Reviews (page 5 of 13)
*looks at album title again* Yep, sure is. Jokes aside, the songs are very lovely and have a perfect traveling vibe. Big Iron outshines the rest of the album, unfortunately. El Paso and The Hanging Tree are some other nice songs.
Of course I must admit the album is notable to me due to the intro song, Big Iron and its memetic resurgence in the 2010s. Listening to it now, it brings me to the realization that cowboys are cool. And that's the intention of the album: it collects a lot of the 50s to 60s cowboy media tropes together, telling short form stories of what it's like to be a fictional, idealized white man back in the day. What it's like to be *cool*. And cowboys are cool. The album makes for easy listening, sitting well in the background. Marty has a really pleasant singing voice.
I know who Marty Robbins is. I do like some old-school Country/Western music. Big Iron - 9/10. Storyteller song. Good musicianship, clean voice. A Hundred and Sixty Acres - 8/10. Simple and clean tune. They're Hanging Me Tonight - 8/10. Great lament. Cool Water - 7/10. I like this a little less than the other tracks. Billy the Kid - 9/10. Interesting chord progressions. Subtly sophisticated and smooth. Utah Carol - 9/10. Simple, clean, and beautifully sad. The Strawberry Roan - 8/10. A Western Waltz is certainly a choice, and it fits the lyrics. The Master's Call - 7/10. A story of redemption makes for a good song. Running Gun - 7/10. Solid. El Paso - 10/10. This feels like a short movie, and I can see it playing in my mind. As perfect as a storytelling song gets. In the Valley - 9/10. Beautifully simple. The Little Green Valley - 8/10. He captures very well the feeling of coming home from some kind of journey. The Hanging Tree - 8/10. Simple and clean, well composed with the key changes for each verse. Saddle Tramp - 7/10. Clean and well done. Overall Rating - 4.07/5 (8.14/10). Marty Robbins has such a clean, recognizable voice. I wasn't expecting this album to be this good. I expected something solid, but this was better than I was expecting.
No es para nada mi estilo pero eso no quiere decir que no pueda apreciar la fantasía de este álbum. Ha sido increíble estudiar en la biblio imaginándome que era una forastera leyendo el periódico en un bar perdido por el viejo oeste.
Yes lad
Im so glad to see this album on the list! I think Marty Robbins might be the greatest male country vocalist of all time. The harmonies vibrato, and smooth voice, just AWESOME. I do also enjoy the nostalgic romanticized western scenes he sings about. As good as old country gets. Sure the music is a bit repetitive and lame, but it's about the voice and stories for this genre. El Paso is a top 5 greatest country song of all time for me. Great album, great voice, great storytelling.
sounds great. he says fuck a lot, what a bad ass.
Surprise hit here. Fun songs that tell great stories. 4/5
Loved this. 4.5 for me
If Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads was a country album. Or the other way around?
Brilliant old iconic album, some great tracks
Haha this one took me by surprise. Was not exactly looking forward to this one but it turned into a very pleasant listen.
Full of bangers!
Almost a 5, REALLY good, big iron is obviously great, and the rest was almost as good
I instantly thought eh I won't like this, it's so old..but I actually enjoyed it. It's obviously old school but it felt so fun but with heavy topics. All the songs being about guns and shooting and cowboys felt interesting and a weird combo, I'm defo looking into the history of this album.
Silky smooth vocals, killer guitar work, and old western gun fights. Out in the west Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with this album. Classic.
Hell yes!
Campfire songs. Great story songs written in the 1950s that you can still sing and relate to today. An album full of fun little western vignettes.
I absolutely loved this album. Very fun! Was very surprised to hear the song from fallout new Vegas pop up. This was a blast.
82/100. This was great. The songwriting and storytelling are absolutely spectacular, painting vivid pictures of the Wild West with charm and style. A classic country western album that still holds up.
Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.
Exactly what’s on the tin. Great stories great vibes
Great voice and fantastic storytelling
I love this shit. Yeehaw
A fine Album by a great singer.
feel like im in a western
Obviously Cool Water is the standout. The strawberry roan also stood out to me, partially because it’s the inspiration for Chappell Roan’s stage name. Overall, I love Marty’s careless lilt. It contributes so much to each and every story. Loved The Masters Call!! Lonesome Dove vibes. El Paso 😭
Twangy!
Overall banger and an easy listen. Don't look for deeper meaning here. 4/5
I love this album but he’d be canceled with these lyrics today.
Classic!
This was a fun one. May go back and listen to if I need to feel a little silly lol
Неплохая музыка для фона, когда хочется чего-то из кантри. И песни не такие нудные, как часто бывает в этом стиле. Ставлю 4 звезды немного с натяжкой. 6 из 10.
Very enjoyable, 7.5/10
Favorite Track: Big Iron
When I listen to country from before the Reagan Administration: I’d like to apologize. I wasn’t really familiar with your game.
This is great. I learned about it from the prominent feature of El Paso on Breaking Bad and I've listened through this album a few times before. super consistent from start to finish and I know it went on to be a pretty influential album in the genre. I would love to know what Marty Robbins contemporaries sounded like and what the landscape of country and western music was when this was released in 1959.
Was excited to get this. Love how the guy on the cover looks like a PS2 era character model, haha. Fantastic western tinged country. Definitely the best country album I've gotten so far on the generator. Some slight shades of Fallout-core which is always welcome. El Paso is a standout as well. Didn't expect a 50's album to have explicit lyrics about getting shot and killed. Does start off with its best track, Big Iron, but everything else is really good too.
Gritty gangsta late 1950's country!
Makes you feel like a cowboy.
One of my favorites!
Let’s go
pretty good
This guy helped me get through the scary, silent capital wasteland of Fallout 3 as a teenager. Favourite Track(s): Big Iron Least Favourite Track(s): The Master's Call
Back when easy to listen to country pop was actually good.
Fallout fan, well aware of this album amd artist. Album was pretty good honestly. Every track fitting, kept the theme, little less intense than Big Iron but soothing.
My first reaction: This would be cute to play at a 6-year-old’s cowboy-themed birthday party. At the same time, I agree with the reviewer who said any one of these songs would kill around a campfire. My (adult) son loves to perform story-telling songs like this on his guitar. Going to send it to him.
Great album to listen to in the Mojave Desert.
Quintessential classic country. 4 stars.
Oldie, but goodie. Endelig noe som hører hjemme i lista.
I really like it. It’s really easy listening gardening, sunny day music for when you just want to chill and drown out your problems by maladaptive daydreaming.
4.5 stars. Brings the listener out to a romanticized gunslinger depiction of the wild west with tragic short stories usually ending in death and murder. But the melodies and smooth harmonies keep things from descending too far into darkness, despite the lyrical content. Great singing voice really keeps your attention and sounds a bit like Roy Orbison, if not quite as deep. Have to dock it a little because of how similar all the songs sound to one another. "Big Iron" is an all-timer. "El Paso" a melodic masterpiece.
Dette albumet overasket meg veldig, jeg så ikke denne komme. Kommer til å komme tilbake til dette flere ganger. Litt murder ballads aktig album. Produksjonen meget bra. Bra vokaler og melodier 4,5/5 tipper jeg at dette albumet blir etter hvert
Cowboy country! This is wonderful. Definitely will listen to again. 8/10
Giving me Dark Tower vibes. Is this who the Gunslinger was following through the desert?
Great album. Fantastic songs. Very enjoyable and gives me an authentic Country feel.
This falls between the Western side of Country & Western music and something approaching Pop\Novelty songs. I rarely listen to country and yet I know quite a few of these despite Marty Robbins barely being on my RADAR. My grandparents owned a ranch in the Livermore hills in the 80's and these songs take me to my Grandfather's soft metallic green Ford step side truck and the blanket covered bench seats and a gravelly dirt road on that ranch, the ranch-dogs barking and following in the dust plumes as we worked to clear and chop wood for the winter. And man did this go fast, I let it go in the background and it felt like it was done before I knew it. Like a good punk rock album you start it up, it rages and then ends in a flash.
Arrancamos el miércoles con un género del que antes ya he hecho el comentario de que es algo muy yankee y que al resto de las latitudes nos llega como banda sonora de alguna película/serie. "Big Iron" podría perfectamente ser parte del soundtrack de algún western de Tarantino, por ejemplo. Al escucharlo más y leer sobre él, noto una conexión innegable entre él y Johhny Cash. Si. Johhny Cash siempre fue más dark pero hay algo. Un fantasma. Un poltergeist de éste tipo en su música. A diferencia de otros discos countrys, éste me enganchó más. Es más baladero. Tiene otros tintes más interesantes que lo hacen más llevadero y conecta con lo audiovisual. Ideal también para bajar un cambio. Muchas gracias y hasta mañana
A real surprise. The kind of country I can get behind - great storytelling, memorable melodies, great harmony work. A little repetitive after a while, bit there were 3 or 4 songs I genuinely enjoyed, a rarity for me when it comes to this style of music. A soft 4, but a 4.
Great fun. Never heard an album like it. Really inspiring.
Howdy
Well, this was unexpectedly charming. Anything that lets me feel like I'm riding the range when I'm actually at my desk job gets my vote.
Big Iron is a banger as well as the epitome of a ballad. Marty Robbins has a lovely voice, and I'm surprised I don't hear more about him since this is the time for crooners.
I like all these songs, even though they are a sanitized gun-loving folk music of a whitewashed west that never existed. They're what an 8-year-old boy playing cowboy in 1959 would have called cowboy music. Still fun to listen to.
Back when country music was not about beer and booty, but when it was about shooting bad guys and getting hanged. Oh, how I miss the old times.
Great vibe. Big iron is peak. 4 stars for big iron alone.
What a great storytelling country album. He has such a sweet voice and tells his stories well
Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.
He was a terrific story-teller in song
El Paso!
This country has been sick for awhile
This album caught me by surprise. This definitely is not my kind of music so I did not expect much, however I enjoyed it a lot. It's old of course but it has very sweet, mellow charm. The singing and harmonies are magnificent.
Does this rock or do I just watch too many singing cowboy movies 🤔
A pleasant surprise. You can hear how this influenced rock pop and country today. I think the slower songs began to drag but Big Iron, Utah Carol and Running Gun move
Honestly pretty good!
Used to listen to this with my dad when I was a kid. Brought back some good memories
I wish country still sounded like this. It would make me listen to it more.
4.0/lowkey a banger
“Big Iron” alone is worth the price of admission, which is why it’s the first song on the record. A song so good I think it’s got a life of its own even today. But lucky for us, there’s plenty of good storytelling to go round with Marty Robbins. Most song topics on this album have long since become cliche and pastiche, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad. I’d like to highlight “Utah Carol” which is a genuinely sad song that had me captivated and a surprised at how into the story I was by the end of it. Pretty. Good front to back. I don’t have a lot of other material of it’s time to judge this album properly, but it seemed to be a quality album. Light 4/5
My parents have sung several of these songs to me, so I think this was very important listening. Great storytelling, great vocals.
I liked this a lot. Just a little cowboy stuff to interrupt the never ending stream of British rock bands
Country-ish vibes, with lots of guitars and lyrics about what most would consider folk tales.
Fallout memes aside, this album has some charm that the last few had. I have already had past encounters with the track "Big Iron" but I was pleasantly surprised by the other tracks. I researched a bit about this album and it was hugely successful in the 50s. I think this goes hand-in-hand on the popularity of spaghetti Western film and media. I am a Fallout fan so old music like this is one of my favorites and I could always see myself replaying Big Iron when patrolling the Mojave.
Wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I really loved it. The lyricism was engaging. The singing was beautiful and the orchestration, specifically the guitars, gave me an appreciation for the earlier styles of country music. It also made me a little annoyed by the direction modern country has taken.
Me ha gustado mucho, había canciones con un toque melancólico, me recordó mucho a paul anka y tiene toques rockabilly que me han gustado mucho.
