Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs

3.5 - great western songs but got a bit stale by the end

Some fun little stories

I'll admit that this became an unexpectedly pleasant experience, listening to the tales of outlaws, unrequited love and buffalo stampede among other things. This is so engaging and such easy listening. Robbins has a voice like velvet, the harmonies are gorgeous and after a few listens you could understand why he was revered by the likes of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. It's not my go to genre, or era, but there are far worse albums on the list and I'm glad ive been introduced to this artist. Favourite songs are Big Iron and El Paso, and it's a solid 3*.

Not my thing but for the Genre it's very good.

Rätt mysigt men inget man blir hänförd av

Chill ballad beats to gunfight and trail to.

This was fine, but not really my thing.

Cool to learn this was recorded in a single 8 hour session. Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs paired well to sitting waiting on a couch for the routesetters to wrap up their day at Para Climbing Nationals. Prior to heading back to the Airbnb to watch the Bad Bunny concert in the football game. The sun was shining in the gym and the event was over. So I managed to just chill and listen to the music. While reflecting on a busy weekend.

Album #1,038 Cowboy songs sung well. The song El Paso which most people probably have heard of is here, twice. One listen was fine. No need to revisit later.

I, like many people, was familiar with the song 'Big Iron' from Fallout New Vegas, and it's a damn great song even after all these years; just super tense, slick, catchy, and one of the coolest songs out there - it really does fit the atmosphere of that game perfectly. I'd say it remains the musical and lyrical highlight of the album, seeing as many of the other songs here follow suit. This is your typical outlaw country and blues album, with Marty's tender vocals and light guitar work guiding you through these dramatic stories as if they're just another day in his twisted life. Most songs sort of have this ironic twist thing going for them, ending with the protagonist dying at something of their own making, like with the shattered love of the epic 'El Paso', or on 'Utah Carol', where the thing that was meant to comfort his lover (A red blanket) led to the titular hero's ultimate demise. It was an enjoyable listen, sure, but it left me wanting a bit more out of the lyrics - maybe there's some deeper meaning here that I wasn't grasping. I did like 'The Master's Call' quite a bit because, despite it sounding a lot like 'Big Iron', it was maybe the most surreal thing here, with a lot of divine and spiritual imagery laced throughout the story. Otherwise, though, this is what I've come to expect from the outlaw country genre: pretty good at what it does, but not much that blew me away.

3,5

I really like this old time country western stuff even if it isn’t in regular rotation for me.

For all us fans of engaging yet didactic outlaw stories and indistinguishable 3/4 country ballads, fret not; Marty Robbins has got us covered.

This was like the soundtrack to a cowboy movie. I enjoyed it, I like story songs and all of these were stories.

I appreciate that the date is included in the description. Not my jam, but appreciate what it influenced.

Good fun

Very unorthodox but I liked it. Was surprised that my friend knew the lyrics to like half of the songs. Like a more earthy Johnny Cash.

🤠🐎🐎 6/10 Wieder entertaining

The problem I have with Marty Robbins is that he always sounds like he's smiling when he sings. And it's kind of a smarmy smile that doesn't fit with the tone of the lyrics. So, when I listen, I just see this sort of oily 50s era guy farting out these songs. On the other hand, there's some really good songs on here that I like quite a bit. Sooo... 3 stars for me.

It made me nostalgic for a time I didn't live, in a place I wasn't born. Didn't pick out no singular song tho. Next time I'm on the road gonna play this album

Good but not something I would listen to very often

"He's about the worst bucker I've seen on the range." Do you happen to have any bad ones to tame? Said he's got one, a bad one to buck, -next line ends with luck, of course. Shootin' and a killin' and a ridin' and gettin' by, has never been so polite. He's got a nice voice and some catchy little ditties. Some Irish folk song derivatives in there.

It's the Fallout soundtrack! I love the theme and I love Marty's voice even if things get a bit repetitive. Favorite track: Big Iron

Muziek waar je vrolijk van wordt, ondanks de teksten

Tof

It really paints a picture, but it also makes me wonder why cowboys liked such dandy sounding music.

Super classic. Definitely lyrically driven, so not much of a background listen. Better to listen again while reading the lyrics. The sound of his voice with the harmonies is haunting, kind of creepy actually. I can see it playing in a horror movie. I can see the creepy cowboys from the Primus "Big Brown Beaver" video in my head and it makes the music even more unsettling.

