Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

Oh boy how boring was this 💤 Why are we making music pretending to be a cowboy in 1959?

Look at that stance. I’d draw on this guy faster than you could say PIG iron. Which, if you think about, is much cooler. A hog smelting factory?? For the record, I mean a smelting factory owned and operated by large Berkshire pigs, not a place where swine are smelted into weaponry. And my gun? I’m glad you asked, full of bubbles. So when Marty and I draw, and I’m left dead in a c’oud of smoke, rest assured that in about 32 seconds, he’s going to get the soap stinger of a lifetime. Checkmate, Marty, checkmate. Big Iron - This song is more associated with a comically sad looking basset hound than I will ever be, and that’s a true tragedy. I think I hate all songs that end up in short form content, but as a full song? This can’t be denied. The background singers really make this. Very cool storytelling track. Hell yeah. A Hundred and Sixty Acres - Is this the “Trail Songs” portion of the album? Hoss mentioned. Great word. They’re Hanging Me Tonight - This sounds like a love song they’d play at prom and it’s about getting hanged. I mean that’s pretty cool. Every hanging song rules. I don’t make the rules, I’m just an observer. Cheaters get the pistol though. That’s always cool. Cool Water - Speaking of cool, this song ain’t all that cool. Gunfighter ballads, Trail songs and divining rod epics. Billy the Kid - Uhh is this the same story as Big Iron? He killed a bunch of guys, recorded it crudely on his pistol and the n ultimately lost a duel to a sheriff. Cool, but this is a worse version of the first track. Utah Carol - This sounds like an anthem for lifelong bachelors and roommate best friends from that era. See that was before being gay existed, so we cried over blankets that killed our cowboy partners who were also our best friends and NOTHING ELSE. The Strawberry Roan - Chappell? Oh damn I thought he was going to rhyme “fuck” with “buck.” That would be cool. Not the best thing going bere The Master’s Call - Oh, it’s Big Iron again. Pretty much the exact same melody. Am I insane? Running Gun - This is the best version of Big Iron since Big Iron. This should’ve been the sequel. El Paso - Oh god. The El Paso mamacita had a hold on old Marty. In the Valley - I’ve checked our close personal friend, RYM and it has determined that this track list is all wrong. I hate that. I don’t hate this song though. The Little Green Valley - See are these separate valleys? He was there, now he’s homesick for it. Or, are these distinct. Is one a different geographical structure. A coulee perhaps? The Hanging Tree - Hanging songs can’t miss. Well, maybe a small miss. This sounds like it’s from a different album, and honestly? An album I pray we don’t have to hear. Saddle Tramp - Who’s the saddle tramp? I will not be listening to the El Paso redux. Come on. In solidarity, I shall watch Eddie Guerrero vs Rey Mysterio Jr. for Halloween Havoc ‘97. ‘Tis Stampede season here in Calgary, Alberta. Heaven for alcoholics, adulterers, and adult costume wearers. Hell for prison populations, allergy experiencers, and intelligent people. It’s a time where it’s ok for 46 year old account managers to hit on 18 year olds having their first beer, because everybody is in a fun hat! I like some country-tinged music, but the time of year makes it hard and the album length was overkill. A lot of sameness to the tracks and that’s a recurring theme with these 50’s pop records. Good music, but overstays its welcome. Roll on fall. Rid me of the cowpoke scourge. Marty, you can stay, just don’t be so long-winded. 2.5-3 HIGHLIGHTS: Big Iron, Running Gun

Great storytelling and songwriting. Classical country album unfortunately just not for me

A cool Country album.

A really pleasant surprise. Some really enjoyable, memorable tunes that I'll find myself listening to again!

I forgot about El Paso! We used to play that with our band! This sounds like a classic

When people say they hate country music, it’s because they’ve never listened to this masterpiece. The five isn’t even ironic.

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.

The only time I recall hearing the name Marty Robbins before this was on Endless Wire by The Who, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This record was badass. I'm an instant fan after hearing it.

Yeeee haaaww

Maso

I am not the biggest fan of country, but did enjoy this storytelling version of country far more than the current stuff. Still not my favorite though.

J’aurais pu mourir sans l’avoir écouté et sans avoir de regrets

Easy listening

I'd rather get a red rider BB gun and risk shooting my eye out than listening to this album. It's not my genre. In fact, I am not sure it still is a genre. Regardless, I got through it. It is fine, but it feels out of another time. I am sure that in its day, it was fine. Now, not so much.

