Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
was
Marty Robbins
' first album to consist entirely of
Western
and
cowboy
music. Containing the hit single
"El Paso,"
the album was divided between originals, traditional
songs, and contemporary
songs. The result was a successful and thoroughly entertaining celebration of
songs and
movies, particularly since the songs are alternately idealistic and adventurous. Sure,
doesn't deal in reality, but it is grounded in myth. It just happens to be one of the most effective and romantic statements of the
mythology recorded in the late '50s and early '60s. [The 1999 CD reissue contains three bonus tracks:
"The Hanging Tree,"
"Saddle Tramp,"
"El Paso."
] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine