Asleep at the Wheel is an American Western swing group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, United States, and is based in Austin, Texas. The band has won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception, released over twenty albums, and has charted more than 21 singles on the Billboard country charts. Their highest-charting single, "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read", peaked at No. 10 in 1975.
Ray Benson is the front man of the Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel as well as an actor and voice actor.
Asleep at the Wheel is the second album by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by Norro Wilson at Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, it was released in September 1974 as the group's first album on Epic Records. As with its predecessor Comin' Right at Ya, Asleep at the Wheel's self-titled album featured a mix of traditional and original compositions, including songs written by popular country musicians Rex Griffin, Cindy Walker and Hank Penny.
Texas Gold is the third album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by Tommy Allsup primarily at Jack Clement Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, it was released in August 1975 as the group's first album on Capitol Nashville. The album was the band's first commercial success, charting on the US Billboard 200 and reaching the top ten of the Top Country Albums chart. Lead single "The Letter That Johnny Walker Read" also reached the Hot Country Songs top ten.
Framed is the seventh studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at several studios in Austin and Dallas, Texas, it was produced solely by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on August 5, 1980, as the group's only album on MCA Records. Following the departure of the group's primary songwriter LeRoy Preston in 1978, the original material on Framed was written primarily by Benson, with Chris O'Connell the only other credited member.
Pasture Prime is the eighth studio album by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by Ray Benson at Austin Recording and Bee Creek Studios in Austin, Texas, and by Benson and Willie Nelson at Pedernales Recording Studio in Briarcliff, Texas, it was released in April 1985 by Demon Music Group in the UK and Stony Plain Records in Canada. The album was later repackaged in the US with three fewer tracks and released under the title Asleep at the Wheel.
Greatest Hits: Live & Kickin' is the second live album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded on August 9, 1991 at the 30th annual Austin Aqua Festival, which was held at Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on March 24, 1992 as the group's second and final album on Arista Records. The album was supported by the release of "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" as its one single.
Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys is the 12th studio album and first tribute album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at studios in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on October 25, 1993 by Liberty Records. The collection features recordings of songs made popular by Western swing group Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, a major influence on Asleep at the Wheel.
The Wheel Keeps on Rollin' is the 13th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at studios in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by Andy Byrd with the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on November 21, 1995 by Capitol Nashville. The album was produced to mark the 25th anniversary of the group's 1970 inception, and was its first collection of new original studio material since the release of Keepin' Me Up Nights in 1990.
Merry Texas Christmas, Y'all is the 14th studio album and first Christmas album by American western swing band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on September 30, 1997 by High Street Records. The album includes a mix of traditional and original songs, which feature guests including Willie Nelson, fiddler Johnny Gimble and former Asleep at the Wheel pianist Floyd Domino.
Ride with Bob: A Tribute to Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys is the 15th studio album and second tribute album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded between June 1998 and March 1999 at studios in Austin, Texas and Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on August 10, 1999 as the band's only album on DreamWorks Records. The album is another tribute to the music of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.
The Very Best of Asleep at the Wheel is the 16th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas and Bradley's Barn in Nashville, Tennessee, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on June 5, 2001, by Relentless Nashville, an imprint of Madacy Entertainment Group. The album was issued in the United Kingdom in 2003 by Evangeline Records under the title Take Me Back to Tulsa.
Hang Up My Spurs is the 17th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded during 2001 at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released in January 2002 as one of the first albums on Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores' own label CB Music. Several songs on the album had been previously recorded by the band for earlier releases, while others are new compositions produced exclusively for the release.
Asleep at the Wheel Remembers the Alamo is the 18th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on November 4, 2003 by Shout! Factory. The record is a loose concept album based on the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas in 1836, including several songs written by Paul Francis Webster and Dimitri Tiomkin for the 1960 film The Alamo.
Live at Billy Bob's Texas is the fifth live album and first video album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded on April 18, 2003 at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and released on October 14, 2003 by Smith Music Group, as part of the Live at Billy Bob's Texas series. The album is the band's first release to feature fiddler and guitarist Haydn Vitera, and features former steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar as a guest.
New Routes is the 25th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studios and Arlyn Studios in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson with manager and engineer Sam Seifert, and released on September 14, 2018 by Benson's own Bismeaux Productions with Thirty Tigers. It is the group's first album to feature original material since 2007's Reinventing the Wheel.
Reinventing the Wheel is the 20th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band with manager/engineer Sam Seifert and released on November 14, 2006 by Ray Benson's record label Bismeaux Productions. The release is the band's first studio album to feature steel guitarist Eddie Rivers and vocalist Elizabeth McQueen, as well as the last to feature pianist John Michael Whitby as an official member.
Santa Loves to Boogie is the 19th studio album and second Christmas album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Recorded at Bismeaux Studio in Austin, Texas, it was produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson with manager and engineer Sam Seifert, and released on November 7, 2006, by Benson's own label Bismeaux Productions. The album features guest performances by singers Dale Watson, Willie Nelson, Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler on one track each.
Half a Hundred Years is the 26th studio album by American country band Asleep at the Wheel. Produced by the band's frontman Ray Benson and manager Sam Seifert, it was released on October 1, 2021 by Home Records, a sub-label of Bismeaux Productions, with Thirty Tigers. The album was produced to mark the 50th anniversary of the band's 1970 formation and features a wide range of guest performers, including several former band members and frequent collaborator Willie Nelson.