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.

I recognise a lot of these songs as Johnny Cash covered them afterwards. Not the worst album as some songs are moody and well written, but not the most "up my street" album. Probably won't choose to listen again

What I thought would be just a collection of cowboy songs turned out to be a masterclass in narrative songwriting. This album pulls me right into the saloons, deserts, and gunfights of the old west. I'm from El Paso, so listening to this made me homesick for chile relleños and dust devils.

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.

Some good some meh.

Dripping with atmosphere and great songwriting. Wonderful stories in all songs, very enjoyable .

Great old style country western

Das hat irgendwie Spaß gemacht. Schräg, aber es macht das, was es soll. Unterhaltsam.

"With a big iron on his hiiiiiip" :D Ihan hyvää cowboy country outlaw kamaa kokonaisuudessaan. Tarinavetoisia kappaleita joista lyriikat meni kummiskin vähän ohi taas. Tää levyn kansikin on kyllä niin meemi :D Parhaat: Big Iron, El Paso, The Master's Call

Fallout vibes

FUCCKING TREMENDOUS

Giddy up

Straight up one of the best country albums of all time. Marty Robbins voice is crazy pleasant to listen to, and every song on it will just stick in your head totally rent free for the rest of time in a way that you'll find yourself belting along to them in the car every time you relisten to it.

(closeup shot of a tumbleweed) (the reviewer holding a gun, two legs open like in a western film's duel scene with Marty Robbins standing opposite them) Reviewer: Sorry, Mr, Robbins. This favour of Western is not my go-to choice. And also, i prefer other ballads, like pop ballads, rock ballads, and... MURDER BALLADS. (gun shot that happened so swiftly so that marty robbins was shot before he can draw) the critic from the future, looking at the dead body of marty robbins: im sorry for what i have do in the past like big iron is kinda fire. so the scores are increased by 1 and its now a 3/5 album. 3/5

Good performances, but each track blended together a bit too much. This had some fun moments though.

😂

I only knew about Marty Robbins thanks to New Vegas. None of his other songs are as good as Big Iron, but the more upbeat one are pretty good. I was tempted to give this 2 stars but it is really easy to listen to.

Badass western music. Not bad

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

Quite the body count for light entertainment....

Hit me on the right day. Couldn’t stop listening. Loved it. Country from way back, before country went proper shit. Original gangsta rap? 4.75

Good performances, everything was too similar. Forgot about his song being in a Salsa or Taco kit commercial back years ago

Without a doubt, one of the singular most important country music albums of all time. Some of the most well known songs of the genre appear on this album. Not a skippable song on this one I feel. Also, who doesn't love to sing along to big iron while wandering the Mojave wasteland of New Vegas

Classic country album

This was a great introduction to this style of songwriting. As a historical document, I found it to be compelling. The production was surprisingly crisp for the era, even if this isn't my favorite type of music. Tough to say I'll come back to this, but I appreciate it for what it is.

one little kiss and felina goodbye 🔥

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

Interesting, but no.

I've mainly heard "El Paso" and "Big Iron" throughout the years. The whole album is great. Marty can sing the lights out.

Like most of my generation, my first exposure to Marty Robbins was through the medium of video games. His songs are good fun.

Nah

Great storytelling. Not too long of an album, so that gets a +.5 for me. Probably 3.5, rounding up.

How did country music go from the great melodies, performances, and story-telling of Marty Robbins to the utter travesty to music that is Morgan Wallen? If nothing else, this album demonstrates just how terrible modern country music is, and that's a shame. 5.0/5.0: Iconic

Great country album

BEST SONGS: - They're Hanging Me Tonight - Running Gun - The Hanging Tree

yess

I have a definite soft spot for old country that only came about in the last 10 or so years. This was a fun album to find. I knew the hit of El Paso but the rest were new but yet felt comforting.

What an absolute joy! A must for singer songwriters. A clinic on storytelling trough harmonies and melodies. A must for any good record collection.

Poking around online, I find that this album garners some extremely high praise. Something along the lines of “the significant piece of modern western music”. One can certainly trace the lines forward into today’s music. I found myself tapping my toe. And “El Paso” is a song that my family used to sing at get togethers when everyone who could play guitar would and the kids would get a washboard or rhythm sticks or a jug to play along. Definite sentimental value there for me. I’m struggling to rate this, thinking about my two scales. Sticking with 3.

