Western Sunsets

Western Sunsets

This week’s show has us revisiting the Old Chisholm Trail and prairie passages that resemble all things that follow those romantic icons whose life on the range was less than what their songs usually embellish. In the western sunsets where John Lomax first went out in search of the ‘cowboy song’, we’ll explore more enlightened performances from the silver screen to the deep folk traditions that have become so laminated with romance that it’s hard to see the images beneath. This week’s show will take us from Carl T. Sprague, the original cowboy crooner, to Johnny Horton, Fess Parker, Rex Allen, and Roy Rogers. The music is sometimes sappy (Rick Nelson’s My Rifle, My Pony, and Me), sometimes light (Roy Rogers’ My Chickashay Girl), and other times full of storytelling and history. So many performances to light up the evening sky…just before dusk…just before that ceiling of stars appears in the night sky. Join us for our first live show from our new KOWS studios in downtown Santa Rosa.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Rex Allen The Covered Wagon Riding All Day Amazon
3Jimmie Rodgers Prairie Lullaby Recordings 1927 – 1933 [Disc 5] Amazon
4Carl T. Sprague O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie …I Listen to the Wind That Obliterates My Traces Amazon
5The Carter Family Cowboy Jack On Border Radio – 1939 – vol. 2 Amazon
6Rhubarb Red Little Green Valley (Radio) Cowboy Crooners Sing Songs Of The West Cd 1 Amazon
7The Riders Of The Purple Sage Cool Water (Radio) Cowboy Crooners Sing Songs Of The West Cd 1 Amazon
8Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers The Strawberry Roan Saturday Night Rag 1934-1936 Vol. 1 Amazon
9Hank Snow I Traded My Saddle for a Rifle 1942-1943 (Warped 4206) Amazon
10Rex Allen Dreaming of the Western Plains Riding All Day Amazon
11Roy Rogers My Chickashay Girl 1942-1947 (Warped 4561) Amazon
12Roy Rogers Don't Fence Me In My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
13Sons of the Pioneers Moonlight On the Prairie Songs of the Prairie – CD1 Amazon
14Sons of the Pioneers Cool Water Cool Water & 17 Western Favorites Amazon
15Charlie Haden Oh Shenandoah Charlie Haden Family & Friends – Rambling Boy Amazon
16Al Caiola & His Orchestra Bonanza TV Land presents Favorite TV Theme Songs Amazon
17Various The Virginian Television's Greatest Hits Vol.II – 65 More TV Themes 50s and 60s Amazon
18Johnny Western The Ballad Of Paladin Columbia Country Classics, Vol. 3: Americana Amazon
19Johnny Cash The Rebel Johnny Yuma My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
20Lee Marvin Wand'rin Star Rare Songs Played on Radio, Vol. 1 Amazon
21Dean Martin Rio Bravo My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
22Rick Nelson My Rifle My Pony And Me (w/ Dean Martin) Legacy [Disc 1] Amazon
23Marty Robbins Ballad Of The Alamo My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
24Frankie Laine Rawhide The Cowboy Album Amazon
25Johnny Horton Sleepy-Eyed John Honky Tonk Man: The Essential Johnny Horton 1956-1960 (2 of 2) Amazon
26Patsy Montana My Dear Old Arizona Home The Best Of Patsy Montana Amazon
27Roy Rogers Rock Me to Sleep in My Saddle 1942-1947 (Warped 4561) Amazon
28Fess Parker The Ballad Of Davy Crockett The Cowboy Album Amazon
29Vaughn Monroe (Ghost) Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend) The Cowboy Album Amazon
30Johnny Cash The Sons Of Katie Elder My Rifle, My Pony And Me Amazon
31Gene Autry Red River Valley The Essential Gene Autry 1933-1946 Amazon
32Johnny Bond Twilight On The Trail Country Hits Vol. 6 Amazon
33The Sons Of The Pioneers O Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie Sons Of The Pioneers Amazon
34The Cinema Sound Orchestra High Noon Western Film Themes Amazon
35Willie Nelson Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys [Album Version] Willie Nelson's Greatest Hits (& Some That Will Be) Amazon