James Last - Western Party

Review by Olga Giza

Western Party by James Last: A Toe-Tappin’, Heart-Warmish Kinda Ride You know that feeling when you stumble across something so unapologetically fun, it just sticks to your brain like syrup on pancakes? That's Western Party by James Last for me. Released in '97 (yep, the year Titanic made us all ugly cry), this album is a wild mashup of genres—pop, jazz, folk, country—and styles like bluegrass and hillbilly tunes. It’s not trying too hard to be cool or edgy; instead, it feels like hanging out with an old friend who tells corny jokes but somehow always cheers you up. James Last—a dude from Germany, believe it or not—produced and arranged this whole thing himself. And let me tell ya, he didn’t phone it in. With Peter Klemt as engineer, they polished these tracks until they sparkled brighter than rhinestones on a cowboy hat. The result? An easy-listening romp through fiddles, banjos, and melodies that feel straight outta some dusty frontier town. Now, I gotta talk about two tracks that really stood out to me because, dang, they’re memorable. First off, there’s “Chicken Reel-Turkey In The Straw.” If you don’t tap your foot at least once during this one, check your pulse—you might be dead. The way the strings bounce around is infectious, chaotic even, like chickens running loose after someone knocked over their coop. There’s no pretense here, just pure musical joy. Every time I hear it, I can almost smell BBQ smoke wafting through the air. Weird? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Then there’s “Shenandoah-Larry O’Gaff-Fire On The Mountain,” which honestly sounds like three songs crammed into one glorious mess. But somehow, it works. Shenandoah starts soft and dreamy, pulling at your heartstrings like nostalgia wrapped in a warm blanket. Then BAM—it shifts gears into Irish jig territory, all lively and mischievous. By the end, you’re left breathless, wondering how you ended up dancing in your kitchen holding a spatula like it’s a fiddle bow. Honestly, it’s kinda genius. What makes Western Party special isn’t its perfection—it’s its charm. These aren’t slick, overproduced pop hits designed to dominate charts. They’re real, raw, and full of personality. Like a slightly off-key singalong at a family reunion where everyone’s drunk on cheap wine and laughter. And here’s the kicker: Listening to this record reminds me of something important. Sometimes life doesn’t need to make perfect sense to be beautiful. Just like James Last throwing together bluegrass, gospel, and Irish folk without worrying if it fits neatly into a genre box. So go ahead, crank up Western Party. Let it remind you to laugh louder, dance sillier, and maybe even fry up some cabbage while you’re at it. Who knew German-produced country jams could teach us all a little lesson about letting loose?

Artist: James Last
Album: Western Party

Germany

1997

Rating: 5.0

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Filename: james-last-western-party.zip

MP3 size: 93 mb
FLAC size: 1618.2 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Shenandoah-Larry O´Gaff-Fire On The Mountain	3:30
Dixie	2:46
Oh! Susanna	1:38
Sunshine On The Mountain	2:42
Loro Moira's
Amazon
Chicken Reel
Orange Blossom Special	3:20
Chicken Reel-Turkey In The Straw	2:38
Bile Them Gabbage Down	3:30
Shenandoah
Rhinestone Cowboy	3:43
Sunshine On The Mountain	2:39
Paddy Whach
Gary Owen
Soldiers Joy	2:42
Go Tell It On The Mountain	3:59
Medley	(3:32)
Soldiers Joy	2:22
Go Tell It On The Mountain	3:59
Jinrikisha
Orange Blossom Special	3:23
Oh! Susanna	1:34
Rhinstone Cowboy	3:42
Bile Them Gabbage Down	3:31
Turkey In The Straw
Hornpipe Medley	4:27
Larry O'Gaff
Irish Washerwoman
Fire On The Mountain
Irish Washerwoman-GaryOwen-Paddy Whach	3:34

Video

James Last - Western Party and Square Dance.

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Catalog Numbers

823 840-2
554 165-2

Labels

Polydor
Spectrum

Listen online

lyssna på nätet
ouvir online
ascolta in linea
kuunnella verkossa
online anhören
lytte på nettet
escuchar en línea
écouter en ligne
online luisteren

Formats

CD
Album
Reissue

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	PolyGram
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Polydor International GmbH
Made By	PDO, Germany

Credits

Role	Credit
Arranged By	James Last
Engineer	Peter Klemt
Producer	James Last

Notes

Made in West Germany
Printed in West Germany
℗ 1977 – Polydor International GmbH
℗ 1997 – This compilation Karussell Musik & Video GmbH, Hamburg

Barcodes

Barcode: 0 42282 38402 7
Label Code: LC 0309
SPARS Code: AAD
Rights Society: GEMA
Matrix / Runout: 823 840-2 02 * AQ
Matrix / Runout (Inner ring): MADE IN W. GERMANY BY PDO
Barcode: 7 31455 41652 7
Label Code: LC 5064
Rights Society: BIEM / MCPS
Barcode (Text): 0 42282 38402 7
Barcode (Scanned): 042282384027
Matrix / Runout: 823 840-2 03 +
Mastering SID Code: IFPI L002

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that James Last's album *Western Party*, released in 1997, is like a musical journey through genres? It blends pop, jazz, folk, and country with styles like bluegrass and hillbilly. One fun fact: the album features "Rhinestone Cowboy" twice—once as a standalone track and again in a medley. James Last didn’t just produce and arrange the album; he also worked with engineer Peter Klemt to bring it all together. Tracks like "Chicken Reel" and "Oh! Susanna" mix classic tunes with his signature easy-listening twist. Pretty cool how one album can feel so diverse yet cohesive, right?