| CD Review: A Pair Of Kings - Riders In The Sky | |
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Riders in the Sky have been performing together since 1977. They perform a brand of country music that you could call "cowboy" music. It's the type of music Roy Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, and Gene Autry sang. But, along with the cowboy music, they add in a dab of humor and a bunch of silliness that makes them truly enjoyable to listen to.
Over two decades the guys have performed over 4000 shows and made 200 national TV appearances, 200 public radio shows, traveled 2.3 million miles on the road, three television series and recorded dozens of albums.
Riders in the Sky consists of Ranger Doug, Idol of American Youth, who usually sings lead and plays guitar, Too Slim, who plays the bunkhouse bass and sings vocals, and Woody Paul, King of the Cowboy Fiddlers, who plays fiddle and sings vocals, along with Joey, The CowPolka King, who plays accordion, percussion and sings vocals.
This album is different than most other releases from Riders in that it features the two "Kings," Woody and Joey, and Ranger Doug and Too Slim provide backup. Most of the songs on the album are new, with a few old classics like "I'm an Old Cowhand."
Joey and Woody trade off singing lead in these entertaining songs. Also some of them are instrumentals, such as the "Clarinet Polka," and "Celtic Medley,""Jessie's Polka." Woody and Joey play their version of the "Dizzy Fingers," and then they race for the bunkhouse, in "The Bunkhouse Race." In this, one of them plays at a frentic pace, then the other follows. Very interesting to listen to.
Some other fun songs are "You Stole My Wife You Horsethief." Woody sings that "You stole my wife you horsethief. The wife that I used to adore. You stole my wife you horsethief. But don't bring her back anymore."
Then, there is "Never Go To Church On Sunday," which has lyrics like: "Well, asked myold grandpappy, "Pap, How do you stay so happy?" He said, "Never go to school and never get a job and never go to church on Sunday."
I have nearly all the albums that Riders have put out, and this one is just as good as all the rest. If you're looking for something just a bit different, give this one a try.
Song List:
Album cover, used with permission of Oh Boy.