Pistol Packin' Mama

review by Greg Adams Pistol Packin Mama is a long-overdue collection of Al Dexters classic recordings, including all but one of his Top 40 hits, seven of which reached number one. The 25 tracks span the years 1942-49 and run the gamut from honky tonk to instrumental polkas to boogies. Although this generous anthology offers nearly 80 minutes of music, the disc was mastered from commercial 78s, and as a result the sound is sometimes crackly and thin. Perhaps Columbia will someday release a better-mastered Al Dexter collection of their own, but until then Pistol Packin Mama has nearly all of the essential sides and then some. 1 Pistol Packin Mama Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:49 2 Poor Little Honky-Tonk Gal Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:57 3 Honky Tonk Chinese Dime Al Dexter / Aubrie Gass Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:51 4 Sundown Polka Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:47 5 Its up to You Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:52 6 So Long, Pal Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:58 7 Too Late to Worry, Too Late to Cry Al Dexter / Al [Country] Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:43 8 Rosalita Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:47 9 Ill Wait for You, Dear Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:34 10 Maybe Baby Its Me Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:44 11 Guitar Polka Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:44 12 Im Losin My Mind over You Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:50 13 Honey, Do You Think Its Wrong? Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:38 14 Whos Gonna Love You When Im Gone? Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:36 15 Wine, Women and Song Al Dexter / Aubrie Gass Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:49 16 Love Lanes of Yesterday Roiz Davis / Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:53 17 Im Lost Without You Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:44 18 Triflin Gal Al Dexter / Cindy Walker Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:43 19 Kokomo Island Al Dexter / Cindy Walker Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:26 20 I Learned About Love Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:46 21 Down at the Roadside Inn Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:42 22 Remember Youre Mine Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:44 23 New Broom Boogie Al Dexter / Cindy Walker Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:39 24 Im Startin Sweetheart Again Al Dexter / Cindy Walker Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers 2:35 25 Rock and Rye Rag Al Dexter Al Dexter feat. Al Dexter and His Troopers