I suspect that generations subsequent to those born in the ‘50s and ‘’60s may find this album quaint at best, if not ridiculous, which I suppose is understandable.

They didn’t grow up with Davy Crockett, The Lone Ranger and Daniel Boone on television, or watched Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Rawhide, The Virginian, Alias Smith and Jones (a short-lived favorite of mine), Have Gun Will Travel (best TV show name ever?), or any hundreds of others that I no longer can recall. My generation and the one before mine was steeped in Wild West drama, tough masculinity, and the indelible image of sheriffs and outlaws.

With these twelve songs, Marty Robbins captured the spirit of our youth and for us, it is impossible to erase their emotional impact from our memories. Yes, they are redundant and predictable, but the music is etched into our minds, and the awesomely rich virility of his vocals is undeniable. Whether the stories were true or patently ridiculous, America lived on its legends in the 1950s, and Marty Robbins did the best job of translating our dreams into song. Their days most certainly were numbered, but cowboy music doesn’t get any better than this.

Featured Tracks:

Big Iron

Cool Water

Billy the Kid

A Hundred and Sixty Acres

They're Hanging Me Tonight

The Strawberry Roan

El Paso

In the Valley

The Master's Call

Running Gun

The Little Green Valley

Utah Carol

September 1959 - Billboard Charted #6