Hell of a voice. This one could keep rising for me. 4/5

I should have used a private spotify session for this one, but I forgot. Nothing wrong with this album, it is what it says on the tin. I just can't imagine listening to it on my own volition.

hold up..! his writing is fire?

Starts off kind of fun.. I kind of like big iron. But really quite monotone and samey throughout the album. Very easy to start listening to the album but actually quite difficult after a few tracks

Not the typical genre I would listen to, but the song writing was really solid for it's time.

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.

buf i dont know

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.

Eat shit and die

My goodness this makes me think of my grandfather. Such a good, classic album

2/5 besides big iron (which is a masterpiece) the other songs all sound similar and aren't very good.

Interesting wild west like music, lots of the same style

Definitely not for me. Just sounds like any other old western style music I've ever heard.

meh

Wow, very pleasantly surprised. Great harmonies, great lead voice, catchy melodies. I was worried it was going to be all old-timey.

Overall: 9/10 I used to play a lot of Fallout: New Vegas when I was in high school and the song Big Iron played on one of the radio stations you can listen to in that game. It was always my favourite song and years later, I found this album in a CD store and bought it as a joke just because Big Iron is on it. I ended up listening to it on the way home and fell in love with it. The best songs on this album are the ones that tell a story about outlaws. Storytelling seems to be Marty's biggest strength. I also love the harmonies. I don't listen to a lot of country but this is my favourite album from the genre that I've heard. Fav Song: Big Iron Least Fav Song: The Strawberry Roan

Someone had to make music for Saturday westerns in B&W. Roy Rogers and Dale, Tex Ritter - does this genre even exist anymore?

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

I already love Big Iron, guitar riff in the background is great not my favourite

Howdy pilgrim… Fav:-

A bit boring for my taste…

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.

I feel like this whole album screams Fallout vibes (obviously, Big Iron is one of the most well-known songs from the franchise). That being said, this also means that the album is very one-note. There are multiple times where nearly the exact same tune appears in different songs, which I didn't really care for. This album was fun but nothing to write home about.

I kind of liked this even though it's not my cup of tea, it's almost ridiculously cliché and represents a cartoon (one could say childish) version of Western and Cowboy Life. It's well sung and played - no artistic gymnastics here but just plain Country and Western. Oddly, the music all sounds kind of the same (and quite fun), whether it is about being in love, or feeling the bullet deep inside his chest, and anything in-between. Not a Work of Art, but I'm happy for this to exist and I suppose it would have sounded different in 1959.

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

Wow, I really loved this. so much nostalgia for this actual badass country music. His voice is absolutely amazing too

Great country singer, loved songs like El Paso, Strawberry Roan and Running Gun. A few others sounded like filler but as a fan of Johnny Cash, I enjoyed the outlaw vibe.

Can totally see how influential it is and deserving of cult status. Just not my jam.

Great stuff. Wears a little by about song 5 but really solid

Really enjoyed this album. Robbins has a great voice. I can see how many of these tracks have influenced other artists such as Jonny Cash. Big Iron my favourite.

To be honest I like the vibes, feels like you are at a campfire and listening to a story.The difference is the story is singed 3/5

Not my style. Competent for what it is

fun to listen to. good lyrics

This album deserves to be every bit as iconic as it is. Most records from the 50s sound so badly produced and, with the exception of jazz, tend to have aged incredibly badly. As such it’s compliment enough to say that an album from a musical era so bygone is listenable, and even enjoyable. It’s a joy to listen to a collection of songs from a time when my grandparents were children and get so much out of it. The songwriting too, particularly from a storytelling perspective, is very strong. For these reasons, I don’t at all dispute the album’s consistent placing on ‘1001 albums you should hear before you die’ lists, and the like. Having said that, by the end of the album, I did begin to find it repetitive. I acknowledge that it was limited by the technology of its time and higher production values were not available, or even in-keeping with the intentions of Robbins for that matter. However, there are many albums with just a voice and an acoustic guitar that manage to keep me on my toes for longer than this manages to. ‘Big Iron’ is the standout. It’s a great opener and one of many engaging storytelling moments on the record. The rest follow in a similar vein and by the end I grew ever so slightly tired of the same themes in every song (I know that’s the point of the album, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy it). Nonetheless, like I said, it’s highly regarded for a reason; its lyricism, vivid imagery and character painting having a great influence on many future songwriters.

