The Sons Of The Pioneers were one of the USA’s earliest western singing groups, and the primary originators of what might be called “cowboy country”.
Their songs, vocal harmonies and instrumental make-up influencing countless artists who followed them, although they were such a long-lived group that they were able to compete with many that they influenced.
With their origins in California, they evolved from a vocal trio that comprised future cowboy movie star Roy Rogers, Canadian songwriter Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer, signing to the newly-formed Decca label, before appearing in western movies.
This 53-track collection comprises selected A- and B-sides of their releases on the Decca, Vocalion, Columbia and RCA-Victor labels during this era. It features all their career pop and country chart entries, including the Top 10 hits Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Cool Water, Stars and Stripes On Iwo Jima, No One To Cry To, Cigareetes, Whusky, And Wild, Wild Women, Teardrops In My Heart and Room Full Of Roses. Tumbling Tumbleweeds and Cool Water were such landmark songs that they were both hits twice with different recordings.
Between 1935 and 1984, the Sons Of The Pioneers appeared in 87 films, several movie shorts, and a television series, but that track, Tumbling Tumbleweeds, will be familiar for many younger listeners after it was used over the opening credits of the Coen Brothers’ 1998 classic comedy movie, The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski. Since 1933, through many changes in membership, the Sons of the Pioneers have remained one of the longest-surviving country music vocal groups.
The name continues to today. This collection is a marvellous and captivating showcase which captures the spirit of the pioneer west in inimitable style.
CD1
1 Tumbling Tumbleweeds
2 When Our Old Age Pension Check Comes To Our Door
3 Echoes From The Hills
4 Cajon Stomp
5 Roving Cowboy
6 The Hills Of Old Wyomin'
7 A Melody From The Sky
8 Texas Star
9 Blue Bonnet Girl
10 Ride Ranger Ride
11 Empty Saddles
12 I'm An Old Cowhand
13 We'll Rest At The End Of The Trail
14 Blue Prairie
15 One More Ride
16 Way Out There
17 Down Along The Sleepy Rio Grande
18 Just A-Wearyin' For You
19 When The Roses Bloom Again
20 I Wonder If She Waits For Me Tonight
21 Hear Dem Bells
22 Leaning On The Everlasting Arm
23 Lead Me Gently Home, Father
24 One More River To Cross
25 Cool Water
26 (Goodbye My Darlin') They Drew My Number
CD2
1 You Broke My Heart
2 Private Buckaroo
3 Wagner Hoedown
4 I'll Be Around Somewhere
5 Cool Water
6 Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima
7 Forgive And Forget
8 Gold Star Mother With Silvery Hair
9 No One To Cry To
10 Tumbling Tumbleweeds
11 Cowboy Camp Meeting
12 Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
13 Baby Doll
14 Cigareetes, Whusky And Wild, Wild Women
15 My Best To You
16 Teardrops In My Heart
17 Will There Be Sagebrush In Heaven?
18 Out In Pioneertown
19 A Hundred And Sixty Acres
20 Calico Apron, A Gingham Gown
21 Down Where The Rio Flows
22 The Missouri Is A Devil Of A Woman
23 Too High, Too Wide, Too Low
24 Little Gray Home In The West
25 Room Full Of Roses
26 Red River Valley
27 Let's Go West Again
