Today, we have jazz, rock, rap, classical, jazz, folk and country & western. Back in the Depression, there was “Country” and there was “Western”. “Western” was Gene Autry and Roy Rogers; “Country” was The Sons of The Pioneers. Their vocal harmonies and relaxed campfire delivery set the standard for everyone and everything that followed, and a lot followed.
This two disc, 53 song collection actually includes Leonard Sye (aka Roy Rogers-preTrigger) along with Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer/voc, Hugh Farr/fid and latter on Karl Farr/g through their early and most influential years.
The rich vocal harmonies make you feel like you’re out under the desert sky on classic tunes such as “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” “Teardrops In My Heart” and “Cool Water”, all covered by scores of artists but never equalled. They also amassed big hits with “Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima” and “No One To Cry To” and “Cigareets, Whusky, and Wild Wild Women” as the Depression turned into the War Years. By this time the simple strums and spacious arrangement became augmented by more strings and drums, with rich reads of “Red River Valley”, “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” and some WWII flag wavers such as “Gold Star Mother With Silvery Hair”, even giving some gospel with “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms” and “Lead Me Gently Home, Father”. A travel back in time to open skies and big country.