David in Melbourne said:
I always play music during breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings and my choices have to be “balanced”, given Ann and I have different tastes in music. Yesterday morning I thought it appropriate to play on your CD. I loved it!!!!!!!
My earliest recollection of things country and western was the Saturday afternoon movie matinees my older brother and I would attend in Townsville in the very early 1960’s when invariably the main attraction was a cowboy movie. They featured beautiful horses, magnificent saddles, lots of action and the guys in the white hats always won. As the 1960’s rolled on, television replaced the movies and Roy Rogers and Trigger, The Lone Ranger and Tonto and Cisco and Pancho galloped across our black and white screens. Probably my first conscious recollection of country music was in the basement of the dormitory block when I went to boarding school in 1966.
An integral component of the atmosphere, apart from smelly sports gear and rotting fruit in lockers was country music coming from a few transistor radios, owned by what I perceived to be a few of the more wealthy boarders. The local radio station was 4GR in Toowoomba and the song that I distinctly recall was Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”. The years rolled by but I always retained an affinity for and deep love of country music…
While there are many highlights during my weekly trips to Tallarook to ride my horse, not the least is that I play my music in the car both up and back. The travel time of 1.25 hours enables me to play one CD completely and start another. The return journey sees the completion of the second CD and sometimes a third Cd as well!
So what do I play weekly to and from Tallarook?
A selection includes (in no order of priority).: Emmy Lou Harris – two songs in particular: “From Boulder to Birmingham” and “Queen of the Silver Dollar”. The Highwaymen – two CDs: “The Essential Highwaymen” and “Highwayman 2”; I love anything they sing !. Willie Nelson – several CDs including : “Stardust”, “Legend: The Very Best of Willie Nelson”; I love his version of “Seven Spanish Angels” sung as duet with Ray Charles. Johnny Cash – several CDs including : “Johnny Cash at San Quentin”; it was recorded live and while some of the comments between songs are slightly muffled, they are fantastic. The Flying Emus – “The Collection 1984 – 1990”; particularly their version of “I Just Want To Dance With You” written by John Prine There are others but I’m sure this gives you an idea.
I love your nom de plume!!! I was given one a few years ago when I was given an incredible saddle, hand crafted by a guy from Warwick in Queensland called Anthony (Tony) Gifford. When talking to him, because we live in Toorak, he christened me the “Toorak Cowboy” ! He recalled the Sky Hooks song and that was the only other reference to Toorak that he knew of. Hence it stuck!!!
Rest assured “Western Imaginarium” will join the Tallarook playlist from time to time from now on. On first hearing, I was particularly taken with song 5 : “Just a Stone’s Throw Away” !
Otis Slim Sundown 