"New Spanish Two Step" is a Western swing standard based on a traditional fiddle tune, "Spanish Two Step".[2] Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys recorded the latter on September 23, 1935, and released it on Vocalion 03230 in 1936.[3] Ten years later, Wills and Tommy Duncan added lyrics and recorded it again on April 25, 1945, releasing it on Columbia 36966 in April 1946 as "New Spanish Two Step". It stayed on the charts for 23 weeks, reaching number one on the Folk-Jukebox chart for 16 weeks.[4] Both versions were one of the band's signature songs.
| "New Spanish Two Step" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys | ||||
| B-side | "Roly Poly" | |||
| Released | April 1946 | |||
| Recorded | April 25, 1945[1] | |||
| Studio | CBS Studio at Radio Station KNX, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Western swing | |||
| Label | Columbia 36966 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan | |||
| Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Wills and his vocalist, Tommy Duncan, added lyrics to reflect the title:
I told her I had to go,
Left her down in Mexico,
The band played 'Spanish Two-Step' soft and low.
The "b" side, "Roly Poly", was also a big hit, reaching number three.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 78 Record: Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys - New Spanish Two Step (1946), retrieved 2021-07-20
- ^ McWhorter, Cowboy Fiddler, p. 59-60: "Bob said, 'He played 'The Spanish Two-Step' and I locked the door where he couldn't get out and nobody else could get in, and I made him stay there until he taught me that and 'Maiden's Prayer.' Finally he nodded. I didn't know whether he needed to go to the bathroom or if I was doing it right, bit I let him out.' That Mexican taught him those two tunes."
- ^ 78 Record: Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys - Spanish Two Step (1936), retrieved 2021-07-20
- ^ Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits, p. 392.
Bibliography
edit- McWhorter, Frankie. Cowboy Fiddler in Bob Wills' Band. University of North Texas Press, 1997. ISBN 1-57441-025-3
 | This 1940s country song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |