That Wild, Wicked But Wonderful West

Released in 1987 on the Starday label, That Wild, Wicked But Wonderful West serves as a testament to the enduring career of Johnny Bond, a quintessential figure in Western swing and country music. Starday Records was renowned for its commitment to traditional country sounds, often preserving the legacy of artists who gained prominence during the mid-twentieth century. This record functions as a late-career anthology that captures the thematic preoccupation with the American West that defined much of Bond's artistic identity throughout his decades-long tenure in the industry.

The album's design and track selection reflect the mid-century cowboy mythos that Bond helped cultivate through his songwriting and radio presence. Known for his work with the Jimmy Wakely trio and his own solo ventures, Bond brought a distinctive, narrative-driven style to this collection. The project was conceived to celebrate the rugged, romanticized vision of the frontier, utilizing the high-fidelity archival standards typical of Starday’s later reissues and compilations. It was received as a nostalgic retrospective, appealing primarily to long-time devotees of the genre who valued his authentic contributions to the Western musical canon.