Search - Sons of the Pioneers :: Sing the Stephen Foster Songbook

"Sing the Stephen Foster Songbook ... Sons of the Pioneers .

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 07/05/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Varese Vintage Series album represents first time on CD, a range of The Sons of the Pioneers musical versatility --- Guitars are strummed as fiddles add quality of a wistful echo of sentiment from an early composer we enjoyed from our youthful years --- Saddle up for "SING THE STEPHEN FOSTER SONGBOOK", with Sons of the Pioneers featuring Roy Rogers --- As we sit round the campfire listening to the "father of American Music", was the pre-eminent songwriter of the 19th century in the United States --- His songs remain popular over 150 years after their composition render the ultimate of "pure Americana".



First rate singers, the Pioneers are also wonderful instrumentalist with this line performing ~ Bob Nolan (string bass/guitar/baritone vocals), Tim Spencer (tenor vocals), Hugh Farr (fiddle/bass vocals) and Karl Farr (guitar/tenor vocals) singing and yodeling, became quickly the very definition of Western Cowboy Music.



Sing The Stephen Foster Songbook (Track and Time listings)



1 Oh Susanna Traditional Version [2:17]

2 De Camptown Races [2:21]

3 Ring Ring De Banjo [3:03]

4 Dolly Day [2:42]

5 Old Dog Trey [4:07]

6 Hard Times Come Again No More [3:19]

7 Louisiana Belle [2:10]

8 My Old Kentucky Home [4:05]

9 Some Folks [1:58]

10 Nelly Bly [2:41]

11 Old Black Joe Instrumental [2:59]

12 Swanee River Instrumental [3:03]

13 The Glendy Burke [2:36]

14 Away Down South [1:35]



BIOS:

1. Roy Rogers (aka: Leonard Franklin Slye)

Date of Birth: 5 November 1911 - Cincinnati, Ohio

Date of Death: 6 July 1998 - Apple Valley, California



2. Bob Nolan (aka: Clarence Robert Nobles)

Date of Birth: 13 April 1908 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Date of Death: 16 June 1980 - Newport Beach, California



3. Tim Spencer (aka:Vernon Harold Spencer)

Date of Birth: 13 July 1908 - Webb City, Missouri

Date of Death: 26 April 1974 - Victorville, California



4. Hugh Farr

Date of Birth: 6 December 1903 - Llano, Texas

Date of Death: 17 March 1980 - City & State Unknown



5. Karl Farr

Date of Birth: 25 April 1909 - Rochelle, Texas

Date of Death: 20 September 1961 - West Springfield, Massachusetts



My earliest recollection of this legendary western group was on the big screen with Charles Starrett (Durango Kid) and Roy Rogers with his famous palomino Trigger(the smartest horse in the movies) --- Would sit in the fifth or sixth row of a darkened theater, watch and listen to Sons Of The Pioneers, back then this was the best entertainment around --- Now that I look back on those films, they seem a little corny, but not the songs and those Pioneers ~ Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Hugh Farr, Karl Farr and Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers), still sound as good today as then.



Wonderful music, beautifully preserved and re-mastered --- You feel like you're right there with the pioneers as they sing their way down the trail --- This will bring back memories of the films you watched as a kid (if you are old enough), and hearing Roy Rogers and The Sons of the Pioneers sing some of these songs --- The sound on these recordings make them even better than you will remember --- Just close your eyes and go back into those innocent years of yore.



Total Time: 39 mins on 14 Tracks ~ Varese Records 67022 ~ (6/29/2010)"