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This week’s vinyl release of Texas Wild, an album celebrating the wild things and wild places of Texas through music, is a landmark for Austin producer Walker Lukens, who happily accepted this yearlong labor of love.
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The newly restored Texas Science & Natural History Museum added a tyrannosaur to its Great Hall, which also features a flying pterosaur. (Credit: Nolan Zunk, University of Texas) |
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A modern longhorn skull resides next to a replica skull of an ancient bison that once lived in Texas. These are part of the museum's new Texas Transformation exhibit. (Credit: Nolan Zunk, UT). |
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The museum's Art Deco exterior, on the University of Texas campus. (Credit: UT) |
The second single release from Texas Wild, an album celebrating 100 years of Texas State Parks, dropped July 6, further whetting appetites for the full release this fall.
“Possum Kingdom” by Oscar/Grammy/Golden Globe award-winner Ryan Bingham (with backup band, The Texas Gentlemen) is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. Considering the wholesome family fun happening along the 300 miles of lakeshore and coves of this state park west of Fort Worth, the edgy ‘90s alt-rock Toadies’ song is surprisingly creepy.
To listen to the single, click here.
The April 30 drop of “Hey Baby, Que Paso?” by Fat Tony featuring Paul Wall sparked interest in Austin-based producer Walker Lukens’ pairings of classic Texas songs twisted into fresh takes by contemporary Texas artists. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), in partnership with Rambler Sparkling Water and Tecovas Boots, is sponsoring the digital and limited-edition vinyl album. Proceeds benefit Texas’ wild things and wild places.
The song
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Frame from Toadie's "Possum Kingdom" video |
No other popular record has a Texas State Park in the title, so the Toadies' 1994 “Possum Kingdom” is perhaps the most obvious choice for a Centennial music project despite its serial killer vibes. Think ghost stories around the campfire to set the mood — no real danger in its fiction, just a satisfying frisson of fear up your spine.
Toadies lead singer Vaden Todd Lewis’ lyrics have sparked Reddit threads and social media debates for decades, linking it to various real crimes and fanciful vampire legends as well as the lake’s submerged ghost town, Pickwick. In 2019, he finally told Texas Monthly writer Sean O’Neill in a Halloween article the truth behind his cryptic words.
“I just made it up.”
After reading all the interesting theories, he wonders with amusement if he should have concocted a better story.
“Texans love that kind of storytelling, because it’s what we grew up with,” Lewis said. “The ghost stories—the metal hook on the car roof and all that. It’s just fun to sit around and scare each other.”
The simple, repetitive lyrics put listeners uncomfortably inside the mind of a man who seems to have evil intent, trying to lure a woman to walk with him around the lake to the boathouse and promising “eternal beauty” in return.
The Possum Kingdom setting came from summers spent at a family fishing lodge on the lake. With feature names like Hell’s Gate and Devil’s Island, it seemed like the perfect setting for a frightful tale, especially at night.
“Lewis says he never really heard any chilling stories about Possum Kingdom, specifically,” O’Neill writes. “No one ever told him anything about the vampires or vengeful ghosts or secret cults supposedly hiding in the woods. To him, Possum Kingdom just seemed like the kind of place where something bad could happen. And because he put it in a song, many people have come to be convinced that it did.”
Even the visual setting of Possum Kingdom can offer an aura of mystery and danger, attracting world cliff-diving events for daredevils.
The original
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Fort Worth band Toadies “Possum Kingdom” was released as the second single from the Toadies’ 1994 album Rubberneck, breaking Billboard’s Top 40 chart and soaring even higher on alt-rock charts. Lewis said he wrote it as a kind of followup to another song on the album, “I Burn.” The song seems to have grown in popularity through the past quarter-century, perhaps due to the accompanying music video that today has garnered 41 million views on YouTube with 13,000 comments. In the video, the camera intercuts band performance scenes with a body bag floating in the lake. A surprise ending offers a more palatable storyline involving sculpture instead of murder, an icy twist that makes us wonder what is real and what is imagined. “Possum Kingdom” was even included in the setlist for the Xbox 360 edition of Guitar Hero II. The new sound |
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Lukens with The Texas Gentlemen in the studio |
Almost 30 years later, Lukens’ Texas Wild version aims to honor this fan-favorite while adding elements of blues, rock and country.