Kivoga låtar med kivoga melodier och bra lyrics. Allt låter dock ganska lika. Bästa låten: Big Iron

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.

schun gonz cool, jo

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

Enjoyed it

okie dokie. Not sure what to say about this music.

This is one of my favorite albums period. 5 Stars - great writing/storytelling and remarkably performed. My Step Father-In-Law introduced me to Marty Robbins and for that I am thankful to him for doing so.,

Surprisingly good, listened to it walking home in the rain Masters Call was especially good

El Paso Big iron They’re handing me tonight

Overly cheesy. Not for me

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)

Це один з класичних кантрі альбомів минулого, який для багатьох буде занадто мінімалістичний. На відміну від більш сучасного, скажемо інді чи альт кантрі, тут не буде різноманіття інструментальних партій, складних абстрактних філософських тем та якоїсь експериментальної глибини. Він покладається на традиції класичної американської фолкмузики та має за ціль розповісти вам душевні історії, під невигадливі акустичні мелодії. В історіях зрештою і полягає його сила. Здебільшого це кавери на інших кантрі виконавців, або традиційні фолкпісні які є або оповідями про розбійників, або присвячені буденним проблемам. А зворушливий вокал Марті тільки додає їм імерсивності. Якщо ви любити кіно, то точно згадаєте сцену з фільму «Мерзенна вісімка», коли Дейзі співала піратську баладу граючи на гітарі. Так ось увесь цей альбом справляє таке саме враження. Звісно, в наш час його напевно що можна вважати «застарілим» та далеко не всім він через це сподобається, але ознайомитися з цією класикою точно варто кожному хто цікавиться сучасною музикою та хоче розуміти її історію.

Pretty solid overall, actual songs about gun fighting.

I enjoyed some tracks, but most tracks felt like a chore to get through. Once you’ve heard the first couple songs on this album, you’ve heard it all.

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.

I am not the target audience for this album.

“BIG IRON ON HIS HIIIIIIIIP” Music like this taught me that I don’t hate country music, just the modern iteration of it.

really well written / good storytelling. felt like i was in a clint eastwood movie lol

Enjoyed. Some classics.

Weirdly fun album. I love this type of music, idk what it is called

The storytelling in these songs is fantastic, backed up with a great voice. Surprised by how much I liked this.

Pretty racist

Classic, Big Iron alone puts it as an instant classic, El Paso and Cool Water are equally strong

Rating: 3 Notable songs: big iron Really nostalgic and tranquil feeling listening to this. Gave me the proper feeling of a different time. Made me almost feel like I was in the fallout games. I would listen to similar genres and time period as this, but as a whole its was just fine.

The lyrics say “outlaw”, but the music doesn’t reflect that in the slightest.

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.

Just a classic. The platonic ideal of this sound.

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.

I feel like its a rite of passage to listen to this album if youve played fallout new vegas. The songs have really good storytelling and put you into the atmosphere of the album really well. I just dont listen to this album enough to really enjoy it as much as id like. 7/10 Favourite: El Paso Least Favourite: A Hundred and Sixty Acres

Not much a fan of country but this is legit. This is real country music. Stories.

moc kantry

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

Tedious.

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

Divertidísimo, nostálgico, genial. Cuando me salió un disco llamado "Baladas de pistoleros y canciones para la vereda", pensé: Esto puede ser lo peor o lo mejor que he escuchado jamás. Y qué manera de pasármela bien, de divertirme y de meterme a un saloon, darle unos besos a una dama ajena, empezar una balacera y luego reflexionar sobre mi vida mientras espero en una celda a que llegue la hora de la horca. Así de bueno es este disco.

Marty BOBBINS more like!! (wasn't actually that bad)

Surprisingly enjoyed this

Kind of enjoyed the storytelling in the songs

I think Erwin and Bob would’ve fucked with this music back in the day

Not convinced he’s an actual cowboy 🤔

A bit cheesy.

Cowboy Elvis.

Uf - isch das sozialromantischi Musig. Hät aber schöni Harmonie und Backgroundgsang.