Cowboy songs yeehaw! Some classics here and Marty is a master storyteller
# Playlist Track - Big Iron # Notes - Super fun listen! Old-timey charm. - Nice to listen the roots that made folks like Johnny Cash after him - Dude looks like a PS1 character on the cover, though.
Bunster Scroggs
Not mind blowing, but exactly what I hoped for. I'll be back
cowboys
Many classics
My dad used to listen to this album. Fun growing up n a house with an eclectic music collection
I really didn't expect to like this - Country is only so good after all. But doggone it, I really did: evoking all the best (and worst) bits of life in the old Wild West. Love on the run, never knowing when that bullet with your name on it will find you, Gabby Hayes - it's all here. OK, maybe not Gabby Hayes. But if you like your old timey Westerns, John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott (Randolph Scott...), I get the feeling you'll find this very much to your liking.
Wow his voice! So clear and strong and sing songy. I loved how each song with truly a whole story. It makes you appreciate what country music was. I love country music still but its not made like this anymore. I really fell in love with his vocals and how clear they are.
All time classic.
OG HANGING TREE
Outlaw Country is my favorite form of country, and Marty Robbins is probably the earliest pioneer of this subgenre of music This sort of music I don't usually mind, it just bores me. But because of his glorious voice and the topics of storytelling, it kept me hooked Favorite songs: Big Iron Billy the Kid The Master's Call
Nice banger to start my jurney
Ugh
Feel-good old timey music. Love Marty Robbins 😊
Entertaining, and pulsing honky-tonk country. Merges into country swing a few times. The vocals are very smooth, almost proto-Beach Boys in a way. This is one of those weird periods in music where nominally country music straddled Roy Orbison-type Pop, less Nashville bar and more school dance.
It does what it does well. Solid proto outlaw country though my predilections is more towards cash, jennings and nelson.
Near-perfect country music, there's just something about this old school style that works for me every single time.
Yah most people will know this music from a few Fallout games (or maybe it’s only in one, I didn’t fact check) but its also the greatest exception to “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. This album IS the cover. It’s literally a cowboy album! What’s not to love!?? Well actually here’s the small list of negatives. The first being it’s an album from 1959 so variety isn’t a word that existed yet. The whole album sounds like a western movie, and yah that is either gunna sell you on the album or completely turn you off. Like after the very first song you are gunna know how u feel about the rest of the album. The only other negative thing about this album is because there’s not a lot of variety in sound, the album could be grating to some. In fact, the songs that are not the massive hits can get totally buried by El Paso and Big Iron ( also while we are on the subject, why the fuck is there two versions of El Paso with no distinction between the two in title and only small differences in the song itself?!). For me personally, the only songs that I didn’t save on this album that didn’t really blow me away were the mildly religious songs and the slower songs just cause I always struggle with slower songs and religion. But regardless of those small issues, this is an album that 100% belongs on lists like this one. Now excuse me, I gotta go play through FNV again for the hundredth time.
You can't really go wrong with this one
This one is great. Old country but fun to listen to.
Nothing like wandering through the nuclear wasteland with a big iron on your hip. Yee haw pardner
Really like westerj music. very easy to listen to. also didnt hurt that i already knew two of the songs.
I listened to this album when I was on my trip this summer and it was a total vibe, especially because there terrain was fully relevant to most of the songs. I can’t say I don’t enjoy it, because I do enjoy it. (there’s another phrase for you all)
got it
OMG, Fallout New Vegas! Breaking Bad! Outside of those pop culture bangers, actually a nice western album, would watch tumbleweeds tumble to this. 4* Highlights: big iron, el paso
Beautiful voice, but some of the songs are very Lawrence Welk-esque. Probably best taken in small doses, but obviously a major inspiration for all kinds of people. (Yet another rightwinger, unfortunately.)
Yeehaw
Base - really nice depth
It's hard to think of a better album recommendation for anyone desiring a healthy dose of American West romanticism and cinematic idealization than this one right here, partner.
Liked it much more than I thought I would. Might need to buy a cowboy hat and a revolver 🔫
Loved this - definitely an inspiration for Sturgill's "Ballad of Dood and Juanita"
I feel like the lyrics for this album really saved this one. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed this album for what it was. It’s a nice collection of outlaw songs and other tales of Western debauchery. Seriously, between this and At Folsom Prison, I’m starting to how sad old country is. How did country music transition from this to Cadillacs and beer and shit? My main problem is that the album’s very repetitive. Given the somber mood for most of the songs, most of this album sounds pretty much the same. Still, this wasn’t nearly as bad as a slog as I’d thought it be. Favorite track: Big Iron Other hits: El Paso, They’re Hanging Me Tonight, Billy the Kid, Utah Carol, The Master’s Call
Great classic country album. Very enjoyable.
Uhhhh....I expected to hate this, I mean look at the damn cover lmao...but I'm kinda fucking with this... All the songs are relatively short, so a 45 minute run time isn't too bad, but 40 minutes would've been perfect for me. Apparently there's a 35 minute version and that version didn't have "They're Hanging Me Tonight" so maybe the 45 minute version just is the best version.
big iron is great but they're hanging me tonight is perfect
Classic
Definitely judged this album by its cover and thought it wouldn’t be for me. However, I’ve always enjoyed country music and this is no exception, great album and reminds me a little of Elvis if he did country
3.5
It’s got some great old songs. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but those people can suck it.
I have like 2,000 hours on Fallout New Vegas and I listened to this album a month ago. 5 stars or the game was rigged from the start. I love when I mod the game and add all the songs from this album to the radio.
One of my favorite country albums.
3.5
Very cool and bleak stories. Very evocative stuff. 4 stars
I first heard Marty Robbins the same way most people under the age of 70 did -- playing Fallout: New Vegas. This is a pretty fun album, and I've always liked these story songs from the 50s. This album definitely walked so Nick Cave's Murder Ballads could run. Highlights for me were "Big Iron", "El Paso", and "They're Hanging Me Tonight". 4 stars.
Country music is a genre I’ve historically had a little apprehension about, of course there’s plenty of amazing country and the greats are seriously amazing but country (especially in its modern form) is a little too far into that MURICA vibes I’m not into. That said I really like most older country I’ve heard and that’s no different here. A broadly fun and interesting country album with cool lyrics and some great harmonies. The vocals are generally very good here, I enjoyed myself.
