Country and Western: Johnny Bond Standard Transcriptions

by Johnny Bond

Overview

There is something pleasantly romantic about Johnny Bond's cowboy songs, perhaps because they capture the saga of the once untamed West. Who wouldn't feel a certain longing in the wake of starry nights, tumbling tumbleweeds, and riding one's horse on the open range? A number of classic songs fill this collection, including "Red River Valley," "Boots and Saddles," and "Mexicali Rose." Bond is joined by a few friends -- the Red River Valley Boys -- who sing harmony and offer tasteful support. The arrangements are spare, featuring little more than bass, accordion, and a guitar on most cuts. The group is clearly comfortable performing together and maintain the same intimacy as the Sons of the Pioneers on songs like "Saddle Serenade." Bond has written a number of these songs, including the memorable "Ten Years" and the instrumental "Ridin' Down to Santa Fe." There is a haunting version of "Empty Saddles," sort of an early, less dark version of "(Ghost Riders) in the Sky." Bond is perfectly capable of generating a cowboy version of honky tonk flavored songs like "Headin' Down the Wrong Highway," or a heartfelt rendition of pop ballads like "Have I Stayed Away Too Long." The sound quality of these transcriptions from 1944-1945 is very good, and the number of selections -- 31 -- is generous. This disc will sit comfortably beside the recordings of other singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Bloodshot has put together a fine collection that will be a real treat to lovers of swinging cowboy music. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/16/2001
Label:	Bloodshot
UPC:	0744302080727
Rank:	148418

Tracks

1. Out on the Open Range
2. Stars of the Midnight Range
3. Gals Don't Mean a Thing
4. Have I Stayed Away Too Long?
5. Goodbye Old Paint
6. Ridin' Down to Santa Fe
7. Saddle Serenade
8. You Brought Sorrow to My Heart
9. Think of Me
10. You Don't Care
11. Mexicali Rose
12. When the Work's All Done This Fall
13. Silver on the Sage
14. Birmingham Jail
15. Boots and Saddles
16. Red River Valley
17. Ten Years
18. Twilight on the Trail
19. The Last Roundup
20. Tomorrow Never Comes
21. Oklahoma Hills
22. Empty Saddles
23. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
24. Headin' Down the Wrong Highway
25. The First Rose
26. I'll Step Aside
27. So Long to the Red River Valley
28. Heart and Soul
29. At Mail Call Today
30. Don't Live a Lie
31. Sad and Blue

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Johnny Bond   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Helen Stone   Composer
Sidney Mitchell   Composer
Jack Tenney   Composer
Curt Massey   Composer
Gene Autry   Composer
Fred Rose   Composer
Ted Daffan   Composer
Johnny Bond   Composer
Ernest Tubb   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
Phil York   Mastering,Digital Editing
Roy Rogers   Composer
Ralph Rainger   Composer
Woody Guthrie   Composer
Arbie Gibson   Composer
Bob Nolan   Composer
D. J. O'Malley   Composer
Leo Robin   Composer
Louis Alter   Composer
Rich Kienzle   Liner Notes
Jack Guthrie   Composer
Richard Loring   Composer
Glenn Spencer   Composer
William S. Cook   Research,Transfers,Noise Reduction
Bill Hill   Composer
Frank Loesser   Composer
Traditional   Composer