The response to Jon Rauhouse’s first CD was soooo strong, we couldn’t stop him from making another. Who would have thought that a record replete with pedal steel and Hawaiian guitar classics would stand a chance in the techno-crazy new millenium? Maybe people miss records that contain actual MUSICIANS. Maybe they like the fact that even grandmaw will want to get down to this stuff and get off your back about all that “noise” you normally pollute your ears with.

Whatever the case, Jon and his gang are back with another installment that will most assuredly put a smile on your face and a beat in your feet. More classics like “Indian Love Call,” “Smoke Rings,” “Perry Mason Theme” and the Raymond Scott, hard as hell to play, you know it from Warner Brothers cartoons “Powerhouse,” a handful of originals, and, for those who just NEED the sound of a human voice, guest vocalists Neko Case, Sally Timms, Howe Gelb (Giant Sand), and Kelly Hogan. “Steel Guitar Rodeo” kicks up some dust, my friends. Help Jon and the gang end the unfair prejudice against instrumentals. This is THE record for dusting off the high-balls, putting a John Wayne DVD in the player, swapping lies about your visit to the Playboy Mansion, and dreaming of faraway scantily clad native gals running down white sand beaches. And remember, go easy on the vermouth, Dino and Don Ho would have wanted it that way.

Track List

1. Introduction
2. Widowmaker
3. Smoke Rings
4. Powerhouse
5. River Of No Return
6. Ropin’ The Goat
7. Wishin’
8. Roaches To Room Service
9. Hamma Hamma Hula
10. (There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover
11. Perry Mason Theme
12. Indian Love Call
13. Prisoner Of Love
14. Jennifer’s Breakdown
15. Work Work
16. Swingin’ Elephant Graveyard
17. Corn & Coffee
18. Moa Lei’ a ‘i

Artists

• Tim Tuten – Introduction
• Jon Rauhouse – pedal steel, Hawaiian guitar, banjo, Guitar on track 15, lead vocals on 7,15,17, backing vocals on 5,12.
• Tommy Connell – all guitars except where noted, lead guitar on 15, tenor guitar on 9,18, backing vocals on 5,7,12,17.
• Neko Case – Vocals on River Of No Return
• Kelly Hogan – Vocals on Smoke Rings & Prisoner Of Love
• Sally Timms – Vocals on (There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover
• Howe Gelb – Piano & vocals on Indian Love Call
• Andy Hopkins – Electric guitar on Prisoner Of Love
• Jennie Benford – Guitar & mandolin on Jennifer’s Breakdown
• Bradford Hutchinson – 2nd banjo on Jennifer’s Breakdown
• Jacob Valenzuela – Trumpet on Powerhouse, Perry Mason Theme & Indian Love Call
• Joey Burns – Bass on Indian Love Call, cello on Perry Mason Theme
• Nick Luna – Piano on Powerhouse, Perry Mason Theme & marimba on Powerhouse
• Johnny Marston – Bassoon on Perry Mason Theme, backing vocals on tracks 5,7,12
• Tom V. Ray – Bass on tracks 2,3,6,8,10,13,14
• Will Lovell – Bass on tracks 4,7,9,11,15,17,18
• Kevin O’Donell – Drums on tracks 2,3,5,6,8,10,13
• John Convertino – Drums on tracks 4,7,11,12,15,17
• Craig Schumacher – Vox continental on Work Work & backing vocals on 5,7,12,17

Production

• Tracks 1,2,3,6,8,10,13,14 – recorded & mixed by Mike Hagler at Kingsize in Chicago IL, assst engineer Jeff Boyd
• Tracks 4,5,7,11,12,15,17 – recorded & mixed by Craig Schumacher at WaveLab in Tuscon AZ, asst engineers Nick Luca & Erika Earl
• Mastered by Mike Hagler at Kingsize in Chicago IL