“Ryan Bingham wanting to do ‘Possum Kingdom’ is exactly what makes an album like this special; a big artist in one genre taking a chance by doing a popular song in another genre,” Lukens said. “Plus, Richard Bowden’s fiddle solo is one of the coolest things that’s ever happened at our studio.”
The Texas Gentlemen, who cover Lyle Lovett’s “(That’s Right) You’re Not From Texas” on another track of Texas Wild, provide backup as Bingham's band for this song.
“Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentleman bring their own style to the tune, imbuing it with a uniquely haunting touch,” said Toadies guitarist Clark Vogeler, who’s also fond of Bowden’s contribution to the sound. “A lurid and chaotic violin pairs with the guitars creating an original appeal. This is a great cover that takes the song to new places.”
Bingham’s rough-edged but authentic vocals add a haunting quality to the repetitive lyrics. Even in the earliest days of his career, critics commented on the “old” sound of his voice.
“I love how Ryan made the tune his own, really brought out the swampy, gritty vibe,” Lewis said. “Cool stuff.”
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Ryan Bingham |
Bingham found fame collaborating with producer T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the 2009 film Crazy Heart, cowriting and performing the film’s award-winning theme song, “The Weary Kind.” The title track earned Bingham an Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Critics’ Choice Award in 2010, as well as a Grammy Award in 2011. He’s also been seen acting in the hit series Yellowstone.
The album
A third single release is slated for later this summer, culminating with the digital and limited-edition vinyl release of the entire work this fall. Plans are in the works for concerts in state parks celebrating the album.
Texas illustrator Mishka Westell created unique block-print style art for each of the three single releases and the album. “Possum Kingdom” sports an aplomado falcon.
"Texas music has helped shape our inimitable spirit, just as the iconic landscapes of our Texas State Parks have inspired our last 100 years,” said Anne Brown, TPWF executive director. “In places like Garner State Park, music has inspired magical summer nights for decades; visitors have danced to Texas tunes beneath the stars at the historic pavilion since the 1940s.”
Fun spoiler: This album is packed with full-circle moments, with many artists doing double duty. Kelly Clarkson was seen and heard singing along to “Possum Kingdom” in her dressing room during an episode of “The Voice.” Another cut from the upcoming Texas Wild album will feature the Toadies covering Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”
The celebration for 100 Years of Texas State Parks picks up the tempo today with the release of the first single from Texas Wild, a genre-bending album featuring Texas artists covering Texas classics, with all proceeds to benefit our wild things and wild places.
Produced by inventive Austin singer/songwriter Walker Lukens, Texas Wild blends the traditional Texas mix of blues, cumbia and country with unexpected modern flavors like hip-hop, R&B and electronica.
“Your average Texan can easily name 8–10 classic songs made by Texan artists from genres as diverse as country, blues, rock, Tejano, folk, hip hop and R&B,” Lukens said. “What other state can claim to have made significant contributions to so many genres? Texas Wild features fresh takes on classics from all these genres— it’s a funky and soulful best-of-Texas playlist for whenever you’re feeling state pride.”
“(Hey Baby) Que Paso,” by Houston artists Fat Tony featuring Paul Wall, the first public taste of the highly anticipated album, is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. To listen to the single, click here.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), in partnership with Rambler Sparkling Water, sponsored the album, to be released on vinyl this fall.
"Texas music has helped shape our inimitable spirit, just as the iconic landscapes of our Texas State Parks have inspired our last 100 years,” said Anne Brown, executive director of TPWF, Texas Wild sponsors. “In places like Garner State Park, music has inspired magical summer nights for decades; visitors have danced to Texas tunes beneath the stars at the historic pavilion since the 1940s.”
The song
The simple lyrics of the 1983 song are a mashup of Spanish and English, sliding easily into the comfort zone of both audiences, no matter the level of bilingual ability. Augie Meyers (with Bill Sheffield) wrote lyrics and music, which was recorded in Spanish and the mixed “Spanglish,” with a few Spanish words mispronounced on purpose.
The rowdy singalong’s been claimed as “the national anthem of San Antonio” by some of its more enthusiastic fans, but generations of Texans of all musical tastes can sing every word — and do so with gusto. “Hey Baby” is a boisterous, rollicking romp, despite the melancholy of the underlying jilted lover story.