I liked it, it was Def out of my usual taste but it reminds me of my grandpa and I love the song El Paso. I liked 4 or 5 of them and I’d rate the album 4/5.

Fun!

He plays both types of music. Country and Western.

Very one note. But the guy's s backstory was fun to read.

I was surprised but I actually liked it, western cowboy staple ig interesting

Overall relatively fun and catchy. Makes me feel like I need a horse!

Can see maybe the influence to Johnny Cash on this traditional cowboy album. Good storytelling in the lyrics.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - Really, really good western music. The thing holding this back for me is the fact that I know what a song like El Paso can become in the hands of the Grateful Dead.

Really cool relic of its time. Not something. I’ll go back and revisit much but worth hearing once , if I’m ever in the mood for something like this in the future

It's fine but learning this guy was a right wing douche his whole life kinda sours the whole thing.

I genuinely don't know how to rate this, but it does inspire me to be brave so I'll give it 3 stars. I love a lot of country/western/folk/American music. I grew up in the American south listening to a lot of country. This album is like the foundational sound of the "western" in country and western music (which is it's formal name). But, as with so many albums on this list, as much as I can recognize something influential or foundational or stylized in this album, I just don't want to listen to it. Maybe one-off songs here and there, but listening to the entire album in a sitting was a bit painful.

It's an ok, dated cowboy country album. Nicely sung and played. A pleasant listen. 3/5

Vocals and tune super good throughout, but a lot of repeats of melodies with different lyrics

такий дуже хороший старий вайб я прям когбудтоби попала в америкоський бар 50х хожу собі в платтячках в горошек і мейджор чубчик і п'ю піво цей бро не оч оригінальний в назвах пісень хороший альбом щоб слухати на фоні, але він абсолютно не цікавий своєю композицією

This is a good album its definitely got that late 50’s early 60’s vibes and the songs are pretty catchy. It also just a very chill album and I could see myself listening to these songs when I just want to chill. I think my top three songs are the masters call, they’re hanging me tonight, and Utah Carrol. I think that the worst song is a hundred and sixty acres.

Country isn't really my thing, but this is okay.

Classic cowboy!

This album is fun, it’s easy, and it’s nostalgic for a time that never existed. It’s fan fiction for boomers that can’t ride a horse. Occasionally fun, but overall meaningless

Just some good Ole cowboy tunes that'll make you think twice before drawing your steel on ole Billy the Kid

Those “Mexican maidens” are certainly doing…something to ol’ Marty Robbins and I’m starting to think the “big iron” he’s singing about is the one in his pants. It’s fun listening to crooning stories of a vague New Mexico or whatever he’s imagining of actual Mexico (old Mexico, if you will) but this does nothing for me. Pleasant, if boring, background music.

Been playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption so feeling particularly partial to cowboy music. At the end of the day it's quite fun, though it also feels impossible to divorce from the last 65 years of its recontextualisation and memeification, and gets pretty samey pretty quickly

I couldn’t make it through the first listen, I thought this was so boring. On the second try, I appreciate his steady voice and the predictability of the tunes. There’s a main melody repeated in at least three separate songs, but given the right mood, I suppose I don’t mind. Very western ballads.

50s gangsta rap.

Reminded me of the Gene Pitney albums I used to listen to with my mom when I was a kid. Sort of nostalgic and fun. I didn't listen to the whole thing.

Man hör absolut att musiken är äldre men det gör de inte dåligt, trevlig känsla skulle jag ändå säga och bra röst!

Honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought. I may go back to some of these. However, I did think I was going crazy when El Paso played a second time. Odd choice.

loved it reminded me of hanging out with my nana and papa

Fun listen, but will say most of the songs start blurring together and sound very similar lol. Big Iron tho

The good, the bad, and the ugly ahh album. Cool

Enjoyable, but repetitive. It is cohesive but maybe too cohesive. I could see putting this on as background music while cooking or doing something fun.

Classic songs, wonderful vocals

A big fan of this type of music but the songs are a bit too similar to sit through the whole album.

Enjoyed it as a one time listen, good storytelling that kept me interested but repetitive.