He does both kinds of music. I thought bug iron was my favourite. They were a bit like short stories set to music.
My great great grandfather was a horse thief who came to Alberta because he was no longer welcome in North Dakota. I think if I were alive back then I would have mostly been a coward. A real yellowbelly
Call me a cowgirl because I liked this way more than I thought I would.
This type of storytelling music is my bread and butter. The instrumentals are lowkey, but add to the story.
Fun and weirdly nostalgic sounding album. Guests at my house for dinner were digging it, too.
One of the few Dead songs I like is El Paso.
Surprisingly good album, uplifting tunes
A cool Country album.
I forgot about El Paso! We used to play that with our band! This sounds like a classic
An old time Western on a record! I had limited time to listen to this but it was worth a spin. Big Iron, El Paso, and Cool Water were my favorites. A tip of the hat to Marty for being a surprisingly good singer too.
Voz muito boa, e eu gosto das histórias que ele conta. Surpreendemente, é um disco bem relaxante de ouvir casualmente. Eu gosto de country assim. A instrumentalização também é muito boa, apesar de simples. Bom álbum.
Yeeee haaaww
Yeah it turns out that this simply cannot be rated in any meaningful way, because if you listen to this while smashing through the Lakes as the sun's going down on a train home from Glasgow then there is literally nothing finer to have on. Best song: Big Iron. But that was the opener during a particularly idyllic stretch. And A Hundred And Sixty Acres is a bit crap, so it benefits in retrospect from that.
Huge New Vegas vibes!
You know exactly what you're getting from Marty Robbins and an album title like that. Classic country.
Really solid album and sets a tone, nothing wrong with it and never really steps out of its lane and doesn’t take a lot of risks, yet still holds up really well 8/10.
Dripping with atmosphere and great songwriting. Wonderful stories in all songs, very enjoyable .
Das hat irgendwie Spaß gemacht. Schräg, aber es macht das, was es soll. Unterhaltsam.
Fallout vibes
Giddy up
😂
01) Big Iron - 8,5 02) A Hundred and Sixty Acres - 8,0 03) They're Hanging Me Tonight - 7,5 04) Cool Water - 8,0 05) Billy the Kid - 7,0 06) Utah Carol - 7,0 07) The Strawberry Roan - 7,5 08) The Master's Call - 7,0 09) Running Gun - 7,0 10) El Paso - 8,5 11) In the Valley - 7,5 12) The Little Green Valley - 7,0 13) The Hanging Tree - 8,0 14) Saddle Tramp - 7,5 15) El Paso (full lenght version) - / TOTAL: 7,57 (76/100) Current ranking: 257/598
Classic country album
first country album ive ever appreciated this much. never been someone that hates genres as a whole but I have ignored some, country being a big one. this is really good though beautiful voice and guitar work best track: they're hanging me tonight worst track: in the valley
Great storytelling. Not too long of an album, so that gets a +.5 for me. Probably 3.5, rounding up.
yess
Hell of a voice. This one could keep rising for me. 4/5
hold up..! his writing is fire?
I’ve heard El Paso near 1000 times when Bob Weir sings it with The Dead. Cool to hear the original. I enjoyed these old western cowboy tunes. Great song writing about a time that’s long past us. Takes you there with his storytelling.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 60 🤠 Who knew ‘50s country ballads could be this entertaining?! Grandpa was onto something 🤠 The only familiarity I had to Marty Robbins and this album was with the track ‘El Paso’, which was perfectly placed in the Felina/Finale episode of TV’s masterpiece Breaking Bad. However a pleasant surprise here as the full song list is just as enjoyable! In the late 1950s, American popular music was in transition: rock ’n’ roll was gaining ground, Nashville country was smoothing its edges, and folk revivalists were stirring. Marty Robbins, already a successful country singer, decided to take a bold step: a concept album centered on the mythic American West. This album is a masterclass in narrative songwriting. Each song tells a vivid, self-contained story—often about cowboys, gunslingers, and the harsh frontier life. Robbins’ deep, expressive vocals lend gravity and emotion to tales of love, betrayal, and redemption. The production, arranged with classic western instrumentation—acoustic guitars, subtle harmonies, and occasional strings—is clean and timeless. The backing vocals by the Glaser Brothers add depth, and the arrangements never overshadow the stories. 🎧 Classic Track: El Paso 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: They’re Hanging Me Tonight 🎧 Personal Favorite: Cool Water 🎧 Memorable Standout: The Master’s Call Musically, Gunfighter Ballads is rooted in traditional Western stylings—acoustic guitar, light percussion, and echoing vocals that mimic the open plains. The Glaser Brothers provide subtle harmonies, while the production keeps the arrangements clean, never overshadowing Robbins’ storytelling. Each track feels like a self-contained scene, yet the album as a whole unfolds like a carefully constructed narrative. Even slower or more sentimental songs like “A Hundred and Sixty Acres” or “Little Green Valley” serve a purpose: they humanize the gunfighters and rangers, reminding listeners that beneath the bravado lies a longing for peace, love, and home. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Draw🔫 Themes of Morality plays: Good vs evil, justice vs vengeance, and spiritual reckoning appear in nearly every track. The cowboy mythos: Robbins is playing into and shaping the romantic idea of the lone gunfighter and rugged individualism. Death as inevitability: Nearly half the tracks end in death, violence, or existential resolution — tying into traditional balladry, where every tale has a moral. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs isn’t just an album — it’s an American folktale in LP form. Marty Robbins’ warm baritone and precise storytelling elevate it far beyond genre convention. It’s simultaneously a nostalgic time capsule and a timeless work of art. Even today, it remains essential listening for fans of country, Americana, and lyrical songwriting.
This is so dope.
My goodness this makes me think of my grandfather. Such a good, classic album
Wow, very pleasantly surprised. Great harmonies, great lead voice, catchy melodies. I was worried it was going to be all old-timey.
