VA - Songs Of The West, Vol. 1 - Vol. 4 [1993] (4 x CDs)

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VA - Songs Of The West, Vol. 1 - Vol. 4 [1993] (4 x CDs)

This is a nostalgic journey through cowboy classics covering both famous and obscure odes to the high lonesome plains.

If you’ve ever wanted to saddle up and ride through the golden era of cowboy music, "Songs of the West" is your ticket to the past. Released in 1993 by Rhino Records, this four-volume box set is a collection of Western and country classics that capture the spirit of the American frontier.

What makes this set special? For starters, it’s not just a random assortment of cowboy tunes it’s a thoughtfully assembled tribute to the legends of Western music. 

The first volume, Cowboy Classics, i s the perfect introduction to the rich tradition of Western music and features timeless tracks like Gene Autry’s Back in the Saddle Again and Marty Robbins’ Big Iron. The Sons of the Pioneers, one of the most influential Western groups, gives us classics like Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water while Walter Brennan’s gives us a dramatic spoken-word piece "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral"

The second volume shifts focus to Silver Screen Cowboys and kicks off with The Sons of the Pioneers’ "I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)", a playful tune that sets the tone for the collection. One of the rare gems in this collection is Slim Pickens’ rendition of Desperados Waiting for a Train, a version so powerful that even Guy Clark himself praised it. One of the most historically significant tracks is Gene Autry and Jimmy Long’s "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine", a song that helped launch Autry’s career.

The third disc is dedicated entirely to Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, two of the most influential cowboy crooners of all time. Autry, often called the “Singing Cowboy,” had a smooth, radio-friendly voice that helped popularize Western music. Rogers, on the other hand, embodied the Hollywood cowboy persona, blending music with his silver-screen charm

And then there’s the fourth volume, perhaps the most unique, filled with movie and television themes, including The Magnificent Seven and Rawhide. Instead of the original Bonanza theme, this set features Al Caiola’s alternative version, which is a rare treat. Tex Ritter’s High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) is another highlight, bringing the tension and drama of the legendary film to life. TV fans will appreciate themes from Gunsmoke, Maverick, Wagon Train, and The Rifleman, all included in their orchestral glory.

The packaging is another highlight, this isn’t just a set of CDs; it comes in a fine leather box, complete with a booklet packed with cowboy poetry, song histories, and stunning visuals.

Though out of print, Songs of the West remains a treasured collector’s item, offering a rich and immersive experience for fans of Western music. If you can track down a copy, it’s well worth the ride. (B)

Big thanks to --G who sent this to me.

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Track lists

Vol. 1

01 Gene Autry - Back in The Saddle Again 2:36

02 Sons of The Pioneers - Tumbling Tumbleweeds 2:40

03 Sons of The Pioneers - Cool Water 2:54

04 Tex Owens - Cattle Call 2:56

05 Tex Ritter - (Take Me Back to My) Boots and Saddle 3:16

06 Walter Brennan - Gunfight at The O.K. Corral 3:46

07 Marty Robbins - Big Iron 3:58

08 Ian Tyson - Leavin' Cheyenne 3:53

09 Gene Autry - Cowboy Blues 2:39

10 Montana, Patsy with Prairie Ramblers - I Want to Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart 3:06

11 Foy Willing & The Riders of The Purple Sage - Ragtime Cowboy Joe 1:56

12 Riders in The Sky - Ride Cowboy Ride 2:06

13 Frankie Laine & The Muleskinners - Mule Train 2:37

14 Marty Robbins - The Strawberry Roan 3:25

15 Riders in The Sky - The Line Rider 3:30

16 Rex Allen w Victor Young & His Singing Strings - The Last Round Up 3:00

17 Tex Ritter w Harry Geller & Orch - The Wayward Wind 2:45

18 Roy Rogers & Dale Evans w Whippoorwills & Orch - Happy Trails 3:01

Vol. 2

01 Sons of The Pioneers - I'm an Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) 2:47

02 Roy Rogers with Morton Scott & His Orchestra - Rock Me to Sleep in My Saddle 3:02

03 Tex Ritter & His Texans - Singin' in The Saddle 2:46

04 Sons of The Pioneers - A Melody From The Sky 2:39

05 Gene Autry & Jimmy Long - That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine 2:47

06 Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - New San Antonio Rose 2:35