Good album for what it was…Gunfighter & Trail songs. His life might make a good bio pic.

I had only heard big iron before listening to this album and the fact that the rest of the album is done in the same manner makes me really happy. Old school country-western music is a genre that doesn't really exist any more (and perhaps doesn't need to either) but listening through this with a smile on my face made me happy there was a time when this music was peak.

An interesting yeehaw listen on xmas eve!

Favorite songs: Big Iron, Cool Water, The Master's Call, El Paso Sounds like Elvis

Sikke en stemme <3 Swooooony. Peak cowboy vibes. Big Iron !! The Master’s Call !!

Вы можете удивиться, но его я тоже слышал. Я даже не могу вспомнить, когда, но эту странную обложку я помню. Я хорошо отношусь к кантри-музыке, я даже могу отличить некоторые песни Джонни Кэша друга от друга. Был даже странный период времени, когда я слушал блюграсс. Видимо, этот альбом я слушал, когда увлекался вестернами, иначе зачем бы я вообще слушал кантри шестидесятых. Хороший ли это альбом? Ну... да. Это кантри. Ковбой поёт о ковбоях. О мексиканских девушках, что играют на гитаре. О рейнджере с Большой Железякой. О несчастном Билли Киде. В общем, это что-то такое, что бесконечно далеко от русской души, но, как и любое искусство, в определённом смысле универсально. Просто нам привычнее свист пуль по степи, или меланхолия о городе, который мы видим во сне. Это не хорошо и не плохо. Просто рядом с появлением массовой звукозаписи у нас были совсем другие события, и пели потому о другом. А кантри иногда послушать стоит, знаете, сидя и глядя вдаль, где медленно бродят тёмно-серые тучи. И этот альбом -- совсем неплохой выбор, пусть и не отличается от многих. Итого: 3 из 5. Приятная музыка, как приятное пиво: легко пьётся, быстро забывается.

Fun!

Howdy partner, how would you like some fun 50s storytelling.

Album No. 0094 on my list. “Yeee-haw”, I thought to myself when seeing the cover, and I dreaded listening to “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs” a little bit. It just looked like a country music cliche album to me. And it is indeed, but I still enjoyed listening to it. There are some pretty good songs on this. Concerning the lyrics, you indeed get what you see: songs about the Wild West. Lots of cliches, but that doesn’t make the songs themselves bad. Besides, Marty Robbins’ singing serves the songs pretty well, he’s got a fine voice. I’m putting “Big Iron”, “Billy The Kid”, and “El Paso” onto my playlist. Solid album, 3/5 stars.

Harmless enough album of what I would call television cowboy songs. I’m not sure why it’s considered high-priority to hear this, but.. ok now I have.

Genre tick, it fits, plenty of material for cowboy films, fine enough once in a while ⭐⭐⭐

I can appreciate this. The storytelling is amazing. The vocals are incredibly soothing and smooth. It’s not the type of music I regularly listen to, but I can see why he had a long, successful career. Kind of makes me think of my grandfather, and I believe I’d enjoy this on vinyl. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This gave me such nostalgic old diner vibes. I really liked it

3.5* lowkey good

Surprised how good this was. Great lyricism and storytelling

Simon loved it. He had a nice voice

This was a very different listen for me - of course "El Paso" is a classic." Not my preferred genre, but I really appreciate the lyricism.

I guess it's the style but this sounds like one song with 15 different versions of the lyrics. 3/5

Just some western stuff

Such a smooth delivery, some really dark lyrics

Here we have another classic country/western album that I liked way more than I would've expected going into it. It's not spectacular, but Robbins does a really good job of telling stories with the songs. He only wrote a portion of them, which knocks some points off for me. Even so, he puts on a fun show with the songs regardless of whether he did or didn't write them. And, dare I say, he makes the style seem pretty cool. It blows most modern country out of the water. Interestingly, I think this album is one that I'd rather listen to in full than just hear a song or two from. It just kind of works together, while on their own the tracks would feel a bit out of place. Really only El Paso seems like I would enjoy hearing it alone as much as here (El Paso because I've heard it alone before). That adds a little something to the "album" analysis for me. From my recs so far, it's probably about even with Buck Owens' I've Got a Tiger by the Tail for me by genre, though they are fairly different in content. This one felt more lyrically performative and descriptive, while Owens' had more of a musical focus and a bit more whimsy. While each works in its own sense, I do find Robbins' blander musical arrangements to be one of the bigger negatives for me here. So, I again find a classic western album that I like, though I again can't call great. Probably more of a preference thing, but the music falls short of what the lyricism and performance bring to the table. Also, the number of songs written by others is a detractor for me. Still, this is a great example of storytelling in music and is a very enjoyable listen. Overall: 3.4/5