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.

uuuh big iron findi reeecht cool? er het iwie so e fründlichi stimm mengisch auchli wie de elvis? wow unnötige flex mit dim real estate they're hanging me tonight isch recht krass aber halt au...schön? FUCK CHANER SINGE hahahaha es isch mal es meme worde? weg fallout? the master's call isch unnötig schön???? gnueg christlich aber naja DAD ALTE HAUS VON ROCKY DOCKYYYYY also es het mich zumindest ah das erinneret lol el paso findi naja für das, dass es sin berüehmtist song isch ah nvm jz ischs natürlich big iron hahahah muss immer mindestens 1 person sterbe ih sine lieder? sorry de marty het würkli kein grund zum so banger ah banger annenand z reihe FOIFOIFOIFOIF

What is David Schwimmer doing with a big iron on his hip? (big iron on his hiiiiip)

Far more enjoyable than I anticipated.

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.

A perfect concept album for degenerates like me who belong on a cross

Do you like Big Iron? Well here's 14 other songs that also sound like Big Iron. Great voice from Marty Robbins though.

Interesting but not for me.

🤠

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

Not my taste. But good singing and good songs overall. Respect for its significance in the genre.

eu, uma 10mm fudida e uma estrada empoeirada enquanto dou fuga de um deathclaw q saudade de fallout nv pprt

IH eh a música do fallout new vegas! country da melhor forma. é bom? não. mas escutável

Every song sounds like one continuous ballad because the singer is a one trick pony, and certainly doesn’t sound like he is or has ever been on any trail. Who ever put this list together wasn’t qualified

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.

Not really my type of music but it is quite enjoyable, there's some good songs here like Big Iron

Lots of hype - ok album

i feel like i’ve been transported to texas with this kind of music and honestly i’m here for it.

album vo 1960 so country style (?). eis lied no nice gfunde de rest esch halt eif ned so min stil. und es esch eifach no recht sexistisch gsi was chli wtf gsi esch

red dead redemption type music

what was going on in American culture that this became a thing? Cowboys and such were well done by the 1950s...nostalgia? Amazing voice, although I'd prefer hearing him harmonize with someone else than himself.

1959. Country. Western. 7/10

Big Iiiron

Surprised at my enjoyment of this…

I quite enjoyed this, storytelling from the old days

Let's take a formula and refine it and polish it to perfection. Marty Robbins is a master and telling the 'old western' tale.

Knallsterk start. Blir dessverre veldig mye likt etterhvert. En og to innimmellom gjør seg, men ikke hele albumet i ett kjør.

Varmt og godt

Reminds me of Johnny Cash, paints a solid picture with lyrics and is a good story teller. It was alright.

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

Really enjoyable. Well written songs which tell folk tales set to complimentary music. Somewhere between a 4 and a 5, but Big Iron is always a banger and deserves the rating.

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.

Marty has an angelic voice, but some of these tracks are straight from real hell, like "160 acres" or "strawberry roan", which have that creepy obnoxious cadence that "happy" by pharrell williams has (goddamnit i hate that song). Some pluses: has some nice lyrical storytelling, I like the background vocals (especially that bass voice), and there are some nice, less creepy (more sad) songs, like Big Iron and El Paso. I can see the clear influence Marty has had on country and culture today (including obsession with guns?).

There's something relaxing about simple gunslinger stories over soft acoustic and rhyme scheme. But I've never been a fan of the Johnny Cash / Nick Cave style of idealizing violence behind some masculine machismo. That being said, the whole album felt like a dark spin on something Andy Griffith would sing to Aunt B on his porch after dinner, and the vocals on El Paso were impressive. I can see me picking up this album when I need some light and breezy music. 3.5 rounded down seems reasonable.

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 !

Big Iron is iconic and El Paso is solid too, nice simple storytelling songs. There is about two songs worth of material in this album. Marty Robbins is a fine singer and a pretty good performer in general, and nothing really sticks out as particularly bad. But most of these songs sound the same, and song after song of the exact same cowboy-themed mush is not a lot of fun. I also don't really like the background singers, and the instrumentals are very dull, repetitive, and best ignored. This album certainly provides quite an authentic cowboy experience - really transports you into the saddle of a horse in the wild west, watching cows walk across miles of featureless grassland.

If Elvis was a cowboy. I don’t mean this in a good way.

Loved this album. Love the story telling in this album. I have many fond memories of Marty Robbins.

. Pass

WTf!

It was fine for what it was

Love the gunslinger/crooner genre. Fun stories, but the songs became a little redundant and monotone after a while. Still pretty cool album.

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.

Oh i can't be arsed with this project man what the fuck is this. I guess I stand to be pleasantly surprised? I'm gonna put in on the living room tv so everyone can see I'm listening to cowboy jams ig. Oh i know this! You know what I'm not like astounded but it's sunny and I'm cooking a nice flatbread and this is setting a mood. I am ready for something else like but nah respect this. Sometimes timeless is timeless. I've not really heard any of the lyrics so apologies if they're less timeless. 'I'm ready for something else' sure jan how many songs into the album radio are you

Sounds interesting for a hike in West Virginia.

i have yank fatigue

Old timey country western. All a bit saccharine, you can see why up and coming artists rebelled against it.

Fine if you like that sort of thing I guess, it gets an extra Star for Big Iron but everything blends together to the untrained ear after a while. All in all I didn't hate it, but it's not converted me to the side of country.

No le conocía. Los 50 son una decada muy muy floja. Se salva algo de jazz y Elvis

Some good ol’ fashioned outlaw country. It’s fun but definitely not for every day. The guitar work and bass lines are prototypical early country though.

Great voice

i love this old cowboy shit. the pride and ego of men in the old west, facing death and violent consequences for their misplaced love and jealous rage. a lot of morbidity in these stories but it serves a purpose, the lyrics wouldn't make any sense without it. honestly there's a lot here that's still relevant to so-called alpha males today.

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

Cowboy songs from the late 50s, nice

It was just okay.

Meh, old

Big Iron being iconic aside. Marty Robbins is a phenomenal singer and story teller.

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip It was early in the morning when he rode into the town He came riding from the south side, slowly lookin' all around He's an outlaw loose and running came the whisper from each lip And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas red Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead He was vicious and a killer though a youth of twenty four And the notches on his pistol numbered one an nineteen more One and nineteen more Now the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around Was an Arizona ranger wouldn't be too long in town He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead And he said it didn't matter, he was after Texas Red After Texas Red Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip Twenty one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death About to meet his death There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today Texas Red had not cleared leather, for a bullet fairly ripped And the rangers' aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground Oh, he might have gone on living but he made one fatal slip When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip Big iron, big iron When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip Big iron on his hip

Beautiful melodies paired with Marty Robbins soothing voice. Really a great listen.

Once again, I love this. It sounds like my Gramps singing songs and sharing stories around the campfire. It sounds nostalgic and familiar, it sounds like home. My Dad's side of the family always loved this Western music, and I'll continue to love it too.

Old school awesome

This roots and toots in equal measure.

hella western, feels a lil performative though

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.

Perfect example of what this project is all about. Likely never would have found this on my own and now I have a new favorite record of classic cowboy songs.

Yeehaw guns woo boom boom bang bang. No thanks. Rating: 2

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

Classic c&w

Liked this more than expected. Good storytelling.

not my stuff

Does only one thing. Does it perfectly.

good vibes

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

Marty Robbins' voice was smooth and aided his storytelling habits. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs does a good job making a difference between country and western, though Robbins dabbled in both genres. I did think the album went on for too long, but then I belatedly realized I listened to the lengthened 1999 version, not the original from 1959, so I won't hold that against Mr. Robbins.

Marty Robbins has such an intriguing voice. It's definitely not what I think of when I think of "country" music, but it's nice to listen to. Despite not being my typical idea of a "country voice", he definitely understood the assignment when it came to writing country lyrics and telling a story. When people use the term "country western music", this is why. As someone who is not typically a fan of classic country, I was surprised to find Robbins quite palatable.

pretty dope

Much more fun than expected. Hanging me tonight was a standout

I like these old western cowboy songs, but an entire album of them is a bit much. There's also a lot of similarity between some of the songs. But pretty much any of these songs I wouldn't mind playing onesy-twosy, just not the entire collection again. 3/5

Listened to this for another list. It's just ok. I didn't care for the little interstitial story bits before each song. 2/5

Not bad. I kinda of like this old country western music.

I love this. What a fun vibe. Very poetic. OMG Utah Carol 😭 why am I crying (I am legit crying and upset haha). I actively loved this album. This was such an engaging album!

Not my style, but fun. Would never listen to on my own.

Not my vibe.

That was a trip… to the heart of the old western movies.

I, unexpectantly, liked this album!

The problem I have with this is not the music at all. It’s pretty good. My problem is there is no reason I can conceive of that I would listen to this again. This falls under a case where I can’t say I don’t like it, I just would never listen to it again.

This album is so much better than present day country music. I will return to this album for sure.

