RIDERS IN THE SKY
Saddle Pals (Rounder)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

This is the thirteenth Rounder release for Ranger Doug, Woody Paul and Too Slim, collectively known as Riders In The Sky. Once again, they mine the fertile ground of cowboy music--the sounds of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, the Sons Of The Pioneers and others who have labored over the years to keep the west in western. Some of the songs may be about something other than cowboys per se, but each and every one is done in The Cowboy Way (and when Ranger Doug intones the words The Cowboy Way, the capital letters are audible).

This time out they're joined by their sidekick, Side Meat, a chorus of children, and a tight group of playing pals for a set of songs aimed at their younger fans, but sure to please all. There's humor here, and some novelty effects, but none of it takes away from the knowledge that Riders In The Sky take their mission to preserve this part of our musical heritage, and to promote The Cowboy Way, very seriously. And they do it very well.

Of course, I'm a big-time, long-time fan. That's because I've heard them for a long time. If this is your chance to hear them for the first time, it won't be long before you're a big-time, long-time fan, too, because these guys are simply the very best at what they do.

Track List:

Yippie-Yi-Yo And Away We Go * The Old Chisholm Trail * Get Along Little Doggies * Biscuit Blues * Sweet Betsy From Pike * There's A Great Big Candy Roundup * I'm Going To Leave Old Texas Now * The Cowboy's ABC * Clementine * "One, Two, Three" Said The Miner * Fiddle Medley * Down The Lullaby Trail

© 2000 - Shaun Dale