Groover's Paradise

All of Doug Sahm’s albums espouse his particular brand of loose living, but Groover’s Paradise is easily his shaggiest effort — in the best possible way. Released in 1974, it reflects the peak of Austin’s cowboy counterculture. During that time, Doug Sahm’s world was centered on the Soap Creek Saloon, a ramshackle roadhouse just down the road from the singer’s house. His weekly gigs became a family gathering for Austin’s freaky cowboys, who would puff, drink and dance all night to Sahm’s mix of country, R&B, conjunto and rock and roll. The title of Groover’s Paradise refers to this scenario, and its ten songs are an approximation of those careening nights at Soap Creek. Doug had a unique heart, spacious enough to contain the shaggy chants of “Just Groove Me,” the Mexican two-step of “La Cacahuata” and the poignant balladry of “Beautiful Texas Sunshine.” The songs here are hilarious and deeply soulful, spontaneous yet authentic. The only drawback is that the production is dry, leaving the listener to provide the sound of clinking glasses and blue smoke.