The memorable first line — “Hey baby, que paso? I thought I was your only vato.” — sets the scene and resonates as a first reaction to just about any breakup that comes as a shock. Through the song’s two verses (that sound like choruses), the singer pleads for his love to turn around and give him a kiss. “My corazon is real.”
On stage, Meyers often told a humorous story about the inspiration for “Hey Baby,” his final conversation with a soon-to-be-ex.
“Why are you always playing that Mexican music?”
“I love it.”
“Well, I don’t.”
“Well, honey, there’s the door.”
The original
The song was popularized by Meyers’ band, the Texas Tornados, a Tex-Mex supergroup that formed around 1990, touring out of San Antonio.
Late country star Freddy Fender, a San Benito native who had international hits with “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” and “Till the Last Teardrop Falls,” was probably the most famous member. Accordion legend Flaco Jimenez — he played with the Rolling Stones and practically invented conjunto — brought the crossover musical flavor that added a flash of habanero heat to the band’s signature sound.
The gig set list centered around the talents of band leaders Meyers and Doug Sahm (who died in 1999), already popular from their successful stint in The Sir Douglas Quintet in the 1960s, with hits like “Mendocino” and “She’s About a Mover.” “Hey Baby (Que Paso)” was a show-stopper, guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet.
The band lasted about a decade altogether (including breaks) until the death of founding member Doug Sahm but released an earlier Austin City Limits performance as an album in 2005. The surviving members (Fender died in 2006) reformed the group with Sahm’s son Shawn and put out another record in 2010.
The new sound
For the 2023 arrangement of “Hey Baby,” Lukens — who wasn’t born when the song was written — collaborated with members of Grupo Fantasma, the Texas Gentlemen and Sir Woman, who take their own creative turns on other tracks of Texas Wild as well.
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Walker Lukens, Texas Wild producer |
Lukens begins the track with stripped-down bass and drums, harder driving than the original. Soon after, the Song Confessional podcaster begins to layer in steel guitar and other instruments to build the full sound but — sorry, conjunto fans — said adîos to Jimenez' trademark accordion of the original. You won’t miss it for long, though, because when the beat drops, Paul Wall’s inventive rap adds a whole new element of storytelling that’s sure to make you hit repeat until you catch every word to sing along.
The result could be described as “San Antonio meets Houston, decides to stick around and have some fun.” The marriage is harmonious but still full of surprises. “Hey Baby” loses none of its infectious spirit as it gets pleasantly stuck in your head for the rest of the day.
The album
“(Hey Baby) Que Paso” is just the first of several single releases slated for Texas Wild, with a second single scheduled for release in June and a third in July, culminating with the digital and limited-edition vinyl release of the entire work this fall.
Texas illustrator Mishka Westell created unique block-print style art for each of the three single releases and the album. The album cover art features Texas native wildlife, including a screech owl, a mockingbird and other Texas critters. Sales from the album will benefit TPWF.
“The two best things about Texas are its physical beauty and its music,” Lukens said. “This record, which was made by some of the finest musicians in our state, benefits Texas State Parks and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, who take care of our public lands. What’s cooler than that?”
A full track listing will be available closer to the album release, but to date, the tracks include:
Fat Tony featuring Paul Wall "(Hey Baby) Que Paso”
Original Track: Sir Douglas Quintet
The Texas Gentlemen "(That's Right) You're Not From Texas"
Original Track: Lyle Lovett
Shane Smith and The Saints featuring Hayes Carll "Pancho and Lefty"
Original Track: Townes Van Zandt
LUNA LUNA “Si Una Vez”
Original Track: Selena Quintanilla
Ryan Bingham "Possum Kingdom"
Original Track: The Toadies
The Suffers "My Maria"
Original Track: B.W. Stevenson
Shakey Graves featuring Jess Williamson "True Love Will Find You In The End"
Original Track: Daniel Johnston
Sir Woman featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard "Texas Sun"
Original Track: Khruangbin and Leon Bridges
Adrian Quesada featuring US and The Soul Supporters "Say My Name"
Original Track: Destiny’s Child
Sarah Jaffe "Flying Too Close To The Ground"
Original Track: Willie Nelson
The Toadies "Since You've Been Gone"
Original Track: Kelly Clarkson
Additional live events celebrating Texas Wild will be announced soon. To keep up with album news, visit TexasWildAlbum.org to sign up for updates, or follow TPWF on Instagram, @texasparkswildlifefoundation.
