Rio Grande Valley Lovin' with Doug Sahm and the Sir Douglas Quintet
Doug Sahm is one of the more influential artists to come out of the state of Texas. With the help of legendary pianist Augie Meyers, the Sir Douglas Quintet created a unique rock sound that incorporated elements of Tex-Mex music into rock n’ roll. This was a very revolutionary tack to take in a rock era laced with the psychedelic. Though they relocated for awhile to the epicenter of psychedelia, San Francisco, the San Antonio natives firmly retained their “Texican” roots.
From the catchy North California love song “Mendocino” to “Texas Me” their catalog is filled with very geo-centric songs. Despite dalliances with California, their geography is firmly planted along the Rio Grande valley.
01-mendocino.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Mendocino
04-texas-me.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Texas Me
The truest lyrical example of their geographic center is “Texas Tornado.” The lyrics dot the map with different Texan locales, from Amarillo to Houston. It provides a great, if elementary, geography lesson.
20-texas-tornado.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Texas Tornado
There is of course the rollicking cover tune (replete w/backing vocals by Bob Dylan) “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone,” but it is as much a dark song of escape as it is about Doug’s home. While the music itself is a dead giveaway, for lyrically true geo-centric tunes, we must look to something like “Nuevo Laredo.” It is a song that details the wild night allure the town had. It is quite unfortunate, but now one is more likely to experience a gun wound than a night playing tunes with senoritas.
19-is-anybody-going-to-san-antone.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Is Anybody Going to San Antone
10-nuevo-laredo.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Nuevo Laredo
Musical Map of America–Part 5: The Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley Lovin' with Doug Sahm and the Sir Douglas Quintet
Doug Sahm is one of the more influential artists to come out of the state of Texas. With the help of legendary pianist Augie Meyers, the Sir Douglas Quintet created a unique rock sound that incorporated elements of Tex-Mex music into rock n’ roll. This was a very revolutionary tack to take in a rock era laced with the psychedelic. Though they relocated for awhile to the epicenter of psychedelia, San Francisco, the San Antonio natives firmly retained their “Texican” roots.
From the catchy North California love song “Mendocino” to “Texas Me” their catalog is filled with very geo-centric songs. Despite dalliances with California, their geography is firmly planted along the Rio Grande valley.
01-mendocino.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Mendocino
04-texas-me.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Texas Me
The truest lyrical example of their geographic center is “Texas Tornado.” The lyrics dot the map with different Texan locales, from Amarillo to Houston. It provides a great, if elementary, geography lesson.
20-texas-tornado.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Texas Tornado
There is of course the rollicking cover tune (replete w/backing vocals by Bob Dylan) “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone,” but it is as much a dark song of escape as it is about Doug’s home. While the music itself is a dead giveaway, for lyrically true geo-centric tunes, we must look to something like “Nuevo Laredo.” It is a song that details the wild night allure the town had. It is quite unfortunate, but now one is more likely to experience a gun wound than a night playing tunes with senoritas.
19-is-anybody-going-to-san-antone.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Is Anybody Going to San Antone
10-nuevo-laredo.mp3
Sir Douglas Quintet – Nuevo Laredo