Holy cow! In 1969, in a university gymnasium, I saw the Band. The brown album hadn't been released yet -- it came out a few days later -- but there in the back surrounded by a bank of keyboards, producing magical swirls and tasty fills, sweetening each song in his own unique way, was the Merlin of Music, Garth Hudson. Now 35 years later here he is again as a full-fledged member of another band! Burrito Deluxe! Holy cow! That same year, the Flying Burrito Brothers broke through with country rock, delivered on Gilded Palace of the Sun; it would change forever the way we listened to music. A big part of this was the stunning steel guitar work of "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, now here he is a founding member of Burrito Deluxe! Holy cow! It's now 1975 and the Amazing Rhythm Aces score with "Third Rate Romance," the bass player is Jeff "Stick" Davis. You've got it, he's playing bass (and managing the affairs) for Burrito Deluxe!

That's a lot of history in one band. In the old days we'd call them a supergroup, but listening to The Whole Enchilada you find a distinct lack of the egos that normally sunk those congregations. This is a band. An egalitarion collective, if you will. Burrito Deluxe has two other members too, and their resumes are every bit as impressive as their band-mates'. Front man Carlton Moody led the Moody Brothers Band, and has had more than his share of success in the country field. He plays guitars, mandolin and sings in a twangy deep voice. Rick Lonow has played drums for almost everybody in Nashville, and wrote "Call It Love" for Poco. Solid.

The Whole Enchilada starts with a John Prine song. One of my favorites, too -- "You Got Gold" has the great, Prine-line, "life is a blessin' / it's a delicatessen . . ." and a catchy melody. Moody's rich vocals highlight the melody and Hudson's keyboard break lifts the song well beyond your standard country fare. You'll recall the next tune from a previous rendition. "The Letter" was done by The Boxtops, and Joe Cocker, but nobody ever did it like these guys. Garth's trademark Lowry organ sound starts it off and it just builds from there!

"Sister" is an instrumental from the pen of "Sneaky" Pete. Mellow and warm, it shows you why Mr. Kleinow has been missed over the past few years. Kleinow has a second career in animation and special effects. Remember the Pillsbury Doughboy? That's one of his. I much prefer his touch on the pedal steel, though! He plays brilliantly throughout the album, not least on "All I Had Left" where he adds a subtle touch, or on "Ezekiel's Wheel" where he rocks out.

Moody cowrote "Zydeco Ball" with the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and it sounds pretty much like you'd imagine. "They get down on wine and alligator stew / don't you wish you could be there too . . ." Sure do, if it's half as much fun as this tune! Garth plays the accordion!

There's a baker's dozen of these songs here, a Civil War lament ("Last Letter Home"), a Guy Clark tune ("Baton Rouge"), a Merle Haggard classic ("Leave This City"), and each one has been stamped with the personality of Burrito Deluxe.

We're a couple generations past the Band, the Burrito Brothers and the Amazing Rhythm Aces but their presence is felt in the earthy, American sound of Burrito Deluxe. They're on tour right now. Live they must be fabulous, because their recorded presence is stunning.

I only wish my computer would play the enhanced portion of the disc!

Burrito Deluxe has a Web site.