Adolph Hofner – South Texas Swing / Arhoolie CD-7029

Description

Arhoolie CD 7029

Historic recordings by the legend of Western Swing. In the 1930’s Adolph was billed as the Bing Crosby of country music, although he was clearly more than a country pop hero, remaining faithful to his Czech heritage and his passion for Western Swing. Adolph was born into the Texas Czech-German community and recorded not only hot Western swing, but mellow “heart songs,” as well as old Czech polkas and waltzes – most actually sung in Czech!

He was regarded with loyalty and affection across a territory any band leader would envy. This CD presents some of the milestones of his fascinating career: waltzes and polkas, swing music and sweet pop, all touched with the warmth of a man whose aim had always been to give people good dance music and a good time.

Sound restoration by George Morrow using the NoNoise process.

1. Better Quit It Now
2. How I Miss You Tonight
3. Dirty Dog
4. We Played A Game
5. Does My Baby Love Me, Yes Sir!
6. I’ll Keep My Old Guitar
7. Brown Eyed Sweet
8. Maria Elena
9. Spanish Two-Step
10. Why Should I Cry Over You?
11. Joe Turner Blues
12. Sam, The Old Accordion Man
13. Alamo Rag
14. South Texas Swing
15. Jessie Polka
16. Sage Brush Shuffle
17. Cotton-Eyed Joe
18. Paul Jones
19. Star Kovarna
20. Na Marjanse
21. Strashidlo
22. Dis Ja Liebe Spim
23. Julida Polka
24. Kelley Waltz
25. Longhorn Stomp
26. Radio Broadcast

REVIEW

“Adolph and Emil Hofner were born in the late 1920s to German-Czech parents, and base their musical careers out of San Antonio. This set spans 1936-1949, when they fronted one of the premier Western swing ensembles. Adolph’s smooth crooning is the anchor point around which hot solos from fiddler J. R. Chatwell, steel player Emil Hofner, and banjoist Cotton Cooper, among others, ply their trade. In addition to swing, the brothers were adept at Czech music with vocal duets and polkas, several of which grace this disk. Finally there is a 7-minute excerpt from one of their radio shows. A fine tribute to one of the great, if under-appreciated, talents of Texas and Tex-Czech music.”

(Kerry Blech — Victory Review)