Review: Dallas Wayne – Songs the Jukebox Taught Me: Volume II

I was recently given the opportunity for an advance listen & review of singer/songwriter/DJ Dallas Wayne’s 2016 album, Songs the Jukebox Taught Me, ahead of the release of Songs the Jukebox Taught Me: Volume II.  Volume II is set to release next Friday, June 22nd.

The songs on “Jukebox” are pure, classic country.  They’re all very well-produced, and are almost bare bones: you’ve got Wayne singing (and his own voice has that classic twang to it), steel guitar, and some light percussion behind most songs.  Sprinkle in some violin, bass guitar, and acoustic, and that’s pretty much the album right there.

There are also some appearances by country vets in there, including Willie Nelson on the first track (“Your Time’s Comin'”).  The lyrical content is a mixed bag – there are songs about heartache, love, and just plain having a good time.  That to me is pretty much what I expect from most classic country songs.  I’m listening to the album over again as I write this, and “A Dime At A Time” is playing – love it when the piano comes in to add a little personality to the song.

Then you also have songs like “Devil in the Bottle” which sounds like a pretty personal song.  In fact I believe that Wayne put a lot of himself (whether it be through personal lyrics, or just his interpretations of ‘traditional country themes’) into this album.  This seems like it sounds exactly the way that he wanted it to sound. 

Here’s some brief info about Dallas Wayne, in case you were curious (I was):

Dallas Wayne

• Singer, songwriter, radio DJ, voice-over artist, actor and music producer

• Recipient of multiple honors, including CMA of Texas Choice award, DJ of the Year and the Disc Jockey Hall of Fame

• Staff songwriter for Warner/Chappell Music for six years

• On-air personality for SIRIUSXM Satellite Radio’s Willie’s Roadhouse (Channel 59) and Outlaw Country (Channel 60)

• Released 11 of his own albums, as well as being featured on five collaborative recordings, including the honky-tonk supergroups Heybale! and the TwangBangers, and a Grammy-nominated bluegrass album with Special Consensus

• Graced some of the most hallowed stages in country music, from the Grand Ole Opry and the Kennedy Center, to the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree and Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnic

• Opened shows for many of the biggest names in country music, including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Pride, Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, to name a few

• Featured artist on “Larry’s Country Diner”

• Numerous acting credits including the original Broadway cast of “Pump Boys and Dinettes”

• Commercial voice overs for radio and TV including United Airlines, Chevrolet, McDonald’s, MTV and Avis, among others

My in-laws like to listen to Willie’s Roadhouse a lot, so I thought it was cool to find out he’s one of the on-air personalities there.

Anyway – if you’re looking for some country music that isn’t a cross between pop or rock, and closer to the classics, you should check out Songs The Jukebox Taught Me.  3/5.

In the meantime – here is the press release for the upcoming Volume II:

Country music artist and SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse and Outlaw Country host, Dallas Wayne will release his latest album, Songs The Jukebox Taught Me: Volume 2, on June 22.

“My latest album represents a continuing journey back to the songs that made me fall in love with classic country music. Together with the previous Songs The Jukebox Taught Me project, this collection of 25 songs is a tribute to the songwriters who crafted them, and the artists who sang them — the heroes and teachers who taught me this music,” Wayne said.

Artists such as Willie Nelson have already given positive reviews of the album: “I’m really enjoying listening to this new CD, Songs The Jukebox Taught Me Vol. 2, by Dallas Wayne. Great job on an old song of mine called ‘Blame It On The Times.’ Thanks for bringing this one back! Also, I love the Vern Gosdin cover, ‘Is It Raining At Your House.’ Remember our motto: If It Ain’t Broke, Break It.”

Songs The Jukebox Taught Me: Volume 2 comes as a sequel to Songs The Jukebox Taught Me: Volume 1, which was released in 2016. In addition to releasing a new album, Dallas will be performing throughout the year, with multiple shows in his home state of Texas. Keep up with all of Dallas’ tour dates on www.dallaswayne.com.

Dallas Wayne Tour Dates
June 27 – Tyler, Texas* – Liberty Hall (w/Connie Smith)
June 28 – Arlington, Texas* – Arlington Music Hall (w/Connie Smith)
June 29 – Waco, Texas* – Waco Hippodrome Theatre (w/Connie Smith)
June 30 – Weatherford, Texas* – Texas Opry Theater (w/Connie Smith)
July 7 – New York City, N.Y. – Lincoln Center Heybale Band
July 8 – Buffalo, N.Y. – Sportsmens Tavern Heybale Band
July 11 – Kansas City, Mo. – Carl Butler’s Gospel Lounge, Knuckleheads
July 12 – Kansas City, Mo. – Knuckleheads
July 13 -15 – Branson, Mo. – Hit Songwriters in the Round (Americana Theater)
July 28 – New Braunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall -Flat Top Jones (Gruene Hall)
Aug. 10-11 – Carthage, Texas – TX Country Music Hall of Fame Show
Aug. 16 – Waco, Texas* – Waco Hippodrome Theatre (w/Bellamy Brothers)
Aug. 25 – New Brunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall – Flat Top Jones Band
Oct. 27 – New Braunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall – Flat Top Jones Band
Nov. 1 – Waco, Texas – Waco Hippodrome Theatre (w/John Conlee)
Nov. 3 – Carthage, Texas* – Carthage High School (w/John Conlee)
Nov. 24 – New Braunfels, Texas – Gruene Hall -Flat Top Jones Band
*Dallas emcees/opens the show

About Dallas Wayne
“My latest album represents a continuing journey back to the songs that made me fall in love with classic country music. Together with the previous Songs The Jukebox Taught Me project, this collection of 25 songs is a tribute to the songwriters who crafted them, and the artists who sang them — the heroes and teachers who taught me this music,” Wayne said.
Artists such as Willie Nelson have already given positive reviews of the album: “I’m really enjoying listening to this new CD, Songs The Jukebox Taught Me Vol. 2, by Dallas Wayne. Great job on an old song of mine called ‘Blame It On The Times.’ Thanks for bringing this one back! Also, I love the Vern Gosdin cover, ‘Is It Raining At Your House.’ Remember our motto: If It Ain’t Broke, Break It.”
Songs The Jukebox Taught Me: Volume 2 comes as a sequel to Songs The Jukebox Taught Me: Volume 1, which was released in 2016. In addition to releasing a new album, Dallas will be performing throughout the year, with multiple shows in his home state of Texas. Keep up with all of Dallas’ tour dates on www.dallaswayne.com.