Old western music (Marty Robins) question.

[Bowie]

I'm in my 30's and never knew anything about Marty Robins until this year when I discovered, and fell in love with, the Gunfighter Ballads album. My question is, what other albums/artists are similar? I'm talking about that gunslinger kind of thing. I know some Johnny Cash stuff bordered on this and I'm a huge fan of outlaw country in general. But, what Marty had going on in that album was different. A real romanticizing of the old west. Gunfights, riding the trail, little bit of gospel, etc.
Thanks.

[kydave]

Look up Johnny Horton for oldies.

For less old, look up & add to your collection "The Red Headed Stranger" album by Willie Nelson (1975). It's a theme LP with a continuing story all the way through.

Also, look up "Desperado", the theme album by the Eagles (1973).

[Friggin' amazing to realize those LPs are 40 years old! YIKES!!!! I was doing that stuff when the LPs were first out!!]

[Bowie]

Thanks, I'm mildly familiar w/ Johnny Horton. I'll check him out further. Red Headed Stranger is like a desert island album to me. Definitely along the lines of what I'm looking for.

[alpursley28]

Were you aware that Marty Robbins has 2 Gunfighter albums out?

[sweiss]

Originally Posted by Bowie

........ Red Headed Stranger is like a desert island album to me......

Willies best, in my opinion.

Not a big fan of his, but Red Headed Stranger is a gem.

[Scootch]

Find some very early Johnny Cash. He didn't really have gunfighter songs, but did have some good shootin' someone tunes. Delia is a great song.

In the fifties country music was full of shooting someone then paying the price songs. Millers Cave was a favorite of mine.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by alpursley28

Were you aware that Marty Robbins has 2 Gunfighter albums out?

No, had no clue but I just found it and added it to my Amazon cart. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Scootch

In the fifties country music was full of shooting someone then paying the price songs. Millers Cave was a favorite of mine.

I have a best of Bobby Bare with Miller's Cave and on it, which I love. Can anyone recommend me a good Bobby Bare album?

[fitness1]

Not really "gunslinger" stuff, but good cowboy music -

Don Edwards - this is one of my favorite recordings of his - you can preview a few tunes....

http://www.amazon.com/West-Of-Yester.../dp/B000002N5I

and a video to give you a feel for him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glTn8Qs71Yo

[aknow]

Lou Pecci records gunfighter instrumentals/(spaghetti western type) on nylon acoustic guitar. He's got a lot of recordings.

[Mr Bill]

Michael Martin Murphey did an album about outlaws, and I knew you were going to ask the title but it escapes me now. It's out in my studio in cassette form but the studio's locked and I'm headed for dreamland in a few minutes. But it's a good one.

[Mr Bill]

And there's Dave Stamey, who does cowboy music and has a decent percentage of gunslinging songs. "The Bandit Joaquin," "Sonora's Death Row," and others.

[Larry Pattis]

My favorite cowboy singer is the inimitable Don Edwards...a smoother voice you'll never hear, and he has numerous wonderful albums out.

Don is the real-deal when it comes to this music...straight from his ranch in Texas.

He also had a small role in Robert Redford's movie "The Horse Whisperer".

Coyotes:



...and here's Don doing a Marty Robbins song:



On the banjo-guitar:

[Rodger]

Three single song recommendations:

1. "Ringo" by Lorne Green (Pa on the Bonanza series)
2. "Johnny Yuma" by Johnny Cash. Based on "The Rebel" TV series, though I don't think it was the show's theme song.
3. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence "by Gene Pitney. Not a country song, but based on the Jimmy Stewart movie of the same name.

[Bikewer]

One of our long-time favorite artists, Tom Russell, has done a number of Western-themed albums.
Notable are "Indians, Cowboys, Horses, and Dogs" and "Songs of the West."

His great tune, El Gallo Del Cielo, is certainly in that vein.

[songz]

Look up "The Last Cowboy Song" by either Ed Bruce or The Highwaymen.

Ron