Hop aboard this 4104 coach extraordinaire for a panoramic tour of Texas music at its finest from Tex Western Records.  Bodie Powell really pulled from deep in the heart and soul of Texas with his latest CD.  From the opening rumble of the title track to the comical "Pissin’ On My Leg", Powell and the Borderline Band capture the very essence of today’s Texas music movement.

The dynamic songwriting duo of Bodie and Donna Powell (for all but 3 of the selections) map your tour with spirit renewing stops for: unique Texas music festivals; slow Texas-style love ballads; a little cheating and conniving; sweet swaying blues; time for a little "Nervous Breakdown"; and some comic relief.  Everything a good tour needs to be successful.  The Borderland Band of Dirt Stinnett, Mike Choate, and Johnny Livingston is also an important part of this tour, as are special support from T-Roy Miller, Gary Grammer, Ray Martin, Terry Rasor, Johnny Mack, and Luke Nichols.  Although Powell has been associated with country music in some form for all his adult life, he really found his calling with this collection.  From early Nashville days (yes, he was born there, but moved to Texas as soon as he had the smarts to figure it out) and playing bass and fronting for traditional country stars, to landing the booking as the house band at Billy Bob’s for a while (during the time he released his first CD), Powell has honed his craft, nurtured his talent, established his musical niche with the production of his first 2 CDs, Bodie Powell and TBB, and Turn Up the Jukebox.  The culmination of all that hard work is evident in 4104.  Powell never forgets to express his appreciation to all that helped in any way to bring this effort to completion.  "Dirt and Mike busted their butts on production, but we laughed all the way through it. Mike was just GREAT on the steel guitar, and Dirt just did that amazing thing he always does on anything with strings."  In fact, Powell has a whole page of his CD cover dedicated to thanking everyone that had anything to do with helping the project along, including fans that came to shows.

The title track opens with the cranking of a mighty GM 4104 Detroit Diesel engine, the bass picks up the deep rumble, and your musical journey through the land of yesteryear’s country greats begins.  Powell takes you on a quicksilver tour of the gilded days of legendary country stars and the powerful General Motors model 4104 tour coaches that carried them from engagement to engagement.  Powell says this is his "tribute to the country stars" and their preferred mode of transportation of the era of 1950s-1970s.  Powell actually rode in several 4104s in the days when he played bass and did front for stars like Dave Dudley, Razzy Bailey, and Wanda Jackson.  In this musical reminiscence, your memory of that golden era of country is joggled by names like "Texas Troubadour, Marty, Willy, Hag, George and Tammy, Porter and Dolly, Conway and Loretta."  But alas, good things never last forever. That era of country music wound down and their old 4104s wore out.  Our narrating 4104 in this story wound up in a "junk yard out by Mineral Wells."  But then a miracle occurred and some of our Texas singer/songwriter superheroes recognized the gem in the junk and saved the day by restoring the old bus.  The good guys then rode off into the sunset toward Terlingua as that powerful engine fades into silence.  Such is the "beauty and history of this 4104."

The tour continues through Texas with a stop at our favorite Texas music festival, Texas Music Nation.  This song captures the mood and intent of hundreds of weekend nomads that all come together to worship for a couple of days at the alter of good Texas music.  Powell describes the preparations:

"There’s a stage being built; guitars being tuned

The tents, trailers, motor homes will be arriving soon.

Staff of the Texas flag flying in the sky;

And chili so hot it brings a tear to a glass eye."

As Terry Rasor sings to us,

"A merry band of nomads have gathered here.

Good friends, good music, and whole lot of beer."

Bodie and Terry continue to describe the atmosphere with,

"A grassroots sound, a feeling of the past.

Like Woodstock and the Opry, together at last

And we’re not alone, this is one big family."

They sum it up in the chorus:

"We’re the Texas Music Nation. On a weekend reservation

Native tribe that’s gathered for a Lone Star celebration…"

What more could you want?   Well, maybe a little something to quench your thirst?  How about a little TexasTea…..?

So Powell serves it right up.  Now this legendary beverage, served in a mandatory silver can, regularly makes it way through the crowd of performances and campfires where Texas Music Nation members are gathered.  Powell gives a quick rundown on its humble beginnings:

"We were out in the country at a Texas music show.

That little get-together, hosted by Larry Joe (only 20,000 or so!)

Having ‘bout as much fun as we all could stand.

Then Carrol brought out something in a big ol’ silver can

And started telling everybody to

Sip, Stir, and Pass; Don’t be drinking it fast…."

Needless to say, this magic elixir is now known as the famous, Texas Tea. The next day, however, is not so jolly!

"That next morning, nobody was faring too well.

To tell the truth, we all looked like hammered hell.

Somebody said this hangover might last all summer.

Mikey said this stuff ain’t nothing but liquid dumber!

All I remember was, Sip, Stir, and Pass…."

All this traveling got you needing a little break?  Well, "Next Exit Sign" might have just what you need, especially since our tank was getting a little low.

 "I need a food, phone, gas, and lodging; next exit sign

If I could see one on the horizon, Lord it would ease my troubled mind.

My eyes are tired; boy I’m hungry; and I’m running out of time.

I need a food, phone, gas, and lodging; next exit sign."

Next we take a little break with the blues that Powell and Johnny Mack serve up in fine style with "She Stomped On My Heart Again".  Followed by Dirt’s "Nervous Breakdown" in real bluegrass tradition.  Don’t forget we promised a little lying and cheating that comes through in "If Her Lips Are Movin’ (she’s lying)".  Dreams come true in love songs like "More Than Texas" and "Blue Moon".  Then Powell wraps things up with some comic relief in "Love Whipped" and "Pissin’ On My Leg".  There’s plenty more for me to tell you about, but why don’t you buy yourself a copy of 4104 and discover it yourself?  Powell has made it real easy for you to find them.  4104 is available at Bills Records and Tapes, Dallas; CD World, Dallas; Hastings, Waxahachie; Record Town, Ft. Worth; Lone Star Music; Honky Tonkin Music; and through his website at Bodie Powell.  If none of those work for you, call your favorite radio station and request the songs you like the most.

Bodie would love to hear from you, too.  He can be reached at bodiepowell@hotmail.com.

Before we leave, please join me in the Texas Music Nation pledge: