Customer Reviews

Songs of the West

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Oh, who cares? Everything that IS here is excellent; you expect no less from Frankie Laine. "Gunslinger" was a before-its-time "Man With No Name"-type TV show without the talents of Clint Eastwood or Sergio Leone. (Frankie sung the theme song). And "Man With A Star" was not the best of Frankie (but still good). Nobody has ever quite matched Frankie Laine in his interpretations of songs. He was SELECTED to provide the theme songs for some of the westerns that abounded in the 50s and 60s. He even acted in one episode of "Rawhide". This is a terrific piece of work but there are other Frankie hits you'll want too. Western fans, let this be your first buy but not your last. The world's best musical stylist has much, much more on his resume.

I bought this for my husband and we listen to it in the car a lot. The songs all bring back memories of our favorite westerns, or summers long gone by.

Five DRAMATIC Stars!! Great Western performances by the inimitable Frankie Laine. Mr Laine, a dramatic singer, composer, and musician was an accomplished big band crooner who later sang pop, jazz, and blues, influencing many who followed in the 1950s and 1960s. He sold over 250 million songs (which puts him in company with the Mariahs, Celines, and Madonnas of today) and he hit his stride singing ballads and songs with western and adventure themes, although he was not a country & western artist. Legendary producer Mitch Miller help guide Mr Laine's career into music legend status at Mercury and later at Columbia Records.

The best of the best include: a touching "3:10 to Yuma" about a determined cowboy (with lyrics not related to the movie, but very moving nonetheless), which has been my personal favorite for many years; a bracing, nuanced version about the "Gunfight at the OK Corral"; an unbelievably beautiful "Along The Navajo Trail"; and the unconditional love of "The Hanging Tree" with it's unusual conclusion: these are from the LP recording "Hell Bent for Leather" which contained studio recreations of some of Frankie's hit songs featuring the Johnny Williams Orchestra and Chorus. A smooth "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and an updated, loping "Moonlight Gambler" are excellent. "High Noon" is an excellent updated version, as is a crackling "Mule Train". "Rawhide" is an exciting version but it is not the TV show theme version which may not be commercially available. Great performances by one of the GREATEST singers of all time. My Highest Recommendation!! Five BIG Stars. (Audio CD, 1 disk with 17 digitally remastered songs, Total time: 45:23) (Note to producers: please add the wild "Bowie Knife" and the insightful "City Boy" on the next update to complete the "Hell Bent For Leather" cycle of songs.)

I could listen to Mr. Laine singall day with that barritone, and his rendition of mule train just brings back the memories when cowboys were cowboys

Nothin' like driving down a dirt road in Texas with Frankie Laine crackin' the whip and singing "Rawhide." Sigh. It's a little bit of heaven, all right. Gotta go somewhere and no one wants to ride with you? It's a GOOD thing! You can sing along with Frankie unmolested! YAHOO!

A lot of your old western favorites in this CD. Many of them are covers of songs made popular by other groups. If my memory serves (and it doesn't serve that well anymore) "Riders In The Sky" was a Vaughn Monroe (sp?) hit and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was a Sons of the Pioneers hit. But what the hey. Frankie Laine brings his own special voice to these songs too.

Pay no attention to any review that doesn't give this at least four stars. There are some great songs and renditions on this CD. Call of the Wild Goose, OK Corral, Rawhide, and Mule Train are my favorites. The arrrangements are great; try it, you'll like it!

Frankie Laine always makes you believe any songs he sings. His western ballads are among the best.

Very good Singer of course, Order came fast & in very good condition !!
Great Album for Old Timers. Times have changed, different Generation now.

I got this for a friend but he said the version of "Rawhide" on here wasn't the original version. I don't know if the others are original. I haven't heard it myself yet. Beware though, if you prefer original versions, as I do.