“A woman's place in public is to sit beside her husband, be silent, and be sure her hat is on straight.” - Bess Truman
Don’t tell that to the women at Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Meet some of our colleagues who are working to conserve Texas’ wild things and wild places. Whether they’re wrangling bighorn sheep or wrestling with a Purchase Order, these women get stuff done -- even if their hats aren’t always straight.
If you know someone who might be interested in being part of our team, check out our internship, job and volunteer opportunities.
What she does: As one of two very busy veterinarians at Texas Parks and Wildlife, Sara monitors Texas native wildlife for disease and develops strategies to stop sickness from spreading. She works closely with biologists, landowners and other government agencies, assisting with research, veterinary protocols and training.
Career highlights: Getting to crawl into a bat cave during monitoring for white-nose syndrome and assisting with examining bighorn sheep in west Texas as part of TPWD’s native bighorn sheep restoration program.
Pagie Reeves, Administrative Technician for the Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Center
What she does: Pagie may spend most of her work day indoors, but she serves as the heart of a team whose research impacts coastal fisheries management. Providing the administrative support to keep things running smoothly, she strives to create a helpful, positive and professional work environment.
Career highlight: Helping plan and decorate the new San Antonio Bay field office in Port O’ Connor.
Maegan Lanham, Photographer for Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine
What she does: Angela works to manage riparian (streamside) areas to support healthy habitat for fish and the food web of plants, insects, and other organisms that sustain them. She helps landowners learn about land management methods that improve water quality and quantity while enhancing native biodiversity.
Career highlights: Serving as the project manager for the Healthy Creeks Initiative. This project manages invasive Arundo (giant reed) in five Native Fish Conservation Areas of the Hill Country, in support of ongoing conservation projects such as restoring habitat for our state fish, the Guadalupe Bass.
What she does: As a civil engineer, Niki designs anything to be built anywhere in Texas. One day she’s designing roads at a new State Natural Area and the next she’s in the bottom of a pond at the A.E. Wood Fish Hatchery. Every TPWD facility involves infrastructure such as utilities, roads and parking, bridges or dams, or buildings. And everywhere there is infrastructure, a civil engineer is involved.
Career highlight: In her previous job with a civil engineering consulting firm, Niki had the opportunity to serve as a hydraulic engineer on a project at Devils River State Natural Area. That fueled a growing passion for the state park system and inspired her to forge a career with TPWD.
What she does: Anzhi designs, builds and supports custom web application solutions to serve TPWD’s internal and external customers.
Career highlight: Being part of the core team that designs, implements and provides customer support for agency’s Online Permitting system.
Jessica Burke, ADA Coordinator
What she does: Jessica manages TPWD’s Americans with Disabilities Act office, which works to ensure that people with disabilities have access to TPWD facilities and programs.
Career highlight: Making a difference in the lives of others by partnering with communities to make spaces more accessible.
What she does: Patty works to ensure the efficient operation of three saltwater fish hatcheries, doing everything from providing training to ordering supplies while providing ongoing support to her colleagues.
Career highlight: Helping secure equipment for Sea Center Texas’ new Flounder Building.
What she does: Dee supports the Executive Office team and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners. She began her TPWD career as Warehouse Clerk, and over her 35-year tenure has worked for four Executive Directors and 54 Commissioners.
Career highlight: A quote from former Executive Director Carter Smith, “’No’ is not in Dee’s vocabulary. When somebody calls, they want to talk to Dee because they know it's going to get done and they know it's going to get done promptly. She solves every problem.”
Nicole Feldman, Veteran Liaison & Internship Coordinator
What she does: Nicole works with TPWD veterans to provide resources, opportunities and a way to connect to each other. She also helps students connect with our agency through the internship program.
Career highlight: The opportunities for networking all over the state of Texas. Nicole enjoys meeting new people and learning from them. She says, “Everyone comes with a different story, and it is amazing to see how we were all brought together by one agency.”
Chelsea Bailey, Texas Game Warden
What she does: Chelsea began her career as an intern, and then became a licensed peace officer as a Texas Game Warden. After working on the coast for several years, Chelsea now serves as a game warden recruiter.
Career highlight: Chelsea started the Texas Game Warden Women’s Conference, a leadership conference for female Texas Game Wardens and State Park Police Officers, which will come to fruition in June of 2023.