Customer Reviews

Cowboy

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

After listening to the current direction country music has been heading lately , it was quite refreshing to hear an album that was keyed a bit lower without losing any of the intensity of the music. Chris LeDoux shows once again why he is one of the few "honest" artists out there. He can sing about values without coming off as hokey or cornpone.This cd is a must for any fan of good music , country or not. His voice belies the hard fought lessons of life that we all try to learn from. The final track , Song Of Wyoming , alone is worth buying the cd.

As a profesional saddle bronc rider in the PRCA I highly recomend this cd to anyone who is truly country..I own all most all of Chris's tapes(some of them aren't on cd)and cd's.Most of my tapes are about worn out because of playing them on many road trips.It was nice to be able to listen to some of these old songs again without worring about wearing out my tapes.I believe this cd can make anyone feel country.Even if they hang there hat in the city.

So if your an loyal LeDoux fan or you just like feeling country I recomend this cd to you..Its pure and its honest..

Cowboy is a revisiting of older LeDoux classics from his self releases during his rodeo days, a result of fans asking where they can find the old stuff. Those who only know LeDoux for "Cadillac Ranch" will see where his musical phenomenon began -- guileless songs about rodeo life and cowboy philosophy, the stuff Garth Brooks first sang about. High points include the sorrowful realities of "Silence on the Line" (like Kathy Mattea's "Where've You Been," it will take me months to listen to this song without choking up), the philosophical "Ten Seconds in the Saddle," and superlative story songs like "Our First Year" and "The Yellow Stud." I confess a particular fondness for "I'm Country" and its good-humored simplicity: "I laugh when I'm happy and I cry when I'm blue/Cuss when I'm mad like I'm s'posed to do." Western fans and country fans alike will like this one.

Due to the faithful purchase of his fans, Chris LeDoux has the liberty of releasing an album each year without the pressure of a top 40 hit. But this need not be so! Although this CD is entitled "Cowboy" and the material is more western than Nashpop but there are a few potential hits that country radio could embrace.

For example, "Silence on the Line" (the current single) is a heartbreaking ballad of a woman hanging up on her rodeo boyfriend for good. The amalgam of LeDoux's sincere delivery and the producers' sparse production makes this track a gem. The song has a particularly commercial appeal that country radio should embrace.

"Our First Year" is another excellent choice for a second single. This time LeDoux is in a happier disposition as he reflects with great affection and sentimentality the joys and trials of his first year of marriage. The vivid imageries of a struggling family makes this song another standout. The song reminds me of earlier LeDoux's tracks such as "Making Ends Meet" and the excellent "Struggling Years."

Then, there are the more western songs that truly put the words "western" back to "country and western" music. Being unfamiliar with LeDoux's earlier music, I find all of his earlier western tunes very appealing. Unlike some of his recordings, the production is not cluttered. In fact, they are quite restrain allowing LeDoux's voice to easily glide through the songs. From the tongue-in-check "I'm Country" to the relaxing "Song of Wyoming," LeDoux shows us truly what being a cowboy is all about.

This is truly a remarkable album. It is western in theme but still country enough for anyone who is just a country fan.

For years, all of us LeDoux fans have tried to collect his early stuff. Of course, we all know it's hard to find. Here at eCowboy, we continually get people asking. LeDoux's whole premise behind this album was to give old and new fans a collection of a few the songs redone by the man himself. This CD has 11 of these old songs. While you're not going to find that much of the "even cowboy's like a little bit of rock'n'roll" attitude, what you will find is one of the best sets of cowboy songs ever made. In a time when we keep hearing that country music fans want to hear new/pop country, we know we can depend on LeDoux to prove them wrong.

While any LeDoux fan should love every song on this CD, we'll point out a few that just really hit home. Silence on the Line is about a cowboy who decides to stop riding the circuit. So, he calls his wife to tell her he's coming home; but, he's got a friend who is disabled coming with him. He wants to show him the ranch life. But, his wife tells him not to bring him because he may not feel right seeing all the work that needs to be done; and, he's not capable of doing it. We don't want to spoil the ending for you. So, we'll stop there. LeDoux's cowboy humor shine through on Hippies in Calgary where he tells the story of him and a buddy dressing up like hippies as a joke on there other cowboy buddies. The Yellow Stud tells the story of a bronc brought in from the wild to be bucking stock. He's the toughest bronc on the circuit that no cowboy can ride. Another one of our favorites is I'm Country where again LeDoux shows his sense of humor and pride in being country. He starts off by saying that the country is so great that everybody should move there. Then he realizes that if they do that, the country won't be country anymore. So, then he starts giving reasons why city folk really shouldn't move to the country.

