When I Was a Cowboy, Vol. 1

by WHEN I WAS A COWBOY 1 / VARIOUS

Overview

These are the records that gave everyone from Gene Autry through Marty Robbins the basis for their careers, bridging the gap between 19th century reality and 20th century nostalgia. These 23 songs are the real article from the mid- to late '20s, a time when the singers had ridden the range, and the events they sung of were often within living memory. This material is the white equivalent of recordings by Blind Lemon Jefferson, Papa Charlie Jackson, et al., and anyone owning their records -- even if they don't like cowboy songs -- ought to own this as well; J.D. Farley's "Bill Was a Texas Lad" could even pass for blues. Alas, there is no information included about Farley, the Cartwright Brothers, Harry McClintock ("Sam Bass"), Edward L. Crain ("Bandit Cole Younger"), the Crowder Brothers, Taylor's Kentucky Boys ("The Dixie Cowboy"), Carl Sprague ("The Last Longhorn"), Billie Maxwell, Watts & Wilson, Lonesome Luke & His Farm Hands (who give listeners an authentic square dance), or Patt Patterson & His Champion Rep Riders, and the only name that will be recognizable to modern listeners is rider/actor Ken Maynard, whose "The Lone Star Trail" is one of the best things here. All of it is stripped down, sometimes with no more than a guitar accompaniment; the singing is raw and unaffected, but some of it displays surprising virtuosity, most notably the Arkansas Woodchopper's dexterous guitar playing on "I'm a Texas Cowboy" and "Texas Ranger" by the Cartwright Brothers, with a droning fiddle accompaniment that emphasizes the British origins of the melodies behind some of these songs. The sound is also unusually good. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/1996
Label:	Yazoo
UPC:	0016351202222
Rank:	96819

Tracks

1. Utah Carroll  -  Cartwright Brothers
2. Bandit Cole Younger  - Edward L. Crain
3. Bill Was a Texas Lad  - J.D. Farley
4. 'Longside the Santa Fe Trail  - Jules Allen
5. The Mormon Cowboy  - Carl T. Sprague
6. The Roundup in the Spring  -  Martin & Roberts
7. The Lone Star Trail  - Ken Maynard  -  Traditional
8. Wild West Rambler  -  Crowder Brothers
9. Sam Bass  - Harry McClintock
10. The Wandering Cowboy  -  Paterson
11. Texas Ranger  -  Cartwright Brothers
12. I'm a Texas Cowboy  -  Arkansas Woodchopper
13. The Last Longhorn  - Carl T. Sprague
14. Wild Hog in the Woods  -  Lonesome Luke & His Farm Hands
15. Lonely Cowboy, Pt. 1  - Arthur Miles
16. Lonely Cowboy, Pt. 2  - Arthur Miles
17. Goodbye Old Paint  - Harry McClintock
18. Tying a Knot in the Devil's Tail  -  Powder River Jack & Kitty Lee
19. Haunted Hunter  - Billie Maxwell
20. The Dixie Cowboy  -  Taylor's Kentucky Boys
21. Out on the Lone Star Cow Trail  - Dick Devall
22. The Cowboy's Lament  - Ken Maynard  -  Traditional
23. The Sporting Cowboy  -  Watts & Wilson

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Powder River Jack & Kitty Lee   Primary Artist
Martin & Roberts   Primary Artist
Jules Allen   Primary Artist
Harry McClintock   Primary Artist
Arthur Miles   Primary Artist
Dick Devall   Primary Artist
Watts & Wilson   Primary Artist
Patt Patterson   Primary Artist
Edward L. Crain   Primary Artist
Lonesome Luke   Primary Artist
Arkansas Woodchopper   Primary Artist
Carl T. Sprague   Primary Artist
Powder River Jack   Primary Artist
Cartwright Brothers   Primary Artist
Pat Patterson & His Champion Rep Riders   Primary Artist
Crowder Brothers   Primary Artist
J.D. Farley   Primary Artist
Billie Maxwell   Primary Artist
Ken Maynard   Primary Artist
Kitty Lee   Primary Artist
Taylor's Kentucky Boys   Primary Artist
Lonesome Luke & His Farm Hands   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Robert Vosgien   Digital Mastering
Jules Allen   Performer,Composer
Dick Devall   Performer
Watts & Wilson   Performer
Edward L. Crain   Performer,Composer
Carl T. Sprague   Performer
Cartwright Brothers   Performer
Ken Maynard   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Taylor's Kentucky Boys   Performer
Arthur Miles   Performer
Arkansas Woodchopper   Performer
Joan Pelosi   Design
Harry McClintock   Performer
Richard Nevins   Remastering,Liner Notes,Producer