Cowboy Songs

Rating:
Summary: The Story and Song of the Old West
Review: "Cowboy Songs" is an outstanding collections of songs of the Old West, supplemented by historical narration. This set tells the story of the life and song of the old cowboy era. No Rhinestone Cowboys here! These songs are authentic renditions of the true cowboy spirit.

The songs are arranged chronologically, beginning with the songs of the early vaqueros and continuing to the end of the trail driver era.

The songs are supplemented by interesting historical narratives of the themes reflected in the songs. The narrations explain quaint terms appearing in the songs as well as the events in cowboy life which inspired the cowboy when they road the trail are relaxed around the campfire. The narrations, in themselves, make the set worthwhile. I think that most of what I know about cattle stampedes I learned from this CD set and the writings of Theodore Roosevelt.

This set is not suitable for quiet background music. These songs and narrations firmly draw your attention. For anyone interested in the history and music of the Old West, this set is a must.

Rating:
Summary: Get educated and entertained all at once
Review: I've owned the cassette version of this for more years than I can remember. It has survived four moves during this time and a major reduction of my music collection.
I purchased it originally because it contains the old cowboy song "I'm Going to Leave Old Texas Now".
Keith and Rusty McNeil give these songs a nice unaffected reading. They sound like the kind of people that you'd love to have joing your campfire.