I hate country and this was actually pretty good. Every song sounded the same but it wasn’t boring. Just calming and this guy has a great voice. My favourite song was El Paso but I didn’t have any actual stand out songs. Well overall this was listenable and I enjoyed it so I’ll give it like a 6.4/10 3.2/5

This is a pretty fun listen, although track 3 is a little wtf. Big Iron and The Master's Call are bangers.

I’m a sucker for these country western tales of badassery. Also, didn’t realize the Jerry Garcia (and the Dead) setlist staple El Paso came from Marty Robbins. I do feel like you need to be in a certain mood to listen to a whole album of these tunes but it was fun either way.

It shows that when things are kept simple they can still feel fresh for a long time. Nicely woven stories telegraphed in the title of the album.

Not to my taste, but encountering albums like this is exactly why im taking on this project. The album is a real time capsule - it captures (and played its own key role in) the popularity of the Wild West in the 50s and 60s. Great storytelling and well executed music. For my own taste though, Im really not a fan of cowboy cosplaying and the mythologization that this represents. And Marty Robbins also recorded a lot of music branding folks who were politically different from him as dirty communists - yay McCarthyism! But I still do appreciate the cultural importance of this album - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of it.

El Paso so good he put it on twice

Enjoyed this album, songs about outlaws, cowboys and gunslingers. Not a massive fan of country and western stuff but this was pretty good.

I can't say this is an album or artist I'll ever seek out again, but I get the appeal. I imagine Walt Disney bumping this as he planned out Frontierland.

Nice voice cool stories

Best: "Big Iron" Worst: "Billy the Kid"

The best generic business advice I normally hear is "Find your niche, and be the best at it." Marty Robbins seems to have taken that advice to heart with this highly specific album. 1959 was a damn good time to do it as well. I don't believe I've heard of Marty Robbins before this, but I've definitely heard a variety of these songs that are synonymous with "Western's" film soundtracks. I've probably heard "Big Iron" dozens of times. While it's not my cup of tea, I absolutely have to respect the hustle and the incredibly strong theme 3/5

Good ol' New Vegas

This isn't the sort of thing I'd want to listen to very often, but it's pleasant, and obviously Big Iron is a banger. Realistically, these songs are all pretty samey - this album is a one-trick pony, but I do really enjoy that trick. Time to go play some New Vegas, as is the birthright of my people.

That was actually some pretty good country! Never tops the opening track though

This was an enjoyable enough listen, but nothing terribly exciting. Marty Robbins had a wonderful voice, but I feel like he, like many others in that era of music, hadn't quite figured out the album format yet. While every song when taken on its own does a good job of keeping your attention as Robbins guides you through these tales about outlaws and gunslingers, when listened to as an album they all just sort of blend into each other and nothing stands out. Maybe I'd have a more generous opinion of this album if I was more appreciative of country music in general, but as someone who tends to think of the genre as just "nice background noise," Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs didn't really do anything to change that opinion. Favourite tracks: Master's Call, El Paso, Big Iron

Pretty good cowboy bullshit songs! Limited upside for me, but these are the types of tunes I never mind when they turn up in a movie or something.

i'm by no means a country hater but i think i fall more on the folksy bluegrassy side of things. we all love big iron but the rest of this kind of sounded like the same song over and over again? at least it was a good song!

iznenađujuće dobro, ali ne nešto što bih slušao. prva pjesma bila super

Enjoyed that! Smooth assed country and every song felt like its own little short film ★★★½

A bit samey but alright

Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. Brought me back to my Fallout playing days

I heard Johnny Cash do cover some of these, like "Cool Water", "El Paso", "Little Green Valley". Every song was a story. I can see how this a hit record in the early 60s, where every movie was a western and every boy wanted to be a cowboy and either wore a cowboy hat or a racoon skin hat.

An enjoyable light hearted listen.

