Cowboy Songs

 (16 customer reviews)

I agree with the other customer reviewer from Colorado who liked this disc. I've been searching for a disc that has most of the great old cowboy classics, with none of the stupid comic songs that most producers apparently consider de rigeur and with the clean sound of a modern recording. This is a great collection, with great singing and some interesting but not perverse interpretations. I only wish that they had left out "Rawhide" (the theme for a TV western) and "Chasing Down the Sun" (a new piece) and added a couple more of the true classics. At the very least, "Cool Water" should be here, as could "Blue Shadows on the Trail", both of which have been recorded by Riders in the Sky. By the way, this disc is a collection of tracks from other, full-price Rounder discs, so let me hasten to add that Rounder is to be thanked for doing us all a favor by making this mostly classic collection available at a bargain price from their...Read more

This is a fine collection of classic cowboy songs selected from the various Rounder recordings of Riders in the Sky. Many of the songs are sung in the tradition of the Sons of the Pioneers, with all the heart-felt sincerity of their great songs and their quiet end-of-the-day, round-the-campfire quality. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," "Red River Valley," "Home on the Range," and "Streets of Laredo" hark closest to that tradition, sung slowly and in mellow harmony with backup from Woody Paul's achingly yearning violin. There's harmonized yodeling here, as well, as in "Cattle Call," sung in danceable waltz time.Meanwhile, "Don't Fence Me In" is an homage to the bright cheerfulness of Gene Autry. The album also contains their own rendering of Autry's "Back in the Saddle Again" with some high-speed yodeling. The haunting, driving treatment of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" makes the imagery in the lyrics so vivid you...Read more

I first found this CD in a "budget" section. I live in Arizona where you would expect any cowboy music to be a best seller. This is actually a very talented group from Appalacia on the east coast - so they have very definite folk talents and are top notch with the vocals and fiddle work.The selection of tunes is the epitome of cowboy music, and as I said, it's all done very well. This is a very clean recording with all of the better known cowboy songs. If you're looking for a good launch into cowboy music, this is a very good choice. Again, I must emphaisize that the selection and quality are extremely good - so consider the price a real deal! These guys are good - and a lot of fun!