"Great tunes, great singin', & great playin'!
I had to get my fiddle and sit-in as I listened!"

Johnny Gimble, Dripping Springs, TX

Bands such as Spade Cooley's (even though Spade was, by nativity, an Okie) and Tex Williams' Western Caravan were paramount in defining the California version of Western Swing during its "golden era". Subsequently, groups such as the Billy Jack Wills Band, Commander Cody's Lost Planet Airmen, and Asleep at the Wheel have each been based in the Golden State at one time or another. These bands' rosters have included such stellar names as Joaquin Murphey, Vance Terry, Bobby Black, Tiny Moore, Paul Anastasio, Andy Stein, and Floyd Domino.

Lost Weekend currently holds court as the bunch that plays real Western Swing in the Bay Area and beyond. Under the direction of my longtime friend, Don Burnham, the band embodies the ingredients that I, for what it's worth, like to hear: Great tunes, great ensemble stuff, great solos, great vocals, and great tempos. To my ears, the band simply swings. And given the challenge of taking something old and making it sound new, the band does a fine job of "re-inventing the wheel". (If Ray Benson reads this, the preceding pun was purely unintentional.) Identity and originality are tough things to pull off when you're doing something that has been done hundreds of times by hundreds of interpreters, but I truly think that the guys and gals of Lost Weekend should be very proud of the contribution they have made to the Golden State's rich heritage of Western Swing. As fellow Texan Johnny Gimble would put it,

"We're gonna be watchin' you guys like you was hawks!"

Rich O'Brien, Fort Worth, TX

Andy Reiss, Nashville, TN

"Friend, Don - I can almost purt-near play G on my guitar without spraining my wrist too badly, which is to say, 'I'm a piss-poor music critic'. That said, I listen to LOST WEEKEND & know without one nano iota of doubt, that I'm in the presence of GREAT musicians - I'm dazzled by every single cut. Also I begin to recognize, and maybe even understand, the connection to the distant shore of, jazz? Your music not only delights me, but also transports me, and I like nothing better than moving at high speed, Warp 10, especially through time! Great stuff - art at its beauty and truth finest! And, as a lowly poet, was I ever flattered and honored that you chose to deliver me one of the pre-release copies. I hope the album receives a hearty welcome in Elko - from cowboy audiences everywhere! Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this "winning ride".

Paul Zarzyski, Great Falls, MT

"Hey Don! Congratulations!
Harbor Lights and Cowboy Blues is very good...great band!"

Bruce N. Nemerov, Murfreesboro, TN

"Dear Don - A great Big Western Swing Howdy from Oklahoma!

I want to thank you for sending me this CD, and from the bottom of my Western Swing lovin' heart!!! It's just about the best I've ever heard...and I've heard a bunch. I'm still tellin' my musician friends about it. I reckon you sent it to me in the hopes that I'd put you on my Legends of Western Swing Music Festival down in Wichita Falls. Well, sad to say, I'm not the person doing it any more. I started it back in Aug of 1988, in Canton, Texas, and the last one I had was June last year, in Wichita Falls. I will say it was a dream of mine come true...I got to meet all my Western Swing musician heroes through the years...and to hear them up close. I'm just sorry that I didn't have the opportunity to bring LOST WEEKEND to our stage. After 14 years of promoting this show, I had to give it up for several reasons...first...it was a big money loser, and could never get any good sponsors......second probably because I am a poor business man...and third my regular job began to interfere. Incidentally, you ain't getting the album back!!! But I do relish the fact that I got to meet (and consider as my friends now)...Johnny Gimble...theTexas Playboys...guys like Eldon Shamblin...Herb Remington...and you name them...man what a kick...and I take credit for helping keep Western Swing music alive in this part of the country... Lotta bands are playing a lot because they were seen at the Legends of Western Swing Music Festival. I was just telling Ted Scanlon (and the Desperados) about your CD and he ordered one...he loves it too. Ted played our festivals as host band for12 years...he's from Las Cruces...great guy and great band. Just wanted to thank you for what you're doing for Western Swing, and to let you know you're doing it right. Thanks again, and keep'em swingin'!

Charles E. "Chuck" Woods, Mustang, OK

"...A very good Cowboy/Western Swing album...
one of the better ones I've heard in the last few years"

Tom "Wolf" Morrell, Little Elm, TX

"Don, many thanks for the new CD. Wow!!! First class all the way! The music is fabulous, and the contents are well done and fun.
I am envious. Maybe I ought to have you produce my next CD.
Hope to see you soon. Your yodeling pal,"

Sourdough Slim, Paradise, CA

"Hi Ranger Don - Your new CD is awesome;
I love the music, as well as the art/package.......
turned out wayyyyy nice!"

Julie Miller, Yosemite NP, CA

"Dear Don - I received your new CD, and I love it!
Really well done; you should be very proud!"

Alice Stuart, Seattle, WA

Dave Radlauer, Producer, JAZZ RHYTHM:
Jumping Swing, Classic Blues and Hot Jazz
Old and New Rhythm Productions
1600 - 25th Ave. #1, San Francisco, CA 94122

"Hello. This short note to let you know that I received yesterday the CD you kindly sent: Lost Weekend "HarborLights and Cowboy Blues". Thank you very much! This album, full of excellent western swing, perfectly suits the spirit of my show. It is great from beginning to end. I will give it significant airplay. My favorite tracks are:

#1 Cowboy Blues
#3 Baby That Sure Would Go Good
#4 New Panhandle Rag
#7 Won't You Ride In My Little Red Wagon
#9 Beaumont Rag
#11 You're Okay

Again, thank you. I’m *very* grateful. All the best!"

Keep It Country!
B.P. 6101
75061 Paris Cedex 02 France

It was great seeing you and the band at Rancho Nicasio; you all sounded great! That CD is hot! You should feel very proud of yourself for putting it all together. The singing and playing is great. You have wonderful musicians, like always, and your singing is solid, and comes across as really genuine. Good goin!"

Richard Saslow, Novato, CA

"My wife and I attended your concert at Freight and Salvage on Thursday. We had a wonderful time. Your music lifted our spirits. We're now enjoying your album. Thank you."

Bob Brewer, Berkeley, CA

"Don - your CD Harbor Lights and Cowboy Blues
is fabulous, just fabulous! Thanks in Texas,"