Riders in the Sky – Public Cowboy #1: The Music of Gene Autry

Notice, first of all, that the title of this disc doesn’t say the “Songs” of Gene Autry — and that’s significant, because Autry didn’t write all of these, though they’re all elements of his vast cowboy music repertoire. These are songs that everyone knows, but nobody hears, or plays much, anymore. I can personally recall, for example, that “You Are My Sunshine” was the first song I learned to play on the harmonica. I didn’t know it was a Jimmie Davis song then, nor was I aware of its place in Gene Autry’s songbook, but I knew the tune without having to be shown the notes.

This recording came about when Riders In The Sky were taping a TV special and Gene was in the audience, where the group could see him singing along with a big smile. It was there that they decided to pay this tribute to “The guy who started it for everybody, who made the singing cowboy a national phenomenon.”

Riders In The Sky are often dismissed because of their borderline comedy shtick, but musically, this is solid stuff, with the bass, fiddle and guitar of the trio supported by lap steel, accordion, and small horn and string sections. The Riders’ reverence for Autry is obvious, and these takes on classics such as “Back In The Saddle Again” (with a typically amazing yodel from Ranger Doug) are spirited — at times beautiful, as in the case of “Mexicali Rose”.