Customer Reviews

South of the Border: Songs of Old Mexico

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Varèse Fontana presents "SOUTH OF THE BORDER:SONGS OF OLD MEXICO" -- The Gene Autry recordings keep surfacing and gathering plenty of steam with this latest release --- the sound quality is excellent and nostalgic for the wranglers who grew up listening to "America's Favorite Singing Cowboy" --- for the first time ever on CD covering the film music south of the border style, of his career, absolutely essential for all cowboys and gals --- Gene's good guy image with heartfelt and beautiful melodies are pleasant and extremely calming --- after listening these songs over and over, you are transported back in time when life was simpler and the good guys always won. Gene was the screen's first "Singing Cowboy", already well known in the late '20s as a radio and recording star --- Autry began making films in 1934 and kept cranking them out except for a short visit with Uncle Sam in the United States Army Air during World War 2.

Ride down the trail to Melody Ranch and meet the only entertainer with five stars on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame" --- One each for radio, recordings, films, television and live appearances --- The Autry Museum of Western Heritage is a world class center devoted to preserving and interpreting the rich history and traditions of the American West --- Gene maintained his own coterie of fine songwriters to keep him supplied with original tunes --- his wondrously effective singing voice was warm, reassuring and nostalgic --- some marvelous recordings from Gene's early days in films.

SOUTH OF THE BORDER SONGS OF OLD MEXICO [Varese] - Track Listings and Times:

1 Gene Autry's Spoken Introduction 0:48
2 South of the Border 2:24
3 Cielito Lindo 0:53
4 Mexicali Rose 2:31
5 My Adobe Hacienda 1:33
6 In a Little Spanish Town 2:09
7 You Belong To My Heart Solamernte Una Vez 2:36
8 Maria Elena 2:30
9 It Happened In Monterey 2:16
10 Come To the Fiesta 1:16
11 Goodbye To Old Mexico 1:56
12 Amapola 2:26
13 Gaucho Serenade 1:26
14 El Rancho Grande 1:47
15 A Gay Ranchero (Las Altenitas) 1:43
16 Down Mexico Way 1:24
17 Yours (Quiereme Mucho) 2:00
18 La Golondria (the Swallow) 1:43
19 Marcheta (Love Song of Old Mexico) 2:06
20 Under Fiesta Stars 2:38
21 In Old Capistrano (Ay, Jalisco, No Te Rajes) 2:06

BIO:
1. Gene Autry
Date of Birth: 29 September 1907 - Near Tioga, Texas
Date of Death: 2 October 1998 - Studio City, Los Angeles, California

During my childhood I grew up in St. Louis listening to Gene Autry's popular tunes and Christmas music --- there isn't a more special way to celebrate your Christian belief than sharing the good music by Gene --- now that I have my grandchildren, I want them to have the same wonderful memories that I experienced --- this was good old fashioned Christmas spirit that the entire family loved and enjoyed --- Gene Autry who was responsible for keeping one of the world's greatest Christmas traditions alive the "Hollywood Christmas Parade", when bad times surfaced and needed some assistance financially --- it was Gene who came to the rescue as Johnny Grant (Honary Mayor of Hollywood) did whatever it took to keep the parade the class-A Holiday event from going under --- drawing approximately one million spectators along the parade route each year, Hollywood's biggest single day event and the kick off for the Holiday Season --- this was all from Gene's generous support and giving spirit.

Hats off to Cary E. Mansfield and Karla Buhlman (Produced and Compiled), Jackie Autry (Executive Producer), Bob Fisher (Digitally Remastered Pacific Multimedia Corp), Holly George-Warren (Notes), Irynne Isip (Research), Bill Pitzonka (Research Irynne Isip Art Director & Design), Bret Rigney (Cover Design with Rigney Graphics) --- and of course the label Varese Sarabande --- Personal comments and introductions to the songs, adding much to the intimacy of the collection by our favorite singing cowboy - Gene Autry!

Total Time: 40 mins ~ Varèse Fontana ~ (4/06/2010)

I purchased this CD at the behest of my older sister, who was a young woman when Gene Autry was popular. Well, I am glad I followed her advice. Although I don't think Gene Autry ever produced a bad album, this is one of his best. He sings with such love and respect for his material. The songs are catchy and uplifting. Gene Autry sang in an era when the voice was the focal point, not the special effects in the background and inaudible lyrics. Gene's voice is clean and pleasant and his control is what a voice should be. He and Bing Crosby give you excellence without any effort. Thank you, Amazon, for making this music from the past available to those who appreciate a good voice.

Varese continues to round-up the stray works of singing cowboy Gene Autry, giving grown-up buckaroos a convenient place to find ephemeral performances from film and radio. Their latest volume corrals twenty Mexico-themed tunes from Autry's feature films and Melody Ranch radio show. Among the titles collected here are some of Autry's most celebrated, including "Mexicali Rose," and movie themes "South of the Border" and "Gaucho Serenade." The material is mostly drawn from Autry's prime in the 1940s, but reaches back to the late `30s for "Cielito Lindo" and "Come to the Fiesta" and to 1950 for "El Ranch Grande." Digital mastering engineer Bob Fisher has sewn the disparate audio sources into a tremendously listenable program, and introductions by Autry and his radio announcer provide vintage frames for several tracks. The eight-page booklet includes new liner note by Western music historian O.J. Sikes and detailed information on each song's source. This is a terrific companion to the numerous Western-themed Autry collections issued by Varese and others. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com]