Customer Reviews

A Prairie Portrait

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

 

 

Beautiful orchestral rendetions of Yellow Rose of Texas, Streets of Laredo, Ghost Riders in the Sky and more. Orchestra accompanying Don's songs and Waddie's poetry was just perfect. And when Don finished singing Shenandoah, I was clapping just like I had been sitting in the concert hall!

Don and Waddie shine on this album! When I first heard they had done a project with a symphony orchestra, I thought to myself that this would be one CD by Don Edwards that would never get into my collection. I hestitated for a long time to purchase it, but kept looking for information about it to get feedback from others. I love cowboy music and poetry and I enjoy orchestral music, but the concept of putting these very different styles together was a bit beyond my comprehension. But I'm so glad I bought it and I find myself listening to it quite often. The haunting words, the beautiful sounds from the orchestra, Don's smooth-as-silk drawl and Waddie's wistful recitations all come together beautifully in this collection. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys taking a bit of a chance in exploring something a little different. The two songs I find most poignant are "Roundup In The Spring" and "Annie Laurie." I wish I could have been present when the actual performance took place! It's a beautiful production in every way.

This CD contains some vintage Don Edwards & Waddie Mitchell with some
Classical Orchestration thrown in for good measure. A beautiful blending of Music & Song with the Poetry majisty of Waddie Mitchell probably not for the Cowboy traditionalist but well worth a place in my music library none the less.

The 16 selections are beautifully performed. The strings, reeds, brass, keyboards, and vocals immediately lift your attentiveness and pride and carry you through traditional and original melodies, lyrics, and story-telling. Don describes the production as a melding of classical music, cowboy music, and cowboy poetry wherein they "create yet another dimension on the artistic landscape of the Great American West." Don does the singing, Waddie, the story-telling. The other 60 folks make moving sounds, while John rides point.
The best instrumentation is "Home on the Range" for the successful projection of sentimentality, but "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" is plainly exciting. Waddie's "Commutin'" and "Throwback" lay out some common details of cowboy life, but the short "Horses, Dogs, and Cowboys" conveys a more philosophic tone. As for good songs, Don's "West of Yesterday" playfully tweaks at nostalgic grand gestures. His "Annie Laurie" shares a universal lost love lament. Thanks to the Bass Foundation for their production assistance.
Recommended widely. 2000 Wranger Award.

I found this a great addition to my western collection. It is so different, I especially liked Annie Laurie. It is a great CD

I found this a great addition to my western collection. It is so different, I especially liked Annie Laurie. It is a great CD

I guess I'm too old for this one. I first learned to like Don Edwards with his West of Yesterday, Chant of the Wanderer, Saddle Songs I & II. This is NOT of the same type. If I'd wanted to hear the a Symphony Orchestra I'd have bought a Boston Pops record. And I don't care to hear Waddie over and over; I can listen to Night Hearder, Prairie Lullaby, Chopo, etc., over and over and never get enough. I wish I had known the format of this before I bought, I'd have passed and put on Chant of the Wanderer instead.