Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs

"They'll bury Flo tomorrow, but they're hanging me tonight"

I remember having listened to "Big Iron" for the first time a while back, and I had that song on repeat for the rest of the day. Because of that, I was looking forward to hearing anything else this album had to offer. In terms of catchiness, "Big Iron" has the rest beat, and I love the storytelling behind it, as well as the repeated phrases "1 and 19 more," "Big Iron on his hip," etc. (playlist track). I wasn't particularly a huge fan of the rest of the songs mostly due to the style, but as a 1959's record goes, this is as good as it gets for me.

After reading through the lyrics, especially on "Running gun," I realized a running theme between a couple of the songs off this record. I initially thought "running gun" was the reverse POV of "Big Iron," both the outlaws have 20 notches on their pistols, and get shot before their gun leaves the leather, with onlookers watching their death. However there are some differences with who shoots them (Bounty hunter vs. Arizona ranger, and Agua Fria vs. Amarillo). Both these songs tell a similar story to that in "Billy the Kid" where he has 21 notches on his pistol, and is shot by a sheriff, maybe has something to do with a divine similarity in the deaths of those who live the outlaw life, like it says in Running gun, "And I knew that where I lie today, he too must lie some day."

Cool record with a good underlying theme of cowboys and outlaws in the old west.
3/5

This is like stepping directly into a high-stakes, Technicolor Western. Marty Robbins’ voice is absolute gold, smooth as a crooner, but with a persistent, underlying grit that makes these stories of outlaws and frontier justice feel incredibly visceral. From the iconic, quick-draw tension of "Big Iron" to the sweeping, tragic romance of "El Paso", the album masters the art of cinematic storytelling.

Every song is about some kind of conflict. Outlaws. Guns. Cattle. Saddles. Way out west. It’s all here. I’m just kind of digging it and HOLD UP THE MASTERS CALL! Jesus makes an appearance holy cattle stampede Marty. Calm the fuck down. However not a note out of place. Iconic vocal sound. Strumming acoustics. Lots of backgrounds and echo. Far west on the country western spectrum.

"This is Mr. New Vegas, and I feel something magic in the air tonight, and I'm not just talking about the gamma radiation.".

I like this. It's very nice, well sung, nice tales, gentle guitars. What a silky voice! I like all the "oooOOoo" backup vocals too.

3.5 rounded down

"Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs" - hmmmmmm, wonder if this is going to be a country influenced album

Not my thing

irraaaaaaaa

A country & western album that mostly steps in the western spheres.

It just makes me want to play Fallout New Vegas again, with the radio off on my pipboy.

It's fine for a song or three. Not the worst country music I've heard. But damn, it gets super repetitive for a whole album.

I didn't realize this was a real album people listened to. It gets posted like a meme to vinyl collector boards like Herb Albert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights all the time.

He does one thing but he does it spectacularly well and I'm here for every minute.

Sydämeni sykkii tämmöselle korniudelle. En tiedä onko tää objektiivisesti hyvää musaa mut pakko antaa 4/5. Master's Call, ah mikä melodramaattisuuden huipennus!

Alright, this is country-adjacent music I like: Really pleasant voice singing about old west & cowboy things

Big Iron is a fun song. There are some actually really nice musical progressions and modulations. All the songs have these tight narratives, and are just so enjoyable. The Master's Call is christian fan fic, though a god killing 100 cattle with a lighting bolt is pretty rad. El Paso is really violent for such an upbeat song. This was a great time.

Yehawn! 🥱 It's alright if you like this sort of thing, for me it was a one-way ticket to Yawnville. Slept great last night, thanks for asking.

I like the slower number "They're hanging me tonight" but the rest is just okay to me.

Can't believe how much I love this for a country album. Amazing lyricism, great voice, solid understated guitar work. I'm going to need to pick this up on wax