7.5/10 Really good. My favourite country album so far? This was no pretension, honest, simple music. Stories told well with minimal fuss. Best: Cool Water
Not what I’d usually listen to but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I like the harmonies (bass goes crazy) and resonant vocals. Seems like an album that a crowd would sing along to. Makes me want to sit around a campfire and sing lol. Great storytelling.
This album is perfect for what it is. Unfortunately given the current cultural cache of this music from fallout video games to tick tock trends I grow weary
This album has been memed to death, but it really is great. Proper storytelling cowboy songs, American songbook kind of shit. Leave your scepticism at the door and this album is nothing but a great time.
Heck yeah. Great, easy-listening country tunes. Wish I had bought this on vinyl to listen first, feels like it needs some crackling to feel truly authentic
Surprisingly good, listened to it walking home in the rain Masters Call was especially good
I have listened to this album so much due to Fallout New Vegas. It's not actually amazing, but very good.
I may not be a fan of this kind of music, but I liked it)
Hell yeah
Good old timey country ballads.
I just heard of this a couple weeks ago (I can’t remember why…) but I’m so glad it popped up bc I was excited to listen! It rocks!!
Came here to say this was goated and sauced but someone beat me to it
quite goated i suppose ... yes yes... with the sauce indeed
This is when songwriting actually meant something. Every instrument speaks to the subject matter of the song. Great stuff. Glad I finally listened to this.
Fun to hear these old cowboy songs. This album came out towards the end of Hollywood’s westerns obsession, ensuring a big audience. For all its quality it shows its age.
really well written / good storytelling. felt like i was in a clint eastwood movie lol
The storytelling in these songs is fantastic, backed up with a great voice. Surprised by how much I liked this.
Fantastic album. "Big Iron" is undeniable. Other gems on this are "They're Hanging Me Tonight", "The Master's Call", "El Paso" and "Saddle Tramp". Barely misses being 5 stars as it is a little monotonous in parts. Amazing voice though adn the songs are good. Really good stuff.
I had no idea such a thing could exist, and my world is now better for it. So great it makes me want to make a Quentin Tarantino homage film.
Talk about taking me back to a place and time. I used to listen to Texas radio in the late 60s staying up later than my bedtime under the blankets with a transistor radio.
classic shit.
This ruled
quite literally a bunch of wild west ballads that are mournful and sad and often involve suffering and sort of the Appalachian ballad type of songs of death and lost love
8/10 super fun, but a little too repetitive, every song sounds the same but the western genre is amazing, and this is arguably the most iconic example
Surprisingly enjoyed this
oh wow big iron isch jo suuuuper sini stiiimm und d bgvs AAAH wooow. a hundred and sixty acres isch country wini vor paar johr schlimm gfunde hett und jetz findis no cool und stimmig. theyre hanging me tonight isch heeeavy hobla als text. musig mega cute afoch höhö. billy the kid isch npt bsunders er isch afoch am gschichte verzelle jetz bi utah carrol au. running gun au wieder sehr cool. aber s goht etz biiitz a mir verbii. in the valley isch fantastisch, country harmonies ouuuuyeeeah. the hanging tree harmonisch jo huuuere geil whatt. er singt immerno fantastiiisch.
What is David Schwimmer doing with a big iron on his hip? (big iron on his hiiiiip)
Full of foundational texts, but it all starts to blend together into a single Ur-song after you've listened for a while.
This album gave me nostalgia for my grandparents. And then I heard “El Paso” and realized I’ve certainly heard this before.
🤠
The previous album to this one for me was Gram Parsons, which I didn't mind, however now listening to this album it blows Gram out of the water. Really great storytelling, I could see myself revisiting this one.
Pretty good album. Enjoyed the lyrics and very catchy. 4/5
Favorites: Big Iron, Cool Water, They're Hanging Me Tonight, El Paso Before listening to this album as a whole, I was only familiar with Big Iron, as it was one of the first 7" records I added to my collection. This album is chock full of fantastic western and early outlaw country standards, with each one having its own personality and flavor, which I really appreciated. Robbins's career is storied and long, but I imagine that this record, which left a lasting impression on country music as a whole, stands out as his absolute best.
red dead redemption type music
Let's take a formula and refine it and polish it to perfection. Marty Robbins is a master and telling the 'old western' tale.
Varmt og godt
I'm surprised by how much I liked this, being I'm not a Country person at all. But I guess this isn't exactly like other Country music. The arrangements are fuller and the songwriting is just so smooth. More true cowboy vibes than we usually get from this kind of record. Key tracks: Big Iron Cool Water Billy The Kid El Paso
OG Outlaw. Marty Robbins my beloved, murder ballads my beloved, songs about cattle my beloved, this album brings me so much joy, Marty's voice and lyrics are always so precise and paint such a clear picture to follow around. For fun bit of info Chappell Roan gets her name partially from the Strawberry Roan song (her grandpa's favorite song). Personal favorites : Big iron, They're Hanging me Tonight, The Master's Call, Running Gun, El Paso, Saddle Tramp. Basically any song where someone dies. To add to the list the Colter Wall version of Big Iron is one of my favorites - the whole Western Swing & Waltzes is a masterpiece and falls into the tradition of this kind of album.
I love this album. The overly schmaltzy vocals are a bit much, but this simple, earnest album is pleasant and works with it. Big Iron is a riot. Only major complaint is that it’s too long. But it also doesn’t quite rise above the masses, so it’s a solid 4 stars from me.
i liked this album a lot. reminded me of an older era of musicianship
It's like being in Fallout !
Great listen. Always valuable when you find songs you didn’t know were originals. Prime example is Big Iron. I never took the time to check the song credits. I thought Colter Wall was the original. Good choice to be in this list.
