Search - Riders in the Sky :: Best of the West

Now THIS is Country-Western music!!

Steven H. Hulme | Boise, ID USA | 01/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back before people were writing "country" songs about pickup trucks, airplanes, "just when you need me the most, so does the coast" (yecch!), etc., C/W music sounded like Riders in the Sky.For the uninitiated, "Riders" consists of "Too Slim" on upright bass, "Woody Paul" on fiddle, and "Ranger Doug, 'The Idol of American Youth,'" on guitar. All of them sing, tight harmonies reminiscent of Sons of the Pioneers, but more "minimal." Very pure stuff.They approach the task at hand with a perfect blend of reverence (no question they LOVE this music) and good humor that is truly engaging. (In "real life," I've heard that all three Riders are very well-educated engineer-types, but who would know?)"Best of the West" is a greatest-hits collection of sorts. (Riders in the Sky? Greatest hits?!? Funny, huh?) It contains classic cowboy songs (Don't Fence Me In, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Home on the Range, etc.) along with some lesser-known tunes and excellent "originals" that are true to the genre.I'm a little perplexed by a couple of negative reviews. One states the tracks listed on the liner notes are not those on the CD; another says that the "quality of the back up instrumentation is terrible." MY CD (which I've had much longer than amazon.com has been around!) has the tracks listed correctly, and the backup instrumentation is just fine. (A little steel guitar, accordion, etc. - hardly noticeable in the mix.)If you like traditional COWBOY music, or even if you are merely interested in the Lore of the West, I feel confident in recommending this CD to you."

The Cowboy Way

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 01/29/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Howdy, buckaroos and Buckarettes! If you are a fan of cowboy music, Riders In The Sky are the leading practioners of the genre. Riders In The Sky recorded five albums for the Rounder Label before moving on to greener pastures at MCA in the late Eighties. This CD offers a generous hour-long sampling from their years at Rounder. [I'm not sure what some reviewers are listening to. The twenty-two tracks listed is exactly what you get and the vocals and instrumentation are mixed just fine. And all three members are excellent musicians.]About half of these songs are originals--most by "Ranger Doug" Green--including "That's How the Yodel Was Born," a humorous number that, of course, features Green's marvelous yodeling technique. "Woody Paul" Chrisman penned the ballads "Soon As the Roundup's Through" and "Cowboy Song." These originals blend in beautifully with standards like "Ghost Riders In the Sky," "Don't Fence Me In," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "I Ride an Old Paint." Simply put, there is not a bad track here.Riders In The Sky are not merely popularizers of an all but vanished genre. If you ever enjoyed listening to The Sons of the Pioneers, you'll not only enjoy this album but also be thankful that there are artists today that are continuing the tradition of cowboy music. RECOMMENDED"

Great CD for those who enjoyed Western Saturday mornings.

R. E. Statham | 06/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone that grew up watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and Gene Autry on Saturday mornings, this is really enjoyable, fun and relaxing music. I have seen Riders in the Sky on tv and really enjoyed their singing and comedy. I think it's a great CD and liked it so much, I gave my original copy to my father to enjoy also."