Not a bad album at all. Older music and probably won’t make it into the listening rotation as an album but I do love “El Paso”. Nice song and very nostalgic of the Breaking Bad finale.

Nossa, músicas para o programa "minha arma, minha vida"

This album was made in the late 1950’s. Just like cats made at that time, it is stylish and quality but is dated for sure. To make an album like this today, it would be auto tuned and done with computers. The songs are repetitive but are crafted with care. I wish they would have removed a few tracks to tighten this up. Overall it’s above average.

Pleasant but meh

This is music for a Tarantino movie. You listen to any of this songs and you know that the villain is just about to come in and start a very bloody shootout. 3 stars.

mixed feelings, gotta be in the right mood

Right now I'd be sitting in a saloon, sipping whiskey and amusing myself with courtesans, not staring at a computer doing pointless work.

Da lo que promete. Bastante guapo el concepto de western hecho canción, no lo gestionaba. Un pelín repetitivo pero buenas vibes, entretenido y tal. Me lo reescucharé por la calle en un día en que me haga falta.

Pleasant county

Ehhh

Mera khel khatam hai the album. Quite fun ngl.

Fallout New Vegas music. 3.5 stars

Surprisingly Enjoyable.

118 Para ser un disco country me gustó harto. Super clara la voz y se entendían harto las letras.

just the average "old" country music

-it wasnt bad, just not my style

It's a nice simple album. Not bad by any means. But also nothing unexpected or mindblowing.

Yeah this is nice. Great sounding album. Big Iron and the Master's Call are standouts. No bad tracks, but I did find it to start getting a little tedious about halfway through. Definitely nails the cowboy vibe, but it's just not something I find appealing enough to want to sit through in its entirety

6/10

lovely stuff

My dad used to listen to Marty. Liked it for the nostalgia.

Solid Western soundtrack stuff, here.

Not my style of music but can appreciate it for what it is. Favourite songs: Big Iron Rating 5.5/10

Nice

Those sure were some Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs... Big Iron was a fun surprise and brought back memories of watching a friend playthrough New Vegas during COVID. I didn't dislike it by any means but it has a very antiquated and primitive structure throughout.

old school classic country. smooth voice. “el paso” is definitely an all timer.

This pretty much gave me what I wanted and expected from the title. I used to have a few western albums (still love “Rawhide”) which is partially a throwback to the old black & white cowboy serials on TV as a kid combined with background music for the Deadland RPG. I found this much better than the Emmylou Harris country & western album the other day.

I wish I could listen to this album while riding a horse through a western desert town with my gun at my side. It’s a vibe

This is pretty competent and it's evident why it's a classic. Not really my thing outside one or two songs though. A bit too old fashioned.

Roy Orbison sings Nick Cave’s Murder Ballads.

Tarantino western.

3.0 - Ok

Two GOATs in Big Iron and El Paso, but just a great album overall. Mid 3s.

Chill, neutral listen for me.

The album starts off with an absolute heater in the form of big iron - outlaw country! They're hanging me tonight is a classic country break up /murder song. I like it. El Paso is a banger Plenty of slow boring country crooning on this album, too. E.g. cool water. Plenty of ballads and stories about being a cowboy, stampedes, cattle rustling, breaking in horses 🐎🐴. Still better than today's bro country.

nice one

A classic of early 60's country music, but ran a little long. I must admit, though, Mary Robbins could write a catchy tune.

Some great vocals, some touching songs, some eh ones. Nana, breaking bad, riders in the sky, pops. 160 acres! THREE!

Nice country. Too monotonous to me.

Sympa

3.0

6/10 It's different at least. Boring, but different Highlights: El Paso Big Iron

This album makes me want to buy some cowgirl boots! I enjoyed his voice and most of the songs

I’m not the audience

There's no way I'd regularly listen to it but it has it's place I guess haha

I actually liked it surprisingly well. Does that make me a redneck? I don't think so. Overall, the music is very much in the country style. Yes, it could even be considered the definition of it. And that's not my style. I'll probably remember the album for a long time, but I won't listen to it again. 3/5

Not a massive country fan but this was a great listen full of memorable songs and melodies. Robbins' vocal style reminds me a lot of Elvis, who may have been influenced by Robbins. No real downpoints on this album, it's relatively familiar with simple songs about gunfighters, adventure, love and the old west. Best Track = Big Iron

Big Iron on his hiiiiiiiip

Beautiful vocal harmonies, riveting storytelling, reminds me of Johnny Cash but not quite so dark.

suave y romantico.. me gusta pero muy country

Decent for the time period

Enjoyed this. My colleague who heard me listening to it looked confused - which I also enjoyed.

