Marty Robbins

He certainly had a good voice. Today the entertainers are not singers but just entertainers using light shows, fireworks and side shows rather than just raw talent.

Growing up in a popular contry music area, I got the pleasure of watching many of the older singers on stage and lived around some of them. They depended on their voice, not costumes and light shows to entertain the people.
 
RonJ - Thanks for a delightful earful from one of my favorite singers singing two of my favorite songs. My taste in music is fairly broad, but my favorites lists are fairly short and "Big Iron" gets played fairly often around here.

Oldman - I agree with your assessment of the "singers" of today almost 100%, but there are a few, albeit very few, that can actually sing and don't need smoke and mirrors to hide their lack of natural abilities. I suspect there are many more good singers out there, but the powers that be in the music business aren't looking for talent these days. :mad:

John
 
I saw Marty at the Grand Ole Opry once, way back. Only thing he was sitting in the audience with all of us watching the show!
 
oldman45 said:
He certainly had a good voice. Today the entertainers are not singers but just entertainers using light shows, fireworks and side shows rather than just raw talent.

Growing up in a popular contry music area, I got the pleasure of watching many of the older singers on stage and lived around some of them. They depended on their voice, not costumes and light shows to entertain the people.
Click to expand...

You can say that again! Most of the "singers" these days wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the head.
 
n4zov said:
You can say that again! Most of the "singers" these days wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the head.
Click to expand...

Oh, there are exceptions. Dido has a fine voice, and sometimes performs on TV with just a single guitar player. Even with her full band, her splendid voice handles those ballads very well.

She is not a country singer, of course.

Of Marty Robbin's stuff, I probably like, "Ballad of the Alamo" best.

T-Star
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94nHlYUz2vU&feature=related


Here's Dido Armstrong, with her band. Note that her voice does stand out and isn't just drowned in the accompaniment. (Sp?) She avoids glitz, and I've never seen her use lasers to distract from her performance. And this is not her best performance of even this one song. But I admit, this is not the country-western style. Taylor Swift seems pretty good, though. You almost can't avoid her music, even on pop stations. I can't really get into it, but acknowledge her quality in that style. She deserves her awards.

What I miss in this vein is a western balladeer like Robbins who evokes the Old West flavor. "El Paso" is a good example, and I loved the art in the video linked above with that song. It was perfect for that video. (In the OP.)

But there are still some good singers left. Phil Collins has had some good stuff, too. I always hear him over the music. Jay and the Americans had one good song sort of in the Robbins vein. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu9ZepcV0CM
 
Last edited:
Marty Robbins,singer,songwriter and a good race car driver.The man delved into blues,raggae,pop,not much he could not do.
Taylor Swift and Keith Urban have been given the undeserved titles as being "guitar genius'".Not even close,slick marketing,nice package is all you need to suceed in country music,if it is even that anymore.Lots of frustrated rockers turned to country and made tons of money.Listen to the guitars,no more clean Telecasters,lots of distortion,Hair Bands gone semi country,sort of.
 
I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I did take music lessons (voice and violin) and had one music teacher that would sing our National Anthem A Cappella at high school football games without any help from a sound system.
Of course the crowds back in the 50's showed some respect for the song and stood with their hand over their heart and didn't talk during its performance, but being able to project your voice over a 100 yards is difficult, much less being able to do so in a manner that is intelligible at the receiving end.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to teach me how to match the tones coming out of my mouth with the tones in my head, but he did teach me how to make myself heard in a noisy crowd. :eek:

Along another vein, the ears of the youth aren't the same as the ones possessed by we older folks, and not because of all the shooting we've done without proper hearing protection either.
I've got Marty singing "Big Iron" on both 45 and 33 vinyl, and on CD. The 45 and 33 sound about the same, but the CD is quite a bit different.
From what I can determine, the CD was re-mastered from the original tapes and whoever was on the mixer board cranked up the mid and high ranges, something I've noticed with nearly every recently re-mastered older song I've heard.

Fortunately, a little tweaking with inexpensive music editing software is enough to make them sound okay to my old ears. :D

John
 
Marty Robbins was into fast draw and made a western that I think he financed. He was into Andy Anderson fast draw holsters in particular.
 
Have any of you read Steven Hunter's new book, I, Sniper? One of the climactic parts of the book is based on Big Iron. It's kind of cool, the similarities start at the front of the book, and it ties in.
roosterk
 
Country music in 2010 is simply NOT country music. At BEST, it's Southern Rock with a minute amount of country flavor thrown in. Problem is, it's not even good Southern Rock to me. I mean, what is all the hullaballo over a teenage Taylor Swift anyway? Is she really old enough to have accomplished enough to be a Grand Ole Opry member? I actually really love Carrie Underwoood's singing, and feel that she has done some things to bring SINGING back to country music, but there again, at her relatively young age, is she old enough to be a member either? There are artists who work and stuggle their whole LIVES and don't get to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
 
If you ever get the chance, pick up the Marty Robbins "Gunfighter" album. May be the best I've ever listened to - a very special recording by the top western singer. The real thing for those who enjoy western music.
 
oldman45 said:
He certainly had a good voice. Today the entertainers are not singers but just entertainers using light shows, fireworks and side shows rather than just raw talent.

Growing up in a popular contry music area, I got the pleasure of watching many of the older singers on stage and lived around some of them. They depended on their voice, not costumes and light shows to entertain the people.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with this statement. Especially where Robbins is concerned.
about the only complaint I have of old Marty is that he died in the lyrics of almost everything he wrote .... just a little creepy :D
 
I grew up listening to Marty Robbins, and I still like him. "Mr. Shorty" is one of my favorites, along with "Big Iron" and "San Angelo".

To say that there are no good musicians anymore is completely off base. Sure, the acts that the corporate music industry push pretty much suck. However, Portland and Seattle both have great local talent, and any style you can think of. I'm sure lots of other cities do as well. I know for a fact that San Antonio does. Just get out there and listen to some local bands, and buy their CD's if you like them. You'll be amazed what's out there.
 
longranger said:
Listen to the guitars,no more clean Telecasters,lots of distortion,Hair Bands gone semi country,sort of.
Click to expand...
There are still some excellent guitar players in Nashville - a lot of them are into bluegrass. Same for mandolin and banjo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
one of my heroes
Replies
1
Views
229
TIMETRIPPER
T
Major 2
Semi Old school holster
Replies
7
Views
493
Major 2
Major 2
lihpster
Karma Karma Karma! Winners have been chosen!
2 3 4
Replies
98
Views
2K
lihpster
lihpster
boykinlp
SD Myres Saddle Company Catalog
Replies
7
Views
288
boykinlp
boykinlp
S&W ucla
GREG ALLMAN'S BIRTHDAY
Replies
8
Views
986
wood714
wood714

Latest posts

Back
Top