Search - Gene Autry :: Cowboy Hymns & Songs of Inspiration

Cowboy Hymns and Songs of Inspiration - Gene Autry - Varese

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 08/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Varèse Sarabande presents "COWBOY HYMNS & SONGS OF INSPIRATION" -- 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 inspirational side 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.



GENE AUTRY COWBOY HYMNS & SONGS OF INSPIRATION (Track Listings)

1. Silver Spurs on the Golden Stairs [2:44]

(Gene Autry-Cindy Walker)

Broadcast 11/18/45



2. When It's Round-Up Time in Heaven [2:50]

(Jimmie Davis)

Broadcast 1/20/46



3. When Mother Played the Organ

(And Daddy Sang a Hymn) [2:31]

(Dick Sanford and George B. McConnell)

Broadcast 8/25/46



4. Rounded Up in Glory [3:02]

(Traditional)

Broadcast 3/23/47



5. Little Old Church in the Valley [2:37]

(Gus Kahn, Egbert Van Alstyne & Gene Harold)

Broadcast 8/24/47



6. When It's Prayer Meeting Time in the Hollow [2:34]

(Fleming Allen-Al Rice)

Broadcast 9/21/47



7. Bless This House [2:45]

(Traditional)

Broadcast 11/21/48



8. The Bible on the Table and the Flag upon the Wall [1:57]

(George J. Bennett-Paul Cunningham-Leonard Whitcup)

Broadcast 3/5/49



9. Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning) [1:44]

(Steve Allen)

Broadcast 4/1/50



10. The Old Rugged Cross [3:07]

(Rev. George Bennard) - Gene Autry with Dinah Shore



11. In the Garden [2:48]

(C. Austin Miles) - Gene Autry With Dinah Shore



12. Dear Hearts and Gentle People [2:01]

(Sammy Fain-Bob Hilliard)

>From the Columbia Pictures film Beyond the Purple Hills (1950)



13. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You [3:10]

(Meredith Willson)

Broadcast 9/29/51



14. Cowboy's Heaven [2:06]

(Gene Autry-Frankie Marvin)

>From The Gene Autry Show; Episode 27 "Horse Sense"

Broadcast 1/11/52



15. Peace in the Valley [2:42]

(Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey)

Broadcast 4/12/52



16. Somebody Bigger Than You and I [2:50]

(Sonny Burke-Hy Heath-John Lange)

Broadcast 1/3/53



17. God's Little Candles [1:51]

(Jimmy Kennedy)

>From the Columbia Pictures film Pack Train (1953)



18. A Cowboy's Prayer [2:22]

(Traditional)

Broadcast 10/26/47



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) --- With the talents of the Cass County Boys, Three Pinafores and the Johnny Bond Trio, the Cass County Kids, the Kettle Sisters, Paul Sells' Orchestra, Carl Cotner's Melody Ranch Orchestra, Dinah Shore 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: 46 mins ~ Varèse Sarabande ~ (8/19/2008)"