Great voice
Suddenly I was hit with the urge to hunt down that local outlaw and make him yee his last haw. A rootin', tootin', gunshootin' piece of western romanticism. Does exactly what it says on the can. A perfect soundtrack for when you wanna dust of that ol' cowboy hat and spurs while ridin' down the lonesome prairie into the setting sun. Big Iron Behind every song that eventually became a meme is a good song, that's at least the case with this one. A really catchy and captivating piece of storytelling with an easy to follow narrative which paces itself elegantly. Great voice, great backing vocals and bouncy and fun composition with a cute little bassline and picky guitar. Fantastic. 5/5 A Hundred And Sixty Acres Paints a romantic and idealized version of rural living. A positive and appreciative depiction of a man who's spending his time caring for his homestead. A cute fantasy. Good. 4/5 They're Hanging Me Tonight A very charismatic and believable vocal performance. Full with drama with a hint of theatrics that really sells the depressed/doomed cowboy trope. Very cliche, but charming. Decent. 3.5/5 Cool Water Don't be thirsty, stay hydrated! Dramatic storytelling. Builds a lot on a simple concept, hits a lot of the desert tropes while sounding fairly unique. Decent. 3.5/5 Billy The Kid Cowboys, famous outlaws, sheriffs, exactly what you expect to hear from a an album called Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. He has a mournfulness in his voice that really sells the story, and while its content is quite predictable, there's a lot of charm to something so simple. Decent. 3.5/5 Utah Carol Typical story song, even has that token vocal melody style which has later been parodied many times. The story itself is pretty easy to follow and remains interesting througout. Musically it lacks anything remarkable outside the fact that his voice is pretty pleasant. Would definitely be monotous if it went on for any longer. Fine. 3/5 The Strawberry Roan Seems really easy to find a job in those times. Kinda funny that a random guy just approached him, judging him by his look and then just giving him a job. What is this eldritcht being he's describing? Sounds sketchy to me. It's a bit weaker than other tracks on the album, the narrative jumps around a bit and the pacing is odd. Feels a bit difficult to follow along with. Average. 2.5/5 The Master's Call I like the progression a lot. Each sentence ends in a very memorable way. God is a scary vengeful being in this song, very striking imagery. Feels like a campfire story. It's a fun and engaging story though the moral lesson isn't believeable enough to have much value. Still powerful and passionate. Pretty spectacular and grandiose at times. Fantastic. 5/5 Running Gun Fun tempo with a plucky and crisp guitar in the background. Simple but effective. Cliche and tropey song, but works for what it is. Decent. 3.5/5 El Paso Evocative and vivid, really love how descriptive each line is. Written charismatically showing an extreme appreciation of the genre. Has a very infectious vocal melody which is fun to song along to. A classic fantasy when you endulge in the narrator's delusion. Tropey, a bit cheesy and very charming. The great delivery and the smooth archetypical cowboy country voice really seals the deal. Fantastic. 5/5 In The Valley A brief but sweet mournful love song, which while never doing anything too special delivers well on its premise. Great vocals once again. Decent. 3.5/5 The Little Green Valley A standard piece on this album, probably straying towards being one of the more forgetable songs on here. Pleasant enough, just doesn't really do anything exciting. Average. 2.5/5 The Hanging Tree Spaghetti trumpet. Feels like the hanging tree in question has a double meaning, which really becomes apparent throughout the song. Decent storytelling with a unique concept for a country western love song. Decent. 3.5/5 Saddle Tramp Again, a very solid piece of romanticism. Pays homage to the idealized image of the lonesome drifter without a care in the world. A cute little piece of music. Good 4/5 El Paso (Repeat) Mono version with a few minor tweaks from the previous one. NA/5 A very fun album which satisfies the craving for some tropey cowboy action and simple to follow along with stories on a western backdrop. Stays in its lane, delivering exactly what is promised on the packaging. Never strays off theme even when taking on different topics, and while some might be repeats the presentation usually makes up for it. Marty Robbins has the perfect voice for this, believable as a traveling narrator figure who goes from one dusty town to another performing his stories. Love, death, drama and even some god fearing horror, all performed with charisma and grace in a classic country style. Really feels easy to listen to, and while it has some songs that feel a bit average they never really derail the pacing enough to ruin the experience. The stellar highlights more than make up for the fairly significant lows. Definitely something I'll throw on occasionally when I'm feeling like drifting into a western fantasy land. Great recommendation. 4/5 Fave track. The Master's Call Least fave track. The Strawberry Roan
I liked this more than I thought I would. An album full of cowboy country songs. But this really is the rap music of the 50s, but I bet they held their pistols correctly before they filled them full of lead.
82% Best: Big Iron; They're Hanging Me Tonight; El Paso Must-Hear? Sure
A very strong start with Big Iron, which I've heard covers of, and generally my current vibe. I enjoyed the whole album, it was very pleasant, I'd would listen again.
Classic, slower, old-timey country, road-trip songs. -Big Iron -A Hundred and Sixty Acres -They're Hanging Me Tonight -Cool Water -Billy the Kid -Utah Carol -The Strawberry Roan -The Master's Call -Running Gun -El Paso -In the Valley -The Little Green Valley -The Hanging Tree -Saddle Tramp -El Paso
I caught wind of this guy and album by chance. Listening to a gothic country playlist on Spotify . They’re Hanging Me Tonight was the song and I was hooked to the feeling of it. I was let down to know that it was the best song on the album. There is one theme to this album: Sorrow It’s one tone. You won’t be hitting the dance floor to any song but you may wish that you were a cowboy back in the day. Choice cut: They’re Hanging Me Tonight
pretty dope
Much more fun than expected. Hanging me tonight was a standout
Not bad. I kinda of like this old country western music.
I, unexpectantly, liked this album!
Delightful
I really enjoyed this! Such a story.
I’m kind of shocked to admit that I liked this as much as I did. The songs are simple and easy rhythms. Lyrics are great and voice is good. All in all nothing too stellar but I’ll listen to this over and over going forward!!
This album feels like stepping into a Technicolor Western—dusty saloons, lonely deserts, and gunslingers with tragic pasts. Marty Robbins has a rich, warm voice that brings these cowboy tales to life, especially on the iconic El Paso, which is still a masterclass in narrative songwriting. The arrangements are simple but perfectly suited to the storytelling—acoustic guitars, gentle harmonies, and that classic Western shuffle that makes the whole thing feel like it’s playing over the end credits of a movie. While a few of the songs blend into each other and lean a bit too far into sentimentality, there's a charm and sincerity that carries it through. It's not trying to be cool or clever—it’s just really well-crafted cowboy music, full of heart and wide-open landscapes. Not quite perfect, but a high-quality slice of Americana that still sounds lovely today.
