JIMMY MCGRAW (v) w/ THE MILLER BROS. - Loco Choo Choo (4 Star 1699)
The Miller Brothers band stayed extremely busy working a circuit out of Wichita Falls, Texas. When promoter Sam Gibbs didn't have them out on the road working dates across the West or mult-week stands in Las Vegas the gang was holed up in their own MB Corral in Wichita Falls. Though they started up in the 1940s it wasn't until the 1950s and their association with 4 Star Records of California that things really started clicking along. For a few years the band was drawing votes as one of the top combos in the country, no doubt through the promotional efforts of Mr. Gibbs.
"Loco Choo Choo" was recorded in mid '56, near the tail end of their association with 4 Star and at the height of the popularity, an odd thing as the western swing style and big country combos were largely on their way out or being relegated to lounges in gambling towns. "Choo Choo"'s jive'd out feel comes with a hep'ish vocal from Jim McGraw. Fine backing with a swift guitar break that really coulda used a bit of a stretch... comes in just a tad short in my opinion. Pretty impressive the way the band pulls off the train sound. The lyrics may come up a bit short, but it's an okay ride and was probably a hit with the dancers that didn't mind gettin' just a bit loose.
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