10 (Asleep at the Wheel album)

May 2025 10 studio Asleep at the Wheel AATW-Ten1987.jpg 1987 3 Late 1986 Bee Creek Studios (Spicewood, Texas) Austin Recording Studio (Austin, Texas) Western swing 29 37 Epic Ray Benson Huey Lewis Pasture Prime 1985 Western Standard Time 1988 10 studio Way Down Texas Way 1987 1 House of Blue Lights 1987 5 Boogie Back to Texas 1987 9 Blowin' Like a Bandit 1987 11 10 is the ninth studio album (tenth album overall) by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bee Creek Studios in Spicewood, Texas and the Austin Recording Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced solely by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released in March 1987 as the group's first album back on Epic Records. 10 was the group's first album on a major label since 1980's Framed, and its first to register on the US Billboard charts since 1978's Wheelin' and Dealin'. Following the release of Pasture Prime in 1985, Asleep at the Wheel experienced a resurgence in popularity which led to them re-signing with Epic. The group settled with a new lineup of Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis, four of whom had featured on the 1985 record. 10 was the band's first album since the departure of Chris O'Connell, although she appears as a guest. 10 was a critical and commercial success. The album was Asleep at the Wheel's second release to reach the top 20 of the US Billboard Top Country Albums chart, peaking at number 16. The collection also spawned four singles, all of which registered on the Hot Country Singles chart, with "House of Blue Lights" peaking at number 17 – the band's second to reach the top 20 of the chart. Critical reviews of the album were mainly positive, praising its return to the band's Western swing sound. Background In 1986, Asleep at the Wheel introduced a new lineup comprising lead vocalist and guitarist Ray Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis.Oermann Robert K. Robert K. Oermann Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep at the Wheel The Tennessean March 21, 1987 39 https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112409684/ June 21, 2020 The band signed with Epic Records and recorded its ninth studio album that year, which was its first since Chris O'Connell's departure after becoming pregnant.Hurst Jack Country Reaches Way South Of The Border Chicago Tribune November 6, 1986 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-11-06-8603230486-story.html June 21, 2020 In early 1987, Epic imprint CBS/Nashville Senior Vice President Rick Blackburn reported that the album was "just about done", claiming that "They're better now than they've ever been and their confidence level is soaring".Rick Blackburn: "Rebuilding Before Your Eyes" Cash Box 50 35 February 28, 1987 New York City, New York Cash Box 46 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/80s/1987/CB-1987-02-28-OCR-Page-0046.pdf June 21, 2020 "Way Down Texas Way" (written by Billy Joe Shaver) was issued as the lead single from 10 in January 1987, reaching number 39 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.Billboard Hot Country Singles Billboard 99 14 April 4, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 38 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-04-04-Billboard-Page-0036.pdf June 21, 2020 The album was released in March.No single from S.K.O. yet RPM 45 25 March 28, 1987 Toronto, Ontario, Canada RPM 14 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/80s/RPM-1987-03-28-OCR-Page-0014.pdf June 21, 2020 "House of Blue Lights" (first recorded by Freddie Slack) was released as the album's second single in May and became the band's second song to reach the top 20 of the Billboard country chart, peaking at number 17.Billboard Hot Country Singles Billboard 99 33 August 15, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 36 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-08-15-Billboard-Page-0030.pdf June 21, 2020 Two more tracks were issued from 10 and registered on the Hot Country Singles chart – Ray Benson's "Boogie Back to Texas" peaked at number 53,Billboard Hot Country Singles Billboard 99 45 November 7, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 40 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-11-07-Billboard-Page-0038.pdf June 21, 2020 and Guy Clark's "Blowin' Like a Bandit" peaked at number 59.Billboard Hot Country Singles Billboard 100 4 January 23, 1988 New York City, New York Billboard 36 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1988/1988-01-23-Billboard-Page-0034.pdf June 21, 2020 Reception Commercial 10 entered the Billboard Top Country Albums chart at number 45 in April 1987,Billboard Top Country Albums Billboard 99 14 April 4, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 37 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-04-04-Billboard-Page-0035.pdf June 21, 2020 later becoming the band's third album (and their first release in eleven years) to reach the top 20 when it peaked at number 16 in July.Billboard Top Country Albums Billboard 99 30 July 25, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 35 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-07-25-Billboard-Page-0033.pdf June 21, 2020 It also reached number 12 on the Cash Box Country Albums chart.Cash Box Country Albums Cash Box 50 51 June 20, 1987 New York City, New York Cash Box 23 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/80s/1987/CB-1987-06-20-OCR-Page-0043.pdf June 21, 2020 Critical Media reviews of 10 were generally positive. Billboard magazine described the album as "a solid collection of mainly Western swing numbers", praising "House of Blue Lights", "I Want a New Drug" and "Blues Stay Away from Me" in particular.Reviews: Country Picks Billboard 99 12 March 21, 1987 New York City, New York Billboard 74 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1987/1987-03-21-Billboard-Page-0088.pdf June 21, 2020 Cash Box also highlighted the Freddie Slack and Delmore Brothers tracks, as well as Fontaine Brown's "Big Foot Stomp".Country: Album Reviews Cash Box 50 40 April 4, 1987 New York City, New York Cash Box 27 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-Cash-Box-IDX/80s/1987/CB-1987-04-04-OCR-Page-0045.pdf June 21, 2020 Canadian magazine RPM outlined that "[the band's] brand of Western swing music is almost legend", hailing the record as "a fun album" and describing it as "the real country mood music".Albums RPM 45 27 April 11, 1987 Toronto, Ontario, Canada RPM 10 https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Archive-RPM-IDX/IDX/80s/RPM-1987-04-11-OCR-Page-0010.pdf June 21, 2020 Accolades 10 earned Asleep at the Wheel its second Grammy Award, winning Best Country Instrumental Performance for its original track "String of Pars".https://www.grammy.com/artists/ray-benson/1689 Ray Benson Grammy Awards June 21, 2020 Track listing Way Down Texas Way Billy Joe Shaver 2:37 Tulsa Straight Ahead originally recorded by Leon McAuliffe and His Western Swing Band Jimmy Hall 2:06 Coast to Coast originally recorded by Fred O. Knipe Fred O. Knipe 3:05 House of Blue Lights originally recorded by Freddie Slack and Ella Mae Morse Don Raye Freddie Slack 3:07 Blowin' Like a Bandit originally recorded by Guy Clark Guy Clark 2:17 I Want a New Drug originally recorded by Huey Lewis and the News Huey Lewis Chris Hayes 3:41 Big Foot Stomp Fontaine Brown 3:33 Boogie Back to Texas Ray Benson 3:17 String of Pars Benson Larry Franklin John Ely 3:07 Blues Stay Away from Me originally recorded by the Delmore Brothers Alton Delmore Rabon Delmore Wayne Raney Henry Glover 2:47 29:37 Personnel Asleep at the Wheel Ray Benson – lead guitar, vocals, production John Ely – pedal and Hawaiian steel guitars David Dawson – bass Tim Alexander – piano, accordion, backing vocals David Sanger – drums Larry Franklin – fiddle, guitar, backing vocals Michael Francis – saxophone Guest musicians Tom Anastasio – bass Chris O'Connell – backing vocals Johnny Gimble – fiddle (track 1) Pete Anderson – guitar (track 6) Ray Campi – slap bass (track 6) Production personnel Huey Lewis – production (track 6) Leea Mechling – production assistance Spencer Starnes – engineering John Bentley – engineering assistance Joe Bogan – remixing Larry Seyer – remixing Denny Purcell – mastering Additional personnel Bill Johnson – art direction Antonin Kratochvil – photography Scott Newton – photography assistance Charts Chart (1987)PeakpositionUS Hot Country LPs (Billboard) 16 References External links 323845 10 Category:Asleep at the Wheel albums Category:1987 albums Category:Epic Records albums