Better Times (EP)

2021 EP by Asleep at the Wheel

Better Times

EP by

Asleep at the Wheel

Released| May 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
Recorded| 2021 (2021)
Studio|

* Bismeaux on the Hill (Austin, Texas)
* Moonhouse Studio (Austin, Texas)

Genre|

* Country
* Western swing

Label| Bismeaux
Producer| Ray Benson
Asleep at the Wheel chronology
| New Routes
(2018)  | Better Times
(2021)  |

|
|

Better Times is an extended play (EP) by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux on the Hill and Moonhouse Studios, it was produced by the group's frontman Ray Benson with Sam "Lightnin'" Seifert, and was released on May 28, 2021 by Benson's own label Bismeaux Productions. Better Times is the group's first release to feature steel guitarist Flavio Pasquetto, who replaced Eddie Rivers in 2019.

## Background

[edit]

According to Asleep at the Wheel frontman Ray Benson, the title track of Better Times was written "after nearly a year of this pandemic", referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he likens to "a war with an invisible enemy".[1] Benson performs lead vocals on the track; fiddler Katie Shore performs lead vocals on "All I'm Asking"; and the pair duet on "Columbus Stockdale Blues".[2] The band performed "Better Times" at Benson's "birthday bash" during the 2021 South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.[3]

## Track listing

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Length

|
|
|

1.| "Better Times"| Ray Benson|
2.| "All I'm Asking" (originally recorded by the Band of Heathens)|

* Ed Jurdi
* Gordy Quist

3.| "Columbus Stockade Blues" (originally recorded by Darby and Tarlton)| Traditional (arr. Benson)|

## Personnel

[edit]

Asleep at the Wheel

* Ray Benson – guitar, vocals, production
* Katie Shore – fiddle, vocals
* Flavio Pasquetto – steel guitar
* Dennis Ludiker – fiddle, mandolin, backing vocals
* Josh Hoag – bass
* John Michael Whitby – piano
* David Sanger – drums

Guest performers

* Ginny Mac – piano, accordion
* Floyd Domino – piano
* Jason Baczynski – drums
* Joey Colarusso – saxophone
* Chloe Feoranzo – clarinet

Additional personnel

* Sam Seifert – production, engineering, mixing, guitar
* Curtis Clogston – engineering
* Chris Gage – additional engineering, piano
* Eric Conn – mastering
* Ellie Newman – art direction
* Brooke Hamilton – photography

|
|

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Better Times (Media notes). Asleep at the Wheel. Bismeaux Productions. 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. ^ "Asleep at the Wheel kicks off 50th anniversary with new EP, The Better Times". Grateful Web. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
3. ^ "What happened at SXSW 2021 on Day 1? Stacey Abrams shouts out 'Supernatural', more". Austin360. March 16, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.

* v
* t
* e

Asleep at the Wheel

* Ray Benson
* David Sanger
* Katie Shore
* Dennis Ludiker
* Connor Forsyth
* Josh Hoag
* Flavio Pasquetto
* Joey Colarusso

* Lucky Oceans
* LeRoy Preston
* Danny Levin
* Gene Dobkin
* Chris O'Connell
* Emily Paxton
* Floyd Domino
* Tony Garnier
* Richard Casanova
* Scott Hennige
* Ed Vizard
* Link Davis Jr.
* Bill Mabry
* Pat "Taco" Ryan
* Johnny Nicholas
* Fran Christina
* Spencer Starnes
* Dean DeMerritt
* Maryann Price
* Bobby Black
* Brenda Burns
* Falkner Evans
* Paul Anastasio
* Billy Estes
* Dan Tyack
* Michael Francis
* Wally Murphy
* Jann Browne
* Steve Schwelling
* Tom Anastasio
* Roy McCrory
* Richard Hormachea
* Billy Cochran
* Tim Alexander
* Larry Franklin
* Mike Grammar
* Junior Brown
* John Ely
* David Dawson
* Jon Mitchell
* Ricky Turpin
* David Earl Miller
* Cindy Cashdollar
* Tommy Beavers
* Barbara Lamb
* Monty Gaylord
* Jason Roberts
* Chris Booher
* Rosie Flores
* John Michael Whitby
* Jim Murphy
* Haydn Vitera
* Eddie Rivers
* Elizabeth McQueen
* Walt Roberts
* Dan Walton
* Jay Reynolds
* Emily Gimble
* Chloe Feoranzo

Studio albums|

* Comin' Right at Ya
* Asleep at the Wheel
* Texas Gold
* Wheelin' and Dealin'
* The Wheel
* Collision Course
* Framed
* Pasture Prime
* 10
* Western Standard Time
* Keepin' Me Up Nights
* The Wheel Keeps on Rollin'
* Merry Texas Christmas, Y'all
* The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel
* Hang Up My Spurs
* Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo
* Reinventing the Wheel
* Willie and the Wheel (with Willie Nelson)
* New Routes
* Half a Hundred Years

Tribute albums|

* Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
* Ride with Bob: A Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
* Still the King: Celebrating the Music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys

Live albums|

* Served Live
* Greatest Hits: Live & Kickin'
* Back to the Future Now: Live at Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas
* Live at Billy Bob's Texas
* Live from Austin, TX

Compilations|

* Swing Time
* Route 66
* The Swingin' Best of Asleep at the Wheel

Extended plays|

* Better Times

Singles|

* "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie"
* "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read"
* "Route 66 "
* "The House of Blue Lights "
* "Walk On By"
* "Hot Rod Lincoln"
* "Corrine, Corrina"
* "Lay Down Sally"

Other songs|

* "Boot Scootin' Boogie"
* "Cherokee Maiden"
* "Roly Poly"

Related articles|

* Band members
* Discography

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