OK, so maybe this stuff is not considered "Radio Friendly"; but, the bottom line is that this is country music. It's the stuff the fans want to hear. If you're a true Chris LeDoux fan, this one should be in your truck!

Editor, eCowboy.com

This is a must have for any diehard Chris fan! It has many of the older songs we all grew up loving - watching Chris rodeo and sing. As a fellow Wyomingite - I have to say we are all proud of this TRUE example of a cowboy; from his music to his western lifestyle. Thanks Chris - for the years and the miles, for the Melodies and Memories! Go buy this CD for your collection - you won't be disappointed!

This is true cowboy country at its finest. Great for any Chris fan- new or old. The songs selected for this album reflect the rodeo cowboy life Chris LeDoux is truly a part of. With only three exceptions, all of the songs on the disc were written by Chris. The lyrics speak of experience and wisdom that can only be gained by living the rodeo life.

This is a wonderful disc and I would highly recommend it to anyone...

Cowboy is one of 3 albums that Mac McAnally produced and directed for Chris LeDoux. Two terrific studio efforts, "After The Storm, and Horsepower. And then this one makes three. Cowboy is a remake or cover album if you will, of 11 Chris LeDoux classics. These are songs that Chris recorded originally when he was still a young man on the rodeo circuit. Here they are given a modern day treatment, with new musicians, and Chris' much matured vocals. This should have been a very tough task, for a few reasons. First off, picking only 11 songs from Chris' amazing back catelogue to re-record. Next, trying to keep the heart and soul of each track while making them fit the style of modern, Neo-Traditional Country Music. Mac and Chis have succeeded masterfully. Chris' voice is just a playful and strong as it's ever been, and the music and production are top notch. This album, in no way, robs the original spirit of these songs, and in some cases adds a whole new dimention to them.
The album's opener "He Rides The Wild Horses," is just perfect. The opening keyboards from the original are replaced with a biting lead guitar riff that screams bar-room Honky Tonk. The harmony vocals match Chris perfectly, and the overall sound is louder and more musically up front than the original. It makes what was a great song absolutely amazing.
"Sinlence On The Line" was always a heartwrenching tune from Chris, but here the power a feeling is top notch. It's almost as if Chris is just singing it for the first time. You can really feel the heart break in his voice.
"I'm Country" is a terrific LeDoux novelty song. He has always been good for a laugh or two on his past albums, and now he gets to bring that sence of humor to the Nashville masses.
"A Cowboy's Got To Ride" is given an entirely new treatment here. The tune is faster, and much more Rocked-Up than the original. And the lead guitar work of Jack Pearson is pure Country gold!
In a very daring move, more-so than the other tracks here, is the remake of "Running Through The Rain." This song is a very personal tale from Chris about the good old days. Before him and his rodeo buddies got married and had families. But once again, Mac and Chris make it a new song. If you had never heard the original, you'd swear this was written for Chris' Horsepower album. Ver full and tight, but still loose enough to be fun and real classic Country.
Overall, this album is one of my favorites from Chris. It has some of my favorite LeDoux classics, mixed with the voice that everyone came to know while he was getting radio play outside of Utah and Wyoming. If you're looking for More Chris LeDoux music, or just a great, great piece to add to your George Straits, Mark Chesnutts, Tracy Byrds, and early days Garth Brooks', this is a perfect album. This folks, is what Country Music is all about!

This CD from the first set is great music. The voice is great and smooth. Listening to this CD is like listening to an old friend. Recommend to everyone and especially to someone new to Country. This CD makes you remember why you are country. Good upbeat and strong country sound.

this is chris ledouxs best album i bought this cd the day it was released and was not disapionted with songs silence on the line he rides wild horses i am country this is a must have