The storytelling in this is amazing, not really the type of music I'd go out of my way to listen to but I enjoyed this a lot more than expected.
Awesome experience
Balala
This was so good! I loved it!
This was fun lol, liked it a lot. 3.8/5 Fav song: El Paso
This ruled. I love the rockabilly folk genre and I've been waiting for something before 1968. He has a great voice and I love the simplicity of the arrangements. 4.3/5
Good storytelling, kind of texas swing, Country music. 3,5 Stars. Will relisten. Wasn't Sure entirely if I dislike its softness.
Not sure what to rate. The stories were nice to listen to, but I certainly wouldn't listen to it again. Big Iron is a banger though. If you only listen to it once it's a 4, otherwise I would probably give it a 2.
Loved this
I have loved 'Big Iron' by M. Robbins for a while. I think after Fallout: New Vegas release. I have a soft spot for classical voice singers of 30-60, so it wasn't a new performer for me. In general album is great, I won't listen it much but 2 songs will be in my playlist for sure. The second is the original 'Cool Water' that has an absolutely beautiful cover in Cohen's almanac: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.
I enjoyed this; it was a pleasant surprise, and I felt a bit disappointed when the album ended. However, I just found out that he released a second album of Gunfighter Ballads, so I know what I'll be listening to later!
Um álbum country fantástico, sendo eu um grande apreciador de westerns, para além das fantásticas soundtracks de Ennio Morricone, este álbum provou ser um ótimo transporte para aquelas cidades desertas repletas de duelos e saloons cheios. Diversas histórias muito divertidas e interessantes de ouvir, fantástico!!
Get your cowboy boots on and holster your big iron because we be cowboys today. Excellent country
Somehow this album manages to create some genuinely amazing stories that really keep me captivated. There's even a lot of emotion in the vocals in some moments which was really unexpected. Overall definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than I anticipated.
I mean, if you like Big Iron, this is a whole album of that. Can't complain, personally. Gotta be in the mood, but it definitely scratches and itch.
Highlights: El Paso, Big Iron, The Master's Call. In a nutshell: rolling rolling rolling...raw-hide! You can't help be drawn to Marty singing tales of the Old West. It's kinda romantic and it doesn't shy away from telling us how rough that era was. The composition is repeated throughout (I guess that was the style at the time) but focus on the lyrics. They are magnificent. Overall: 7/10
This shit rules. Songs to listen to with my grandmother.
I was very excited to get an old western/country album. It's a breath of fresh air from the garbage country music that Nashville has been pumping into my ears (Gavin Adcock). I can't relate to anything that Marty is singing about, but it feels like I can. Storytelling is great, music is great given the time period. Healthy 4/5
For an album old enough to be pulling social security checks, it holds up pretty well. Marty Robbins lyrics center around 3 themes: God, guns, and dying. The songwriting is straightforward, guitar fills in the space that Marty isn't using. Album cover screams clearance record bin. Nothing spectacular, but this is a good record if you're looking to do some driving or relax by a camp-fire somewhere. ------------------------------ Highlights: Big Iron, Cool Water, The Master's Call, The Hanging Tree, El Paso Stinkers: None of them are that bad, maybe Billy the Kidd. -------------------------------- My Rating Scale: 1 - Trash. Why is it on this list? 2 - Mostly disliked, some good/great tracks 3 - Mostly liked, some exceptions 4 - It's great, with one or two misses allowed 5 - Masterpiece
Genuinely entranced by gunfighter ballads like an 8 year old in 1955 watching Davy Crockett, my god some things never change.
There's no way to honestly review this without admitting that, yes, I've played Fallout: New Vegas. Multiple times. With mods. With a lot of mods, including radio mods, that add more songs to the in-universe playlist. And despite playing most of the Fallout games (again, with radio mods), Big Iron in New Vegas is the best use of music in the franchise. The only other one that comes close is "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" by the Ink Spots. In fact, it might be the best use of existing, diagetic music in gaming. The rest of the album is more of the same. Solid ballads, good storytelling, over some 50's country music. It's got a lot of good ballads on it, but the ones I liked best were El Paso and Billy the Kid.
Big Iron and El Paso are classics. Some of the songs are sleepy but I appreciate the simplicity and stellar vocals.
Actually ok.
What a romp thru the prairie
There's just something about songs about Guys committing crimes of passion then getting captured and hanged that I can't get enough of. This was really good. 4 Stars
3.5
Super tacky, but I love it
1. iron - 3.5 2. acrez - 1.5 3. tonight - 2 4. uuater - 1.5 5. kid - 3 6. utah - 1.5 7. roan - 1.5 8. call - 4 9. gun - 1.5 10. el pazo - 5 11. valley - 1.5 12. green - 1.5 13. tree - 1.5 14. tramp - 2 15. el pazo too - 5
Not really sure what to say other than I enjoyed it. Reminded me of Johnny Cash
Not something I'd have picked up to listen to ever. I quite enjoyed the tone of the recording and the storytelling in the lyrics
He’s pretty cool marty robins/ musician and race car driver. Also pretty fit ngl Big iron is pretty great/ so is they’re hanging me tonight. I honestly worried it was going to sound like the last chance saloon song on dr who. (You’ll get why I dreaded that of you’ve watched the gunfighters). 4/5
Really don't know Country well at all. Glad this list is showing me the way. Marty Robbins, a man who released 52 studio albums in his 57 years on this earth, provides an interesting listen. Big Iron and El Paso are deservedly classics. El Paso is very Spanish sounding, can really hear the influences of a range of music backgrounds. Hadn't made the connection between Country and Mexican, Hawaiin, even Irish music before. Country may be more musically interesting than I had previously thought. Cool Water, Strawberry Roan, Little Green Valley were also memorable. Definitely still have to be in the right mood for an album like this, but after ignoring it yesterday, I'm glad I gave it a try today. Going on a country exploration now - my favourite part of this list, inspiring musical rabbit holes.
