The Rock Western/Outlaw Fantasy Song

Dylan: knockin’ on Heaven’s Door


I can't overstate how awful this song is. 


Soul_29 said:

I can't overstate how awful this song is. 

But it’s labeled High Quality.


Oh wow, that is pretty bad.  This must be from a time when they were happy when they got the sound right, but he would never dare play this song at a show......um, right? I could not even listen past the first bar.  


I had to get that tune out of my head, with a great song about modern cowboys (hey, technically they are out in the Wild West, right? 


Here's a song by Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives that I love. "Way Out West."  

Two versions. First an acoustic live version and then the electric version from the record. Both great. The electric one might be a bit more psychedelic. If I've already posted this, sorry, it's them blue pills what's got me confused. 

  


Ah, you have just opened up a whole 'nuther can-o-worms.  Thanks for the two versions side by side.  Not sure which I like better, but Marty Stuart is the man.  


TheJmon said:

Oh wow, that is pretty bad.  This must be from a time when they were happy when they got the sound right, but he would never dare play this song at a show......um, right? I could not even listen past the first bar.  

 He was opening with this on the tour to support the album. 


Soul_29 said:

 He was opening with this on the tour to support the album. 

 Yuck, really? Do you think it's good? 


TheJmon said:

Soul_29 said:

 He was opening with this on the tour to support the album. 

 Yuck, really? Do you think it's good? 

 As I lifelong Springsteen fan, I find it embarrassing. It's awful. 


Technically, this was recorded in '65, and it's hardly from a cowboy POV, but I loved JDL's output on many songs...

-s.


soda said:

Technically, this was recorded in '65, and it's hardly from a cowboy POV, but I loved JDL's output on many songs...

-s.

 Works for me, man - this is really nice.  As a musician, I absolutely love clean instruments and voices.  Just enough reverb to make it count.  Reminds me of someone else, I'll get back to you.....


"Theme For an Imaginary Western" Mountain


truth said:

"Theme For an Imaginary Western" Mountain

 It was in the first post.  It was a favorite of mine going back to my early rock music listening days.  I did not know til many years later that it was written by Jack Bruce of Cream.


bub said:

 It was in the first post.  It was a favorite of mine going back to my early rock music listening days.  I did not know til many years later that it was written by Jack Bruce of Cream.

 Yes! ( We know 'dis)


I'm surprised that no one mentioned this song:


Sweetsnuggles said:

This thread made me think about this early Bee Gees tune.  


 Particularly grim for an old top 40 song.


Yes. It’s certainly grim.  But that’s where most outlaw fantasies end up when played out.  

bub said:

 Particularly grim for an old top 40 song.

 


bub said:

Sweetsnuggles said:

This thread made me think about this early Bee Gees tune.  

 Particularly grim for an old top 40 song.

And, please, stay away from the mine. 

Dug up this one from "beneath the hanging tree."


I think that Bee Gees song scared me back in the day.   So claustrophobic.  The dude had just one hour left and kept telling you!


Wow, you guys are OLD.  Sorry, I watched that Bee Gees documentary recently and I can't make the jump here no matter what song they are singing about the West.  I can't even make an analogy at this point, too early in the morning.  


TheJmon said:

Wow, you guys are OLD.

Of course. That’s why my video had to be exhumed.


Keep the song, get me one of those puffy shirts.


This is really about how web music sites allows you to stumble into totally obscure but immensely talented artists (though the song in question is one of those western fantasy things from the 70s so it fits here).  The first is ELP's "The Sheriff", one of a just a few of their songs that I actually like. That led me into the second item, a note for note perfect live cover of the song by who the heck knows (and not easy music to play).  Look closely and tell me the woman keyboard player isn't blind:



..  


Townes Van Zandt, "Poncho and Lefty."


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