Mid 3

Pretty good like big iron

Great storytelling and lyricism, not super my thing but I do have a lot of appreciation for the wonderful writing and vocals. Makes me miss what country music used to be before 9/11.

Surprisingly pleasant. Obviously now old fashioned but a good listen

This is definitely a 50's album. Robbins is a pretty good storyteller making it a good time.

The album more gunfighter ballads is better but this is still good album. Sooo simple.

goofy ahh western music

I hadn't heard of Marty Robbins before this project but based on the cover I was excited to give this one a listen. I liked the music and the storytelling but had a problem with his voice. It was just too mannered and tasteful and didn't really fit with the tales of gunfights and fugitives. He sounds like a guy who has cussed a couple of times and tried whiskey twice and doesn't really like it much either, which took me out of the world which he was painting for the listener. This afflicted me from the opener Big Iron but it's by no means a bad album so I'll give it 3 stars.

Classical, western, I’m surprised that I like it.

Enjoyed this more than I expected. Another good singer and quite jaunty

Not as bad as I thought it would be. I think Marty's vocals are quite nice, and I like the storytelling. But the country sound is quite one-note, and the song structures become a little repetitive over the course of the album. Overall, I think it's better than most modern country albums nowadays.

Enjoyable country songs that all tell a little tale.

Glad to see this thrift store bin regular get its props. This style of Adult Contemporary / Country left quicker than it arrived but with songs like Big Iron, Cool Water, and of course - El Paso Marty Robbins turned a lot of people onto country music with this album. 3.5/5

Surprisingly fun. Favourites: Big Iron, They're Hanging Me Tonight.

En wie rijdt daar op zijn paard door de prairie? Het is cowboy Billie Boe, door de boeven zeer gevreesd. Verder dan dat niveau komt Marty niet. Johnny Cash deed dit toch veel beter, daar zat tenminste nog een rauw randje aan. Wat we hier horen is allemaal wel erg gepolijst voor een genre dat ongewassen koeiendrijvers in een stoffige prairie bezingt. Met een snik in de stem, en in El Paso bezingt een heel erg nog in leven zijnde Marty desondanks zijn eigen dood, wat al met al de ultieme kitsch is, dacht ik zo.

Een soort kruising van Johnny Cash en Elvis Presley. Westernmuziek met een crooner. Het klinkt uitermate gelikt en zeker voor iets uit de 50s, glad, lekker veel brilcreem in de haren. Hij reed alleen op een paard ipv een Kreidler, althans zo stel ik me dat voor. We pakken de wiki erbij: hij reed NASCAR haha. Ok, dat is natuurlijk ook heerlijk Muricaans. Ik vind dit stiekem best lekker klinken eigenlijk. De beste man zingt goed, zijn cowboymatties doen gezellig harmonieen mee. Het zou me niks verbazen als Marty Robbins ook een kerstplaat op heeft genomen. Wat zegt de wiki: jazeker wel, 3 stuks! Mooi, die bevestiging van mijn aannames. De muziek is aardig gedateerd, maar ik heb hier, ook mede dankzij de wiki, toch wel plezier aan beleefd. Een vrolijk, croonende 3+, terwijl ik nog een Pabst Blue Ribbon opentrek.

Absurd Wild West fantasies about evil Mexicans and gun-slingin' vigilantes, but he sure can sing

I like the song about a deadly red saddle pad. yeehaw

A good country album that mythologized the west and probably shaped an entire generation’s understanding of that period. I enjoyed Robbin’s voice throughout and the playing by the musicians was excellent throughout. That being said I tend like my country music just a bit grittier both thematically and musically speaking.

Big Iron 💥💥

For 1959 I could see the modernity of it , the rhythms and use of vocals was cool. Mostly storytelling in the songs about life in the wild Wild West. Great voice

Decent but not memorable

The cover alone gets a five star rating!