This one's cut from a different cloth. It's not actually the oldest album to come up for our group but it definitely *feels* the oldest. Maybe a little bit one-note, but it's a pretty good note.
Classy El Paso
surprisingly enjoyable. wouldn't mind having a copy of this one on my shelf.
Hell yeah.
A truly entertaining listen. Storytelling at its peak! “Old western” style country music where horrific tales of violent death are set to a jaunty tune.
Takes me back to the wasteland.
Saddle up pardner
First listen. Impressive, most impressive!
Oldies country pop. Some songs sound like an old TV theme song, and that's just fime by me
I'm a sucker for songs that tell a story and that's this whole album. Great.
first “i have no idea what this is” album of the project but it was fun! Robbins doesn’t have quite the same cultural foothold as, say, Johnny Cash, but it definitely speaks to something timeless about this album that so many of its songs have been used in modern media. Shoutout Breaking Bad
I’ve always enjoyed this sort of stuff. Classic, simple, super singalongable even if you’ve never heard it before. Reminds me of Burl Ives who I listen to a lot with my sister as well as others of that era and ilk. Makes me want to pick up the guitar again. (3.5 stars)
I liked the palate and story telling
I liked this way more than I expected. Reminded me of a Quentin Tarantino movie. Looking at the cover it was exactly what I expected. Great storytelling, pleasant melodies - I really liked the vibe surprisingly. I’m giving this 4 stars sorry not sorry.
Gunslinging perfection…
maybe the most classic of all classic western albums. this album puts the western in country and western music. the songs are short, sweet, and catchy. marty robbins' voice is so great and pleasant to listen to. to be honest, i think marty robbins was the vocalist early elvis was most trying to be when he sang ballads. just a really solid album.
Totally good, but very repetitive to the point of songs blending together
Big iron on his hip
I own this vinyl, bought used in the 80’s. Transferred it to cassette, and loved cranking Big Iron as I roared across the desert Southwest in my old Fiat ragtop. The Spider is long gone to the scrapper, but the outlaw ballads still gets regular PT in my space. God Bless Marty Robbins!
yeehaw cowboy outlaw sheriff !!! good lyrics on this one
oh helll yeaah
I am now trans.
Great!
Fun
Hell yeah brother What else can I even say here
Solid and consistent El Paso is on the album twice for some reason.
This is a pretty typical cowboy album - or perhaps prototypical. It's fun, often melancholy, and a great listen. Favorite track: "Big Iron"
4/5. Bardzo przyjemne i kilka piosenek zapisałem.
I almost would have liked to hear the band play without Marty’s vocals on several of these songs.
This was a really, cool old school country album! It was interesting to listen to this and hear what a country album was like from the tail end of the 50s overall it was an interesting addition to this!
Classic country.
Great album if you’re not a Mexican broad or a horse
I actually really like music like this, though I hardly ever listen to it. The story telling always makes it feel like an action movie. As an album, it's not coherent but thats to be expected for 1959. I will certainly explore this sound more
Great singer - kind of an Elvis vibe. Even though it's old and not really my style, I definitely appreciate the musicality.
Classic american western feeling album!
Really enjoyable. Vocals were amazing, melodies were great, some of the songs were brilliant. But generally some songs felt too slow or like filler so I have to mark it down a point
Classic
The album overall is great, old country. I've only recently discovered any country music that I like. The stuff that I do like that's contemporary, has an older feel to it, harkening back to music like this but more rich (given that it's written more recently). I'd give this album a 4/5.
Det här tycker jag var en kul överraskning som var lätt att tycka om. Så här ska cowboy-country låta!
Easy listening.
When you say that you like country, you are talking about modern pop country. When I say that I like country, I am talking about this kind of country. We are not the same. The storytelling of the songs is just incredible. I'm nearly in tears listening to El Paso. The vocal work of the entire album is really good. The harmonies are phenomenal, and it's a joy to listen to Marty sing. Everything about the album is simple (as it is music from '59), but I think that just adds to the charm of it. I'm not overwhelmed or absolutely in awe of the album, but it is very good from beginning to end. Favorite Song(s): Big Iron, The Master's Call, El Paso
This album is another example of the universe sending a wink. I recently watched an interview with my current pop obsession, Chappell Roan, who is truly freaking awesome btw, saying she chose her name by combining her grandfather’s last name and his favorite song: The Strawberry Roan by Marty Robbins. Lo and behold, here we are. This is the version of country music that I’m 100% in love with. Melodies! Talent! Simplicity! As a kid I would’ve balked hard at this, but age sometimes brings maturity through experience and keeping a mostly open mind. That open mind comes from chilling to grandma’s country records after she passed away 10 years ago, and connecting to her soul through the music she loved. This album wasn’t in her collection, but some of these songs, recorded by similar artists, were. There's not a skip to be had on this.
Real talk, the best thing the Fallout games did was introduce old-ass bangers like this to a new generation. I wouldn't have given the album much thought without them. This kind of slaps? It's an album full of skits, sung with rich harmonies and twinkly Spanish guitar. What's not to love?
Great old tunes from a master song stylist! Instantly recognizable voice, and catchy classic country songs.
I’m surprised how good this sounds for being receded in 1959. I really enjoyed this one, added it to a couple playlists and I’m gonna go further into his catalog.
Ha! I listened to this one a few months ago when I was in El Paso. Great Western music with nice harmonies and storytelling. Definitely a classic. El Paso stands out as a favorite. 4 on this one.
Wow. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. My dad was a Marty Robbins fan, but as a kid I just never really got into any of Robbins's songs and was only familiar with El Paso. The first song on here was killer. Good story telling, cool background vocals and despite the simplicity it was a really interesting song. I ended up listening to Big Iron probably 3 or 4 times. Marty has a rich crooner type voice and his singing sounds effortless. He reminded me a bit of the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly. Halfway through the album I found myself thinking 'how in the hell did country go from this to what contemporary country music is now'? This album is almost cinematic in a way and has good fundamentals.