Following the release of Pasture Prime in 1985, Asleep at the Wheel experienced a resurgence in popularity which led to them re-signing with Epic. The group settled with a new lineup of Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis, four of whom had featured on the 1985 record. 10 was the band's first album since the departure of Chris O'Connell, although she appears as a guest.
10 was a critical and commercial success. The album was Asleep at the Wheel's second release to reach the top 20 of the US BillboardTop Country Albums chart, peaking at number 16. The collection also spawned four singles, all of which registered on the Hot Country Singles chart, with "House of Blue Lights" peaking at number 17 – the band's second to reach the top 20 of the chart. Critical reviews of the album were mainly positive, praising its return to the band's Western swing sound.
Background
In 1986, Asleep at the Wheel introduced a new lineup comprising lead vocalist and guitarist Ray Benson, steel guitarist John Ely, bassist David Dawson, pianist Tim Alexander, drummer David Sanger, fiddler Larry Franklin and saxophonist Michael Francis.[2] The band signed with Epic Records and recorded its ninth studio album that year, which was its first since Chris O'Connell's departure after becoming pregnant.[3] In early 1987, Epic imprint CBS/Nashville Senior Vice President Rick Blackburn reported that the album was "just about done", claiming that "They're better now than they've ever been and their confidence level is soaring".[4]
"Way Down Texas Way" (written by Billy Joe Shaver) was issued as the lead single from 10 in January 1987, reaching number 39 on the US BillboardHot Country Singles chart.[5] The album was released in March.[6] "House of Blue Lights" (first recorded by Freddie Slack) was released as the album's second single in May and became the band's second song to reach the top 20 of the Billboard country chart, peaking at number 17.[7] Two more tracks were issued from 10 and registered on the Hot Country Singles chart – Ray Benson's "Boogie Back to Texas" peaked at number 53,[8] and Guy Clark's "Blowin' Like a Bandit" peaked at number 59.[9]
Reception
Commercial
10 entered the BillboardTop Country Albums chart at number 45 in April 1987,[10] later becoming the band's third album (and their first release in eleven years) to reach the top 20 when it peaked at number 16 in July.[11] It also reached number 12 on the Cash Box Country Albums chart.[12]
Critical
Media reviews of 10 were generally positive. Billboard magazine described the album as "a solid collection of mainly Western swing numbers", praising "House of Blue Lights", "I Want a New Drug" and "Blues Stay Away from Me" in particular.[1]Cash Box also highlighted the Freddie Slack and Delmore Brothers tracks, as well as Fontaine Brown's "Big Foot Stomp".[13] Canadian magazine RPM outlined that "[the band's] brand of Western swing music is almost legend", hailing the record as "a fun album" and describing it as "the real country mood music".[14]
