We take out the banjo, we sit down by the fire to discover this album of western and country music. It's one of the pleasures of this project to listen to artists who were totally unknown to me. While Marty Robbins sold over 80 million albums in his career.
Marty Robbins was an American country singer, songwriter and actor, born in 1925 and died in 1982. He is considered one of the greatest country singers of all time.
He wrote and recorded many country music classics, such as El Paso, Big Iron and Don't Worry. Robbins has also won numerous awards, including five Grammy Awards. In addition to his musical career, he also starred in several successful western films. He remained popular long after his death and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982.
The album
“Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs,” released in 1959, is Marty Robbins' seminal album. It was very influential in the creation of the western music genre.
The song El Paso, a country music classic, won the Grammy Award for Best Country Recording in 1960. The song tells the story of a cowboy who falls in love with a girl named Feleena in El Paso, Texas. The song is filled with visual details and poetic metaphors that have captivated listeners for decades.
The album also includes other famous cowboy ballads, such as Big Iron and Billy the Kid. These songs tell stories of the American West, with tales of justice, violence and sacrifice. The lyrics are catchy and the melodies memorable, which made them popular.
In addition to his hit songs, “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs” also showcases Robbins' talent as a songwriter and performer. His powerful and expressive voice adds an emotional dimension to his songs, which makes them even more touching for the listeners.
Big Iron
Big Iron tells the story of a sheriff named Arizona Kid, who is in pursuit of a criminal named Texas Red. The song describes the final confrontation between the two men, which ends with the death of the criminal. The lyrics describe the scene in a visual and dramatic way, using metaphors to describe the power of the Arizona Kid's weapon, a big gun called “Big Iron”.
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
He was vicious and a killer though a youth of 24
The lyrics of Big Iron are often considered to be poetic and crafted. The song depicts a vivid picture of the American West, with details of characters, places and events. I also recommend listening to Johnny Cash's version.
Where to listen Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs ?
- Listen Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs on Spotify
- Listen Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs on Deezer
- Listen Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs on Youtube