(Spectrum Records) For those out there that bemoan the lack of good old fashioned, pure traditional country music, the kind of music in the tradition of Lefty or Ray Price or George Jones or Bob Wills, let me present to you John Casner and his album Don't Make Me Laugh While I'm Drinkin. John's music is a combination of classic honky tonk and western swing, where he covers golden oldies and long lost chestnuts, and mixes in his own originals that slide right in seamlessly.

John's been based in Austin since 1980, and has long been well respected on the music scene, playing with various bands as well as recording several other artists. When I received this disc to review, I have to admit, I hadn't heard of Lost John Casner before this. Then after reading some comments by Merle Haggard regarding John and the project, it turned out the 'Lost' had thrown me off, and I was familiar with John Casner in a roundabout way. One of the artists that John had recorded was the under-appreciated late Blaze Foley. Sure enough, I pulled out my copy and there it was. He recorded, what is virtually Blaze's one and only surviving recording, Live At The Austin Outhouse, just a few weeks before he was murdered in 1989, on which he also contributed piano. Live At The Austin Outhouse was finally released in 1999, and the release of this album is what caught Merle's attention. He called up John and asked if he could hear the tapes. Merle had been singing "If I Could Only Fly" for years in his live shows, and wanted to hear Blaze's own version. It inspired Merle to record a new version of the song which appears on his album of the same title. John's own music caught Merle's attention, and he's been one of John's biggest cheerleaders ever since.

John has complete command over his music. His rich tenor is as warm and smooth as a shot of whiskey, a man that doesn't just sing his songs, but sings with the authority of actually having an intimate knowledge and connection with them. Joining him on Don't Make Me Laugh are the incomparable Johnny Gimble on fiddle and mandolin, Boomer Norman on guitar, Bobby Snell on steel guitar, J.C. George and Frank Campbell on bass, Timmy Campbell and Cephas Wozencraft on drums, with George Ensle, Mandy Mercier, Beth Galiger, Michael Heil and Ron Nottebart on backing vocals. Also appearing on the disc are outstanding classics either penned or made hits by the likes of Leon Payne, Blaze Foley, Mel Tillis, George Jones and John Prine.

Don't Make Me Laugh While I'm Drinkin' opens right off the bat on a high note, with the swinging Danny Sheridan penned title track, where Johnny Gimble shows off some of his hottest fiddle licks, and John ends with that famous Wills "ah-ha." John's original, "When The Money's Gone," is a terrific jazzy swing number with some soulful vocals, and does an outstanding job swinging Mel Tillis' "One More Time." On another of John's originals, "New Texas Blues," he adds a bit of swing into this honky tonk shuffle.

John wrote "Remote Amigo" as a tribute to his friend Blaze shortly after his death, but rather than it being of the mournful variety, this one's an upbeat, two-stepping honky tonker that is more a celebration of Blaze. He follows that up with an aching and inspiring cover of Blaze's barroom weeper "Faded Love And Memories." Next up is a cover of the George Jones hit "Why Baby Why," which without a doubt rivals the Jones original. "Jubal's Song" is another Casner original, done in classic honky tonk style, and John Prine's "Yes, I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You" is a raucous, honky tonkin' standout.

The Bill Wilson penned "Skid Row Rodeo" is a real highlight, where John adds a Tex-Mex flavor to this western tale of a cowboy reaching the end of the line. John really makes you feel the ache in Leon Payne's shuffling tear in your beer honky tonker, "They'll Never Take Her Love Away From Me." Another highlight is Rich Minus' "I'm Gonna Die With My Dreams On," that starts off slowly, in a torchy/bluesy vein, before kicking into a lovely, but aching waltz.

John Casner has a warm, soothing voice with amazing range, that perfectly emotes everything from heartache to joy and everything in-between, giving a real authenticity to the songs and his music. He's backed by one stellar group of musicians that kick it up even a notch higher. Don't Make Me Laugh While I'm Drinkin' is the polar opposite of today's mainstream country, and represents country music in it's purest most undiluted form, all those elements and nuances that have been MIA from country music of late are here in full force. For anyone who's been long missing those aspects of country music, I suggest you run, don't walk, and grab yourself a copy of this disc- ASAP.

www.lostjohn.com