skip's blog

vid: blue shadows

This Sons of the Pioneers jewel comes from the forgotten Disney gem Melody Time, which came out in 1948. This performance is a small masterpiece, but it's been somewhat eclipsed in recent years by the showpiece version in the flick Three Amigos, and of course by Syd Straw's showstopping version on the Hal Willner Disney tribute Stay Awake.

There aren't really Hollywood cowboy songs in this style anymore. The closest I've heard in years --sort of -- is "Thunderstorms and Neon Signs" by Wayne Hancock. It's not your typical country music chord progression.

Tin Pan Alley cowboy music, with its hip harmonies and loping feel is pretty much a nostalgia fixture. But it's sure as hell worth revisiting from time to time.

Labels: disney, melody time

posted by skip heller @ 11:02 PM