07 Roy Rogers with The Whippoorwills & Orchestra - California Rose 3:02

08 Jimmy Wakely - One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) 2:46

09 Tex Ritter & His Texans - When It's Lamp Lightin' Time in The Valley 2:29

10 Foy Willing & The Riders of The Purple Sage - Twilight on The Trail 3:08

11 Walter Brennan with The Johnny Mann Singers - Old Rivers 2:47

12 Gene Autry - Sioux City Sue 2:43

13 Jimmy Wakely - I Love You So Much it Hurts 2:43

14 Rex Allen with The Merry Melody Singers - Don't Go Near The Indians 3:07

15 Tex Ritter & His Texans - Jingle Jangle Jingle 2:50

16 Gene Autry & Smiley Burnette - Ridin' Down The Canyon 2:50

17 Slim Pickens - Desperados Waiting for A Train 4:22

18 Rex Allen, Jr with Roy Rogers & Rex Allen Sr. - Last of The Silver Screen Cowboys 3:23

Vol. 3

01 Gene Autry - The Yellow Rose of Texas 1:57

02 Roy Rogers & The Sons of The Pioneers - Roving Cowboy 2:51

03 Gene Autry - Under Fiesta Stars 2:24

04 Roy Rogers & The Sons of The Pioneers - Echoes From The Hills 2:55

05 Gene Autry - Home on The Range 2:40

06 Roy Rogers & The Sons of The Pioneers - Blue Bonnet Girl 2:55

07 Gene Autry - Ages and Ages Ago 1:57

08 Roy Rogers & The Sons of The Pioneers - Cowboy Night Herd Song 2:55

09 Gene Autry - Tears on My Pillow 1:53

10 Roy Rogers - That Pioneer Mother of Mine 2:58

11 Gene Autry - Tweedle-O-Twill 1:44

12 Roy Rogers - Dust 2:39

13 Gene Autry - Be Honest With Me 1:26

14 Roy Rogers - When I Camped Under The Stars 2:51

15 Gene Autry - Buttons and Bows 2:38

16 Roy Rogers - Lovenworth 2:36

17 Gene Autry - Dixie Cannon Ball 1:17

18 Roy Rogers - Hoppy, Gene and Me 2:41

Vol. 4

01 Al Caiola - The Magnificent Seven 2:04

02 Al Caiola & His Orchestra - Bonanza 2:17

03 Tex Ritter - High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) 2:47

04 CBS Orchestra - Gunsmoke 0:59

05 Hugo Mentenegro - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 2:46

06 ABC Orchestra - The Lone Ranger (William Tell Overture) 1:15

07 Gene Autry - South of The Border (Down Mexico Way) 2:54

08 Frankie Laine - Rawhide 2:07

09 Roy Rogers with Spade Cooley & His Western Swing Band - On The Old Spanish Trail 2:43

10 NBC Orchestra - Wagon Train 0:50

11 Marty Robbins - Ballad of The Alamo 3:41

12 Orchestra & Chorus Conducted by David Buttolph - Maverick 1:15

13 Roy Rogers - Don't Fence Me In 2:49

14 Johnny Cash - The Rebel-Johnny Yuma 1:52

15 Johnny Western - The Ballad of Paladin 2:10

16 Hugh O'Brian with Ken Darby's Orchestra & Chorus - Legend of Wyatt Earp 2:42

17 ABC Orchestra conducted by Herschel Burke Gilbert - The Rifleman 1:49

18 Bill Hayes - The Ballad of Davey Crockett 2:25

19 Performer [Uncredited] - Changing Channels 1:09

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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