• Artist: Don Edwards
• Flags: Compilation (best of)
• Type: Compilation
• Rating:
• Styles: Cowboy, Traditional Country
• Track Picks: "Barbara Allen," "Gone to Texas," "Night Rider's Lament"

Review

Don Edwards does qualify as one of the last troubadours, so the name of his 2004 album is fitting. Sure, there are a number of singers specializing in Western folk songs, but there are too few to even call themselves a movement. More like a few folks who still believe in the beauty of the spare, simple ballad that was born out of the experience of cowpokes, gamblers, and bronco-busters on the open ranges of Wyoming, Nevada, and California. Unlike Edwards' 2001 effort, Kin to the Wind, Last of the Troubadours is a stripped-down recording, featuring mostly one man, one guitar, and one voice (four selections include guest appearances). Edwards has crammed two discs full of familiar classics like "Saddle Tramp," "Barbara Allen," and "Red River Valley." The joy of the collection is that the low-key approach to this material probably comes close to replicating the way it might have sounded around some campfire at the end of the 19th century. Only four pieces vary this formula by expanding the arrangements with Nancy and Norman Blake. Norman Blake's dobro adds a real nice touch to "Cowhand's Last Ride," while a mandolin spruces up "The Dying Cowboy of Rimrock Ranch." Last of the Troubadours is a generous and enjoyable album, and will be warmly welcomed by fans of Western fare. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Gone to Texas		Don Edwards	Don Edwards	(2:38)
The Habit		Don Edwards	Don Edwards	(2:41)
For Them That Lean to Lonesome			Don Edwards	(4:22)
The Colorado Trail		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:17)
Night Rider's Lament		Michael Burton	Don Edwards	(4:11)
By the Silvery Rio Grande		Traditional	Nancy Blake, Norman Blake, Don Edwards	(3:45)
Diamond Joe		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:09)
The Old Cowboy		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:00)
Barbara Allen		Traditional	Don Edwards	(6:44)
Make Me a Cowboy Again	...	Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:30)
The Sierry Petes		Gail Gardner	Don Edwards	(3:00)
The Mormon Cowboy		Traditional	Don Edwards	(2:50)
Fort Worth Jail		Dick Reinhart	Nancy Blake, Norman Blake, Don Edwards	(3:35)
Red River Valley		Traditional	Don Edwards	(4:26)
Green Grow the Laurel		Traditional	Don Edwards	(2:05)
When the Works All Done This Fall	...		Don Edwards	(3:45)

CD 2

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Saddle Tramp		Curley Fletcher	Don Edwards	(2:13)
Lonely Wanderer		Traditional	Don Edwards	(2:33)
Following the Cow Trail		Traditional	Don Edwards	(4:56)
Chant of the Night Songs		Don Edwards	Don Edwards	(3:41)
West of the Round Corral		Don Edwards, Paul Zarzyski	Don Edwards	(3:07)
Windy Bill		Traditional	Don Edwards	(2:28)
Cowhand's Last Ride		Jimmie Rodgers	Nancy Blake, Norman Blake, Don Edwards	(2:53)
The Cowboy's Home Sweet Home		Traditional	Don Edwards	(5:09)
Utah Carroll		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:41)
Root Hog or Die		Traditional	Don Edwards	(2:29)
The Rancher Feeds Us All		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:06)
I Wanted to Die in the Desert		Traditional	Nancy Blake, Norman Blake, Don Edwards	(2:51)
The Dying Cowboy of Rimrock Ranch		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:01)
The Campfire Has Gone Out		Traditional	Don Edwards	(5:08)
Cowboy's Meditation		Traditional	Don Edwards	(3:47)
Here's Lookin' at You	...	Joel Nelson	Don Edwards	(5:18)

Credits

Nancy Blake (Performer), Norman Blake (Performer), Don Edwards (Liner Notes), David Glasser (Mastering), Butch Hause (Engineer), Butch Hause (Editing), Butch Hause (Tape Transfer), Donald Kallaus (Photography), Craig Swancy (Editing), Craig Swancy (Transfers), Craig Swancy (Tape Transfer)