
2.	"I Wonder"	LeRoy Preston	3:23
3.	"Am I High?"	Ray Benson Chris O'Connell Peter Sheridan	3:53
4.	"A Dollar Short and a Day Late"	Benson Preston Kevin Farrell	3:15
5.	"My Baby Thinks She's a Train"	Preston	3:23
6.	"Ragtime Annie"	Traditional (arr. Asleep at the Wheel)	2:43
7.	"When Love Goes Wrong"	Preston	2:52
8.	"Somebody Stole His Body"	Preston	2:43
9.	"Let's Face Up"	Preston Farrell	3:12
10.	"I Can't Handle It Now"	Preston	3:12
11.	"Red Stick"	Link Davis Jr.	2:58

Personnel

Asleep at the Wheel Ray Benson – lead guitar, vocals Chris O'Connell – rhythm guitar, vocals LeRoy Preston – rhythm guitar, vocals Lucky Oceans – pedal steel guitar Tony Garnier – upright bass Floyd Domino – piano Chris York – drums Danny Levin – fiddle, mandolin Bill Mabry – fiddle Link Davis Jr. – alto and tenor saxophones, accordion, vocals Patrick "Taco" Ryan – alto and tenor saxophones, clarinet

Additional personnel Leon Rausch – backing vocals (track 8) Tommy Allsup – production Bob Sullivan – engineering Michael Priest – design Richard Shaughnessy – photography Jim Fetty – photography Kathy Card – photography Bill Sosin – photography

Charts

Chart (1977)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[6]	162
US Hot Country LPs (Billboard)[6]	31

Footnotes

1. Halsey, Derek (July 2002). "Lucky Oceans (Asleep At The Wheel)". Swampland.com. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
2. "New Band Album Leads Capitol Release Roster" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 38 no. 43. New York City, New York: Cash Box. March 12, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
3. "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 23. New York City, New York: Billboard. June 11, 1977. p. 92. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
4. "Hot Country LPs" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 14. New York City, New York: Billboard. April 9, 1977. p. 54. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
5. "Top LPs and Tape" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 15. New York City, New York: Billboard. April 16, 1977. p. 84. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
6. "Hot Country LPs, Top LPs & Tape" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 18. New York City, New York: Billboard. May 7, 1977. pp. 57, 80. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
7. "Top 50 Country Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 38 no. 52. New York City, New York: Cash Box. May 14, 1977. p. 37. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
8. "151–200 Album Chart" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 33 no. 1557. New York City, New York: Record World. May 7, 1977. p. 41. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
9. "The Country Album Chart" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 33 no. 1559. New York City, New York: Record World. May 21, 1977. p. 74. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
10. Ofjord, Michael. "The Wheel - Asleep at the Wheel: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
11. "Asleep at the Wheel". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
12. "Billboard's Recommended LPs" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 89 no. 11. New York City, New York: Billboard. March 19, 1977. p. 66. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
13. "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 38 no. 47. New York City, New York: Cash Box. April 16, 1977. p. 17. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
14. "Country Singles Reviews, Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. 38 no. 45. New York City, New York: Cash Box. March 26, 1977. p. 39. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
15. "Ray Benson". Grammy Awards. Retrieved June 14, 2020.

External links

• The Wheel at Discogs (list of releases)