Country and Western: Johnny Bond Standard Transcriptions

• Artist: Johnny Bond
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 16, 2001
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Country

Review

There is something pleasantly romantic about Johnny Bond's cowboy songs, perhaps because they capture the saga of the once untamed West. Who wouldn't feel a certain longing in the wake of starry nights, tumbling tumbleweeds, and riding one's horse on the open range? A number of classic songs fill this collection, including "Red River Valley," "Boots and Saddles," and "Mexicali Rose." Bond is joined by a few friends -- the Red River Valley Boys -- who sing harmony and offer tasteful support. The arrangements are spare, featuring little more than bass, accordion, and a guitar on most cuts. The group is clearly comfortable performing together and maintain the same intimacy as the Sons of the Pioneers on songs like "Saddle Serenade." Bond has written a number of these songs, including the memorable "Ten Years" and the instrumental "Ridin' Down to Santa Fe." There is a haunting version of "Empty Saddles," sort of an early, less dark version of "(Ghost Riders) in the Sky." Bond is perfectly capable of generating a cowboy version of honky tonk flavored songs like "Headin' Down the Wrong Highway," or a heartfelt rendition of pop ballads like "Have I Stayed Away Too Long." The sound quality of these transcriptions from 1944-1945 is very good, and the number of selections -- 31 -- is generous. This disc will sit comfortably beside the recordings of other singing cowboys like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Bloodshot has put together a fine collection that will be a real treat to lovers of swinging cowboy music. ~ Ronnie Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Out on the Open Range	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(1:56)
Stars of the Midnight Range	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:53)
Gals Don't Mean a Thing	Curt Massey, Arbie Gibson	Johnny Bond	(2:36)
Have I Stayed Away Too Long?	Frank Loesser	Johnny Bond	(2:45)
Goodbye Old Paint	Traditional	Johnny Bond	(1:48)
Ridin' Down to Santa Fe	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(1:57)
Saddle Serenade	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:35)
You Brought Sorrow to My Heart	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:32)
Think of Me	Richard Loring, Roy Rogers	Johnny Bond	(2:22)
You Don't Care	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:26)
Mexicali Rose	Helen Stone, Jack Tenney	Johnny Bond	(2:48)
When the Work's All Done This Fall		Johnny Bond	(2:49)
Silver on the Sage	Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin	Johnny Bond	(2:14)
Birmingham Jail	Traditional	Johnny Bond	(2:55)
Boots and Saddles		Johnny Bond	(3:05)
Red River Valley		Johnny Bond	(2:06)
Ten Years	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:00)
Twilight on the Trail	Louis Alter, Sidney Mitchell	Johnny Bond	(2:50)
The Last Roundup	Bill Hill	Johnny Bond	(2:18)
Tomorrow Never Comes	Ernest Tubb, Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:32)
Oklahoma Hills	Woody Guthrie, Jack Guthrie	Johnny Bond	(2:18)
Empty Saddles	Bill Hill	Johnny Bond	(3:18)
Tumbling Tumbleweeds	Bob Nolan	Johnny Bond	(2:03)
Headin' Down the Wrong Highway	Ted Daffan	Johnny Bond	(1:38)
The First Rose	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:36)
I'll Step Aside	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(1:34)
So Long to the Red River Valley	Glenn Spencer	Johnny Bond	(2:05)
Heart and Soul	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:43)
At Mail Call Today	Gene Autry, Fred Rose	Johnny Bond	(2:58)
Don't Live a Lie	Gene Autry, Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:08)
Sad and Blue	Johnny Bond	Johnny Bond	(2:09)

Credits

Noel Boggs (?), Jimmy Wakely (?), Johnny Bond (Main Performer), Phil York (Digital Editing), Phil York (Mastering), Rich Kienzle (Liner Notes), Dick Reinhart (?), Wesley Tuttle (?), William S. Cook (Transfers), William S. Cook (Research), William S. Cook (Noise Reduction)