Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs

Amazon.com:
A lonely Westerner in Nashville, Marty Robbins salved his soul by cutting an album (in one afternoon) of mostly self-composed cowboy ballads. One of them was a four-and-a-half-minute epic, "El Paso," that broke every rule of Top 40 programming to become a No. 1 pop and country hit in 1960. Robbins was arguably the most surefooted and accomplished singer in all country music, and that was never more obvious than on these Western ballads performed to often breathtaking perfection with a very small group and a vocal trio. Other titles include "Big Iron" (also a Top 30 hit), "Running Gun," and Western classics like "Cool Water," "Billy the Kid," and "The Strawberry Roan." Three extra tracks flesh out the 1999 release, including "Saddle Tramp" (the B-side of "Big Iron") and "The Hanging Tree" (title song from the 1959 Gary Cooper Western). --Colin Escott

Disc 1:

1. Big Iron - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty
2. A Hundred and Sixty Acres - Marty Robbins, Kapp, Dave
3. They're Hanging Me Tonight - Marty Robbins, Lowe, Jimmy
4. Cool Water - Marty Robbins, Nolan, Bob
5. Billy the Kid - Marty Robbins, Traditional
6. Utah Carol - Marty Robbins, Traditional
7. The Strawberry Roan - Marty Robbins, Traditional
8. The Master's Call - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty
9. Running Gun - Marty Robbins, Glaser, Jim
10. El Paso - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty
11. In the Valley - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty
12. The Little Green Valley - Marty Robbins, Robison, Carson
13. The Hanging Tree - Marty Robbins, David, Mack
14. Saddle Tramp - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty
15. El Paso - Marty Robbins, Robbins, Marty

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Marty Robbins, Gunfighter Ballads
Arrived in timeframe promised and in perfect condition. Purchasing is very easy using Amazon's 1-click process.

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Rating: - One of the true American LP treasures...
Every Marty fan, every country music lover, every folk music fan, and every Americana collector should have this CD. Perfect singing, greatsong selection, superb accompaniment, and both the long and short versions of "El Paso" are found here. "El Paso" is a story song written by Marty that matches or exceeds the best of Woody Guthrie's ballads. I put it in the class of songs like "Tom Joad" and "East Texas Red." Marty's mix here of originals and traditional songs was a key release of the Folk Revival, ... Read More

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Rating: - Marty Robbins Gunfighter Ballads CD Is A Pleasure
Bought a new copy of the classic, Marty Robbins' Gunfighter Ballads.This Columbia recording is of qood quality.Mr. Robbins' music has its usual unique, pleasing quality.All songs are smooth and great on the ears.

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Rating: - Great Album
This may well be the greatest album of Marty Robbins' career.He seemed to have a passion for the Western music, although he was one of the greatest "crooners" in Country music as well.
I only have one complaint here and that is the inclusion of the "chopped up" version of El Paso, and (I guess technically two complaints) that the full length version of the song is not in stereo.I mean, come on, if the edited version is edited from the full length recording (and it was with one verse edited out) ... Read More

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Rating: - Terrific!
Old standards that have been great for almost fifty years.Well worth having in one's collection.