All American Cowboy – This song was inspired by a number of cowboys I have known but by two in particular: my father and my brother-in-law. The three photographs on the inside of the CD insert were taken at my sister and bother-in-law’s ranch.
Strawberry Roan – I first learned this song from friends with whom we rodeoed when I was a kid. For those who do it, rodeo is
a verb as well as a noun. There are several versions of this song and the one I first learned was somewhat different than the
version I recorded. I used one verse from that first version, however, just for old times’ sake.
Lone Cone Peak – I made my first trip to the Lone Cone area of Southwestern Colorado in 1966. Some friends of mine own a ranch
near there that has been in their family for generations. I fell in love with the place and kept going back regularly to help
with whatever needed done. I wrote this song about one of those trips.
Turn To Die – When I was about 30, I had a bad accident while riding. My horse fell on me and I lay out on the desert all night
until I was found by a friend the next morning. I was very seriously injured and thought I would probably not live through the
night but I guess it just wasn’t my turn to die. An experience like that can definitely change the way you look at things.
El Paso – I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it in 1959. Marty Robbins was one of the best.
Ghost Riders In The Sky – I have always thought of this song as one of the great Western classics. I was especially happy to
have Mary Helen do the background vocals on this one and thought she did a very nice job.
Cattle Call – Back in the mid-1960’s, Eddy Arnold did a cover of this song that knocked me for a loop. I can’t sing it quite
as well as Eddy did but I just had to put it on this CD.