Customer Reviews

Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs/More Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs

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Thanks to a friend who asked "who was it that sang El Paso?" has prompted me to take the opportunity to rediscover, after more than 30 years, a singer who put the 'Western' in Country Music. Anyone who enjoys Country and Western should not be without a copy of this marvellous collection of sounds and images of the American 'wild' west. This is a truly classic collection that gives you a story with every song from an exceptional talent singing with a purity that is rare. His gunfighter ballads are the stuff of dreams that transport the listener to the Old West with 'El Paso', 'Big Iron' and 'Cool Water' to name but a few in a selection brimming with great songs.

This is truly great value and is well worth a purchase that will bring you hours of pleasure. I strongly recommend it! Buy it and like me you will not be disappointed.

Postscript:
If you would like to add other albums to your collection, then you cannot go far wrong by choosing compilations such as "The Drifter" which include, amongst others, the amusing 'Cowboy in a Continental Suit' and a saloon showdown in the superb 'Mr Shorty'. Marty's voice suited most kinds of music and you will find in "The Essential Marty Robbins" with its Rock-A-Billy, Hawaiian and even Jazz-influenced music, the versatility that make it almost impossible to choose favourites.

Marty recorded many different types of song but he was particularly good at western songs. For those who can afford it, Bear family have released a boxed set containing all Marty's western songs, but the two albums included here contain many of his best western songs.

On this set, you will find Marty's covers of the classic cowboy songs Cool water and The streets of Laredo, but Marty chose to avoid most of the obvious songs. Instead, he wrote some songs himself and recorded a lot of great but obscure songs. Of the songs that he wrote, El Paso is by far the most important. It was a huge international hit and if you are thinking of buying this collection, you probably know this song already.

The remaining songs all tell stories of life in the west in the years following the American civil war. We all know that you can't believe what Hollywood portrays in western movies. The origin of many of these songs is unknown but the picture they paint sounds credible.

Marty was, perhaps, the greatest western singer of them all (although Michael Martin Murphey is another contender for that title) - this collection shows him at his best.

I had all 3 albums that make up most of this CD...in the late 1950's /early 1960's. Marty was in great voice; the arrangments are superb...and, if you can listen to these bittersweet, haunting ballads without having your heartstrings plucked...and, eyes misting up..you are stone dead. These are about another time and another place...and,one where Life was often harsh, often all-too-short, but, it was lived full-up, not talked about and analyzed ad nauseum. This time may have not have existed as Marty sings about it, but the strength and purity of the messages are timeless. Oh, yes...for the secularists out there: there are some religious aspects in some of the songs. But, having been in Montana and the Dakotas, you can almost feel a Presence there.

What can you say Marty Robbins at his best. No one epitomizes western music like he does, notice I said western music not to be confused with country music. And the songs on this album are the classics of that genre and only Marty can do them justice. It's a great album and I have recommended it to all my friends. If you want real western music get this album.

When Marty Robbins wrote and recorded his original "Gunfigher Ballads," Country-Western music in America had pretty much abandoned its Western side and was deeply sunk into the smooth Country side of its personality. Nobody sang Western songs anymore and certainly no one wrote Western songs anymore! Marty wrote most of the original songs on the "Gunfighter Ballads" while riding in the backseat of a car as he and his family drove across the southwest, from one performance date to the next. His recording label was uncertain about whether it should be recorded, but Marty insisted and the result was a sensational success. The album includes the huge best-seller, "El Paso," as well as the equally powerful "Big Iron" and classic Western ballards like "Water."
The sequel album, "More Gunfighter Ballads," continues the tradition, but tempers it with more Christian message songs about cowboys and gunfighters. It, too, is a homerun, but didn't create the sensation that the first album caused.
Both albums are worth owning and keeping. Marty Robbins' fine, clear baritone voice was never better.

This is really a great cd. Almost 70 minutes of great western ballads that each tell thier own story. Every song on this is great. It is well worth the twenty dollars.

This is a great collection of most of my favorite songs of Marty Robbins. His music will stay around a long time. One of the best oldie's singers.

Marty Robbins was not only a great western ballad writer and singer, he was a real rarity with his style and sound. A dedicated man who felt what he wrote and sang and gave all he had to everything he did. It is sad, indeed, that he passed so suddenly and so young. He will be missed for generations.

I once had the privilege of seeing Marty in person at concert and it was a very refreshing experience. His originality, showmanship and wit was exceptional and I will always treasure that time in my life.

This album is a great tribute to Marty's abilities with ballads. While far from definitive in content, it is an extraordinary tribute to some of the best he has done. I am truly grateful that I had the opportunity to own it and have it always there to hear him.

Thanks Amazon!

I've looked for many years for ballad "Little Wrangler Joe" which I had once on a cassette..... thrilled to have it on this wonderful set. We listen to it over and over.... what a talent!! CD just as described... new, sealed. Thank you so much!

Probably some of the best known of Marty Robbins' works, this is a great album combining his two best known western albums. From El Paso to San Angelo, true Texas traditional story telling at its best! A must for all Marty Robbins fans!