Seven-Eighths of Sweet F.A. is a cheeky Western Swing track from Chris Missen’s 2025 album, Saudade Stories. I had a lot of fun with this one—its irreverent, tongue-in-cheek lyrics called for an arrangement that felt playful and full of character.

The song opens with a gospel-infused rubato intro, inspired by the bluesy phrasing and soulful licks of Kevin McKendree and Richard Tee. From there, it kicks into a bouncy Western Swing vamp that drives the rest of the track, blending walking bass, shuffle groove, and honky-tonk swagger. I punctuated the groove with jazzy fills, keeping things light and mischievous to match the lyrical wit.

What really gives the song its character is the interplay between piano, violin, and pedal steel. These classic Western Swing textures trade off licks, infusing the song with playfulness and mirroring the humour and sly resignation in Chris’s vocals.

Want to hear how the piano part for this song came together? Check out the isolated piano part here.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Musicians:

Chris Missen - Vocals, acoustic guitar, bass, drum programming

Bruce Hoffman - Fiddle, pedal steel

Lisha Kayrooz - Piano