THE FLY-RITE BOYS - BIG SANDY PRESENTS THE FLY-RITE BOYS

 Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys

This was the classic lineup: 

(Minus BIG SANDY on vocals/guitar)

ASHLEY KINGMAN electric guitar,

A native of London, Ashley naturally gravitated to the spot where his talents are appreciated most - namely as lead guitarist in the Fly-Rites.  In his spare moments, this good natured picker treats himself to a healthy dose of beach recreation and motorcycle mechanics.

LEE JEFFRIESS steel,

Here's a guy that just likes to play the steel guitar...once he steps off that big yellow touring bus, he can be found relaxing in his Southern California home with his beautiful wife and daughter.  Interests include world history and magnetism.

WALLY HERSOM upright bass,

Wally, the 6 foot 3 inch veteran Fly-Rite Boy, can't think of anything he enjoys more than his old bass fiddle...except, of course, when it comes to lemon pie, backgammon, Erle Stanley Gardner, and the color green...

BOBBY TRIMBLE drums,

Drummer Bobby Trimble lives and breathes rhythm...a stop by the Trimble homestead would surely find him amidst his vast 78 rpm record collection, watching Gene Krupa soundies, or reading comic books.  Bobby also loves to ski. 

w/ the addition of 

  CARL "SONNY" LELAND piano,

"Sonny," the outfit's newest recruit, comes from Southhampton, England by way of New Orleans.  This world-renowned boogie-woogie piano man also finds time to dabble in his favorite interests, occult literature and vegetarianism.

January 18th, 1998 at Lenora's Ghost Tavern in the small town of Independence, OR.

Big Sandy's backup band steps out on their own and delivers its first solo album consisting of mostly a set of  band instrumental originals, primarily showcasing their considerable instrumental chops, with a few stray vocals like "Booze Party" (sung by bassist Wally Hersom) 

and "Rosetta" (sung by piano man  Carl "Sonny" Leyland).

Standout tracks are guitarist Ashley Kingman's "Straight-8 Boogie," Carl "Sonny" Leyland's turn on the jazz-pop standard "Rosetta," "Wizard's Dust", a hillbilly boogie piano workout, while steel man Lee Jeffriess' "Flyin' Rite" has a nice mid-tempo Western swing jive to it, and the atmospheric "Laguna Sunset" for lovers of true Western swing honky tonk with a slight jazz edge, sounding like it was cut over 50 years ago, but "Hit and Run" swings in full force with a nice drum workout by Bobby Trimble, channeling Gene Krupa) and "Rhapsody in Violet" does a nice job of bringing back those Hawaiian slack-key favorite romantic sounds of the 50's-60's. "Booze Party" sounds like a raucous party tune sure to fill the dance floor at any Big Sandy And The Fly-Rite Boys live affair. "Minor Struggle" is another nice jazzy ivory number, reminiscent of "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby".

 You don't have to ever have heard of Big Sandy or be a fan of the band to enjoy the fine Western swing and jazz instrumental numbers on display here. If you like those instrumental vinyl records of the 60's or have any interest in Western Swing or Jazz, here's your album. You'll enjoy the honey elixir dripping from your Hi-Fi stereo system.  

 

Liner notes on the back of the album: 

"Speaking as the one who generally gets to do all the talkin', I couldn't be more proud to step aside and present the first real "solo" album by the one and only Fly-Rite Boys.

Over the years, we've recorded many albums and logged a lot of miles playing clubs, fairs and theatres all over the world...and from show to show, the band never fails to entertain and always makes me look good in the bargain...

Even so, the boys haven't really had the chance to step into the spotlight on their own...so, when the folks at High Tone suggested the Boys cut a record, they were more than ready to show their stuff.

What they've come up with is sure to please fans of all types of music.  From swing to country and hillbilly boogie to jazz, the Fly-Rite Boys have a flair for getting it hot and getting it right.

Besides top-notch instrumentals, you'll also be treated to a few rare vocal numbers from Carl "Sonny" Leyland, the man who handles the 88 keys...Wally Hersom, bass fiddle expert, weighs in with his show stopper "Booze Party," while Bobby Trimble lays down the beat, Ashley Kingman takes off on lead guitar and Lee Jeffries operates his world-famous steel guitar.

As glad as I am to have them working with me, I get a real kick out of stepping back and just enjoying the music on this, the first waxing all by their lonesome.

It's my sincere hope that you dig the fervid rhythms and melodious articulation included herein." 

                                                                                                            

-- Big Sandy  

"Ultimately, the Fly-Rite Boys have taken a few more steps in the direction of jazz; they are no longer just a rockabilly band, and hardly a Western swing band either. Their performances here are fine, tasteful and precise, rather than wild and loose." -- No Depression

The Fly-Rite Boys – Big Sandy Presents The Fly-Rite Boys
Label:  Hightone Records – HCD 8090
Format:  CD, Album
Country:  US
Released:  1998
Genre:  Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style:  Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Country

Tracklist

1.  Straight-8 Boogie    3:09
2.  Rosetta    4:24
3.  Mary's Mood    4:28
4.  Wizard's Dust    2:52
5.  Flyin' Rite    3:11
6.  Laguna Sunset    3:41
7.  Hit And Run    2:48
8.  Rhapsody In Violet    4:04
9.  D. Of L. Boogie    2:58
10.  "What's Buzzin', Cuzzin?"    3:09
11.  Booze Party    2:05
12.  Minor Struggle    4:05