I was forced to listen to this 8 track in the back of my dad's car as a child. While I liked most of his music, I hated this record, except for "El Paso." I hope Robbins' estate sued the Statler Bros for stealing this entire sound and only making the lyrics more schmaltzy.

Best Song: El Paso This is absolutely not my thing. I'm sure if you are a fan of this genre this is good, I'm not. El Paso is good, though I prefer the Grateful Dead version. Outside of that, I could have lived my entire life without listening to this album and I do not feel I would be missing out on anything. 3/5.

tın tın hikaye anlatılması pek hoşuma gitti diyemem...

Well performed. Gets pretty samey.

This album cover is tilted, right? Right?! I like Trail Songs OK, but I'm not so sure about Gunfighter Ballads. I've never heard of Marty Robbins but it turns out he was a pretty big deal. He has a good voice. The songs are Country/western as advertised ("old-timey cowboy stuff"). In some ways, I like the sound, because it's nostalgic (I'm becoming a broken record with this, but it sounds like Children's Favorites!!), but it's also not particularly inspiring, maybe because the cowboy life has very little in common with my life. I really wasn't expecting Utah Carol to be a guy's name. A boy named Utah Carol. Highlights: 'Cool Water', 'The Strawberry Roan' (where Chappell Roan took her name from! (although not this version)), 'The Little Green Valley' (is the little green valley... heaven?? D:), 'The Hanging Tree' (D:)

sometimes very monotone melody

Great storytelling, nice recording and production. Pleasant and novel listen. Clean sound and lovely change to have stories at the heart of the lyrics. Found it a little repetitive and similar throughout, but enjoyable enough. Very good at what it does but probably wouldn’t have a reason to come back to it (3.5)

Surprisingly fun and enjoyable listen as I wouldn’t normally (ever?) gravitate towards this sort of music! But I found it a good listen and I like the storytelling in the oh so short songs.

fun one, doesn't overstay

Класний ретро альбом.

I write these notes in aug 2025. 66 years after this album was released it still sounds fresh and vibrant. Very good.

Nice voice. Good stories. Reminds me of Sunday afternoons in childhood watching old Westerns on the telly. I doubt it's something I'll come back to unless I'm riding a horse across Monument Valley. Which is unlikely.

Late 50s country. Cowboy music in the fun Hollywood sense. Mostly shmaltzy pop.

Liked it more than I thought I would. Kind of put the yee in my haw.

hell yeah 7/10

Fun, cinematic.

"cozy album" as nic said; was bopping but don't think i'd listen again

Does exactly what it says on the tin.

Marty Robbins may be a name you may only recognize from his 1959, but honestly I think that's a damn good reason to be known for even if its' the only thing notable in his multi-decade career. This album is pretty by the books in terms of late 50s Country music, but I think what sets this album apart and makes it such an iconic piece of music from its' time is the story telling and world building. This album makes you feel like you are the cowboy of each story. The songs here each feel like their own spaghetti westerns with the whole movie fitting into the 2-5 minute runtimes. There really isn't super interesting about this album, but it just does a really solid job at being this perfect capsule of Western/Cowboy culture. Not bad by any means but solid on all fronts.

Giving Johnny Cash. I do like actually, but feels very dated.

Who could possibly not like "El Paso"?

- jo auch ziemlich launig, kann ich nicht leugnen. Scratches an itch, nochmal werde ich es aber wohl nicht hören 2-3/5

🤠 fun outlaw country

Not groundbreaking but enjoyable, it’s got some nice ballads but it’s also got some what could be parody of the genre songs that I can’t help but laugh during

No like

My type of country music, doesn't do too much but still packs a punch! 3.5

6.5 Yee haw!! Next time I’m riding a horse I’m putting this one on the aux

I’m not generally a fan of country music, but this was so different than what is typical of the genre. I knew the song “El Paso” and have liked different versions of it, including the original. I mostly enjoyed the outlaw story songs, and didn’t care much for the ones with the harmony vocals up in the mix. Overall a pleasant surprise, but I won’t be seeking out more of his music.

This is kind of an interesting novelty, but it's so archaic. Whatever. He's got a nice voice, the sound is interesting if a little thin, and I enjoyed it well enough. Probably never going to listen to it again, unless I found myself at some kind of cowboy-themed party.