I listened to this while making a cake for my Mom's birthday. It is very 1950s country and I heard little bits of early Elvis too. I didn't know any of the songs before listening, but the opening track "Big Iron" I have heard before, but I don't know where. Might have been on the oldies radio station back in the day? I don't know that I will revisit this one again but I enjoyed it. I certainly would consult it for a future spaghetti western I would make in another lifetime.

Not listened before Fav tracks: Big Iron, Cool Water

The vibe is strong on this one.

Not bad but pretty dang ol’ fashioned

I like the storytelling but the style of music isn't my favourite

One of the greatest albums & country albums ever made. Way ahead of its time & nearly an entire zero skip album

Delightful

Yeehaw. His voice is gorgeous, reminded me of Roy Orbison, songs got a bit repetitive so better in small doses

I'm in a film, on my horse, wearing a cowboy hat, watching the sunset. All v romantic. The lyrics are great, each one is a little story in itself. I lost interest after a while though, a whole album of this is a bit much...

It does what it says on the tin of chewing tobacco. Tells a story, voice is nice, good rhythm. Not for me in large doses, but it was a fun change.

I really enjoyed this! Such a story.

Kept expecting the Jebediah Springfield song to turn up on this.

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!!

smooth voice and melancholy lyrics, but just as a whole not my thing

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.

3.5. country!!! tells story through the lyrics.

Reminds me of my Dad. :)

Proper old fashioned country, some good tracks.

i really love marty’s voice… it reminds me of orville peck. this is my brand of country music, seriously

Very nice storytelling.

Look, it's a western album because it was the 1950s and everyone was obsessed with the wild west for some reason. Marty Robbins can definitely sing! El Paso and Big Iron are pretty solid. But it just isn't my jam. You can hear the western/Mariachi influence, but the weird cowboy falsetto work and edgy lyrics make it out as something distinctly not for me.

you know what this wasn’t actually so bad. i probably wouldn’t ever listen to it on my own (certainly not as a complete album) but i do ultimately love a good story-song, which almost all of these are, and i also really like that style of super precise background harmonies (à la the everly brothers i guess?). yeehaw!

That was actually pretty cute. But here’s something about this kind of voice that makes all the songs sound the same to me, like almost too smooth and neutral, and it feels like the whole thing has been painted over with the same wash if that makes sense….like going over a painting with a single shade….i am so tired right now and don’t know if my paint analogy is making sense…

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.

It was pretty cool and fun to listen to but not playlist song

Awesome experience

Not for me

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

got through one song. eh

Good storytelling, kind of texas swing, Country music. 3,5 Stars. Will relisten. Wasn't Sure entirely if I dislike its softness.

Interesting, liked it more than I thought I would.

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.

Fun and enjoyable. But country music is not my type.

The title of the album couldn’t be more accurate. It’s a bunch of stories about gunslingers and cowboys sung as if narrating an old western. A lot of the melodies are repetitive, but the stories are pretty interesting so that makes up for it.

Nice country record. But not mindblowing.

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 much more than I thought I would, though the stories got a bit repetitive after a while. Cowboy shoots someone, doesn’t the girl, dies and so on and so forth. Seems like a good album to listen to while playing Red Dead Redemption or maybe Fallout

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!

I tried to listen to this whole album but it just kept playing Big Iron. 10/10 would recommend.

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!!

The title of the album pretty much says it all here--you get exactly what you came for. Classic cowboy movie soundtrack plunder on this track list.

Favorites: - The hanging tree Tot nu toe Nadines favoriet xP Altijd leuk om je een cowboy te voelen.

Leuk, grappige muziek en even wat anders

Sure

Country at its simplest.

A short dose is OK. But this is too much. Different though

Hell yeah. Huge iron.

A classic, love the whole album. This town is big enough for both of us, Mr Robbins

Get your cowboy boots on and holster your big iron because we be cowboys today. Excellent country

Fun, gunslinger music. Great atmosphere if your feeling all wild west like.

you fucking ass

Can. Not. Listen. To. Country.

Not for me. 1/5

More songs about horses and dying. I don't have a logical reason to not like this. I just don't. It doesn't feel authentic to me and all of the songs sound the same.

This is real country music! Not by ant menas great music, but sturdy, solid well played. What you see is what you get. A few more spins, and I’ll find myself humming along to quite a few tracks here

Cool, but just ok.

Big Iron is one hell of a song, but then the rest isn't really my style. (24 known/46 new)

Masterpiece!