Pulse Magazine

Texas Platters
Phases & Stages
by JERRY RENSHAW
March 15, 2002:

Don Walser
Dare To Dream - The Best Of Don Walser (Lone Star, TMG)

After countless nights at Threadgill's and Jovita's, tours, government awards, and even an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, it's high time a comprehensive Don Walser anthology came out. After all, Walser's a Texas country music institution. For genre enthusiasts or just Lone Star locals, this CD makes a great Walser primer. He crams 20 songs in this best-of, and it's a somewhat more eclectic collection than one might expect. It covers all the familiar bases such as "Rolling Stone From Texas," "Hot Rod Mercury," and "The John Deere Tractor Song," Walser favorites from way back. However, this comp also encompasses the aching "Danny Boy," Walser's version of "Big Balls in Cowtown" from the Horse Whisperer soundtrack, and an outtake of "I Really Don't Want to Know" that works just beautifully. There's also the inimitable "Truck Drivin' Man" from 1996's Rig Rock Deluxe comp, and things close out with a 1964 version of "Rolling Stone From Texas," back when young Donnie Walser was fronting the Texas Plainsmen. Austin's great yodeling country Buddha is nearly ready for a box set considering how busy he's been, but Dare to Dream: The Best of Don Walser oughta hold you 'til then.