Customer Reviews

Horses Cattle & Coyotes

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Having been a fan on the Sons of the San Joaquin for a long time this cd has again shown me that Lon, Joe, and Jack are the finest of vocal artist today. The blend of their voices are so rich and smooth. The lyrics in this cd as in past cd's paint vivid images in my mind and send me on a mini vacation with every song. Some of the songs I laugh at, some I cry but all are special.

This is one of the Sons' finest efforts, differing from their earliest CDs in that most of the compositions on this one are originals. These fellows have a unique sound. They received praise from Roy Rogers who was pleased that they were continuing the tradition of fine Western harmony and solos, begun by his Sons of the Pioneers many years earlier. The San Joaquin boys grew up on the music of the Pioneers, but have now added their own wonderful (award-winning) compositions to the library of great Western music. A prime example is "He's Running Out of Round-ups" on this CD. But I was also glad to see them include Michael Martin Murphey's "Land of Enchantment", too (listen to the sample!). This CD's a winner!

Not only are Jack, Joe and Lonnie about the nicest guys you'd ever want to rope and ride with, but their music.......well, if you're out drivin in the country, just pop one of their cd's or tapes in the player, and imagine that it's a hundred years ago! Their music is pure, unadulerated pleasure. Likely you might even have to buy another copy cause you'll wear yours out, and for sure you'll want to give these guys to your friends, cause we all have a little cowboy in us!

The Sons of the San Joaquin manage again in this superlative album of western music to ride into the listener's heart....As usual with the Sons, the harmonies are rich, full and lush. The songs that Jack Hannah writes will surely be classics in the Cowboy genre for generations to come, with such songs as Ridin' Easy With The Sun and I Ride Along and Dream; every word rings true, and the melodies are memorable, pretty and fitting. Every piece on this collection brings us to a realm where the code of the cowboy lives, and will continue to live. It's difficult to choose a favorite song here -- the Trilogy for Roy, a medley of Shenandoah, Red River Valley and Home on the Range is so seamlessly put together and so beautifully rendered that tears came into my eyes; another fine song is Border Affair, from a traditional poem by Badger Clark, perhaps one of the best of American's premier cowboy poets (If you like this one, you can find Clark's poem A BAD HALF HOUR nicely done on Tom Russell's album Cowboy Real). The Sons of the San Joaquin, in their honest and inimitable way, have produced another masterpiece here. Yippie ti yi yay!

If growing up with all of the old singing cowboys of the silver screen and then spending 20 years cowboy'n out in Wyoming makes me any kind of a judge, I'd have to say these singers catch the true spirit of the west. If you're my age, 65, and 'Running out of Roundups', doesn't bring a lump to your throat, you better go back to Rock and Roll.

My favorite music is classic italian tenors. San Joaquin's rich harmonies, strong clear voices, and choice of songs make this a recording one I enjoy over and over.

Jack Hannah is an excellent songwriter, and the group has made real cowboy music worth listening to. This is not Country Western music, but heartfelt songs to make you want to go ridin' and ropin'. All the songs on this CD are very good. My very favorite is the track "Ridin' Easy With The Sun". The 'Sons' are all family and their tight harmonies are something special. I highly recommend this CD to all who liked Gene Autry and The Sons Of The Pioneers.

These fellows will never replace the Sons of the Pioneers, but they are today's equivalent. Money well spent here!