Colter Wall: Western Swings and Waltzes

Colter Wall's Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs is a traditional country chart-topping triumph. When Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs debuted at #8 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in September 2020, it represented more than just another successful album release—it was vindication that authentic cowboy music still had massive commercial appeal in an era dominated by algorithmic pop-country. The 25-year-old Saskatchewan native had achieved something remarkable: making "grandpa's music" relevant again.

The numbers told a compelling story. Colter Wall's latest record 'Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs' released on August 28th debuted at#1 in physical sales in country by a wide margin, selling 9,250 total album equivalents with over 7,100 in pure physical sales. The album also claimed #3 on the Billboard Folk/Americana chart and reached #1 on the UK Country Albums chart.

What made these figures extraordinary wasn't just the commercial success—it was the artistic content that achieved it. As Saving Country Music noted, "to debut this high when you're covering Marty Robbins and Stan Jones, and some of your songs are just you with a mic cued up in the middle of a boomy room, it's quite remarkable". This was uncompromising traditional material finding massive audiences.

Western Swing & Waltzes marked Wall's complete transformation from the blues-influenced sound of Imaginary Appalachia to full-fledged cowboy traditionalism. Breaking away from Dave Cobb's production on his previous albums, Wall self-produced the record at Yellow Dog Studios in the great state of Texas, creating what critics described as his "most severe and dry record yet".

The album features a mix of traditional covers and original compositions, including Marty Robbins' "Big Iron," Stan Jones' "Cowpoke," and traditional songs like "I Ride an Old Paint/Leavin' Cheyenne" and "Diamond Joe." Wall's originals—"Western Swing & Waltzes," "Talkin' Prairie Boy," "Rocky Mountain Rangers," and "Houlihans at the Holiday Inn"—seamlessly blend with the traditional material.

The production approach emphasized authenticity over polish. Several tracks were recorded with minimal arrangements, capturing Wall's voice and guitar in sparse, resonant spaces that enhanced the material's cinematic quality. As one reviewer noted, "Each of these songs has a cinematic feel, almost as if Wall put a western-movie scene to music".

Western Swing & Waltzes has received numerous vinyl treatments, reflecting Wall's growing collector appeal. Everything from standard black vinyl to Coke bottle clear to apple red to pink, brown and deluxe brown?

VMP's Coke bottle clear edition exemplified both the subscription service's appeal and its ongoing quality control challenges. The packaging impressed collectors: "Really nice presentation. Gatefold tip on sleeve with printed inner pockets. Coke bottle green is beautiful and sounds great".

However, familiar VMP issues plagued the release. One Discogs reviewer reported the characteristic problem: "Sounds good and presents well. Thick cover and nice looking vinyl. However, as is the case for far too many VMP releases, the vinyl is warped. So much that it is audible". As was the case with our review edition. Fortunately, it appears as if the warping issues weren't universal. However, this inconsistency typified VMP's 2020-era manufacturing challenges, as well as Thirty Tigers' mass production quality control issues.

Interestingly, collectors reported better experiences with standard black vinyl pressings. Multiple Discogs reviews praised the quality: "This is a good pressing. No pops/clicks, flat, centered. Pretty quiet background, important because many of the songs are somewhat sparse musically" and "this pressing is god tier. I highly recommend it. The audio is crisp & clear and it has got such a great soundstage".

The superior performance of standard pressings versus the premium VMP edition highlighted ongoing industry problems with colored vinyl manufacturing. The polymer compounds used for colored vinyl often compromise both flatness and surface noise characteristics.

Like Sturgill Simpson, Wall's success came through his own La Honda Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers—an arrangement that provided major-label reach while maintaining artistic control. This partnership model has become increasingly popular among independent artists seeking commercial distribution without sacrificing creative autonomy.

The album's success validated Wall's artistic vision and challenged industry assumptions about audience preferences. "Colter Wall is doing all of this with your grandpa's music", yet achieving streaming numbers of 2.56 million plays alongside massive physical sales.

Wall's approach influenced a generation of artists and fans. As Saving Country Music observed, "This wasn't a side of country that was going underserved. It was a version of country music whose appeal had mostly dried up before Colter Wall appeared. Now with Colter in the lead, it feels vibrant and renewed".

The Vinyl Verdict
Western Swing & Waltzes presents the classic modern vinyl dilemma: exceptional artistic content undermined by inconsistent manufacturing. The musical achievement deserves recognition—Wall created one of the most authentic and successful traditional country albums in recent memory. Our recommended approach is to avoid the lure of colored vinyl and go with the standard black vinyl for best consistency and sound quality.

Wall's success with Western Swing & Waltzes proved that authentic traditional music could find massive contemporary audiences when presented with genuine artistry. The album's chart performance and critical acclaim validated an approach that prioritized historical accuracy over commercial calculation. As such, Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs stands as both artistic triumph and commercial vindication for traditional country music. Wall proved that audiences do want to hear "grandpa's music"—they just want it presented with exceptional artistry and authentic passion. 💵 (black)

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