Big iron on his hip~ It belongs in a Mojave Desert. But not in a bad way this time

Yep. Yee haw indeed.

Good stories, just not at all something I want to listen to a whole album of

All songs sound the same

Evocative, pleasant, repetitive.

The sort of tunes that appear in a Tarantino film. El Paso is the best track here (and appeared in Breaking Bad) but all the songs have merit. Great example of why this site is so valuable. I wouldn’t have listened to this album in a million years otherwise. Very much of its time but great stories in each song. Enjoyed it.

the music of mythic westerns. Really enjoy for what it is. Almost more of a movie soundtrack vibe than regular listen however.

I got that warm and fuzzy feeling from childhood when I watched western movies.

2.6 It's good to be forced to listen to things like this. I'd never ever put it on normally. I never will again, but appreciate that at the time it was probably pretty banging. Too many weak tracks to make it enjoyable, although there were a couple I saved down. 40 mins probably double what I could handle.

Accidentally listened to the 44 minute version instead of the 35 minute one. FML. Anyway I was shocked by the amount of this album I recognised while listening, clearly a sign I watch too many american sitcoms. Not much to say, its very one note lol but its not bad. Made me want to buy a gun, shoot the man my girl is cheating on me with and get hunted down by johnny law.

I enjoyed some of the guitar work, the vocal harmonies, and the lucid imagery provided by the lyrics that would pair perfectly with any John Ford western of the era. I did not like the constant verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure with overused repetitions on hooks/song titles. It’s a decent album and I enjoyed it more than I’d have expected to. Big Iron (8/10) A Hundred and Sixty Acres (7/10) They’re Hanging Me Tonight (7/10) Cool Water (6/10) Billy the Kid (7/10) Utah Carol (6/10) The Strawberry Roan (6/10) The Master’s Call (7/10) Running Gun (6/10) El Paso (7/10) In the Valley (7/10) The Little Green Valley (7/10) The Hanging Tree (7/10) Saddle Tramp (6/10) 6.7/10

Somewhat good for a country album but still not totally that good and also ploughs the same furrow quite a lot. Tracks sound pretty similar and are mainly about outlaws, being hanged or pining for some Mexican gal. Low 3.

Initially infectious then boringly repetitive.

So much RDR2 vibes in this as someone who beat it yesterday omg

It's that real Western '50s voice, which is nice but doesn't do much more than that. Good for the era, but a bit lacklustre now.

Beautiful country album Tracks to Track: El Paso, Billy the Kid

Charming!

I don't hate it. I think 3 stars for this one.

A wholly enjoyable time with classic country, not something I’d necessarily come back to a lot but I can’t fault it for what it’s meant to be

Even though I wouldn't choose to listen to this again, it's a decent album for the genre and time period.

There’s a time and place for this music. But not in my regular rotation. His voice is nice for sure. 3/5.

Yeehaw

I like this for the origins and nostalgia perhaps more so than the recordings themselves. I know many of these songs because someone else covered them (Cash, Mike Ness, the Dead, etc.) or from movies (my dad is a big fan of westerns). The music itself is fine, I prefer most of them when done by other artists as Marty Robbins’ style is a bit too polished for my tastes but I’m going to be generous and say 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.

The worst thing abt this site is waking up and finding out you gotta listen to some bs like this

Not my style but some catchy tunes.

Classic story telling country music. The music isn’t much as it is more about the vocals and the stories.

Old school country that didn't really do it for me. Inoffensive 3

Oh this is COUNTRY country, I quite enjoyed it! Good storytelling and voice, but probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again though. Highlights: Big Iron, They're Hanging Me Tonight

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

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.

Some good some meh.

"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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Interesting wild west like music, lots of the same style

meh

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

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.

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

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

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

schun gonz cool, jo

Enjoyed it

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

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.

Enjoyed. Some classics.

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.

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.

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.

Far more enjoyable than I anticipated.

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.

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

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.

1959. Country. Western. 7/10

Big Iiiron

Surprised at my enjoyment of this…

I quite enjoyed this, storytelling from the old days

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

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.

It was fine for what it was

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.

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.

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.

Cowboy songs from the late 50s, nice

hella western, feels a lil performative though

Classic c&w

Liked this more than expected. Good storytelling.

Does only one thing. Does it perfectly.