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That was recorded the year my mom was born. Can you just imagine being in some honky tonk in some old dusty town, on a Saturday night, and hearing that live.

I read a biography of Bob Wills which reported on the reaction to The New San Antonio Rose -- the one with lyrics, which became a huge hit.

The band had played a gig in San Angelo, boarded the bus and, when they got within range, they tuned the radio into WOAI/San Antonio. And all the news was that Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys would be in town that night, playing in an auditorium which escapes my memory. WOAI played the song over and over all day. ,p> When the band arrived at the hotel, the street was crowded with greeters -- who followed the band into the lobby...and even carried their luggage and instruments up to their rooms. And, when it came time to leave the hotel for the auditorium, the crowd was still there and stayed with the band as they negotiated their way down the street.

As soon as the auditorium opened its doors, it was full to capacity. Bob saved The new San Antonio Rose for the end of the first set...and the tension built within the auditorium. When he kicked off the Rose, the house went wild. Everybody stood, everybody cheered...and everybody started dancing. Before the band had finished the first chorus, the first four rows of seats had been ripped out, turning the area into a dance floor.

Bob then led the band through three encores...and, then, they escaped the building. But, according to the story, the party lasted all night.

Would the story have been much different in Brownfield or Borger? No, probably not. Only in scale...