Originally Posted by rsdean
Ron, Great song. I love the roving nature of the song and the band works so well. Love the vocal - steady and clear. Really tells the story. The mix is excellent. Extremely nice work all around. Bob

Thanks, Bob. Dusty did especially enjoy this one since Marty Robbins was an early influence.

Originally Posted by vicarn
I love the romantic side of history and the ballads of Marty Robbins. Nice clear vocal which, when time permits, could be improved by changes to some of the phrasing or lyric, which seems rushed and awkward e.g. "as it races across the lands" to " as she (or it) rides o'er the lands". Worth working on. Vic

Vic, THANKS for the listen and the notes! I (of course) share your love of the romance of the Marty Robbins ballads. I'm not the lyricist, but I do like the phrase "races 'cross the lands" more than "rides o'er the lands". My role in our collaboration is to squeeze a song out of a set lyric, and I always think on reflection I could have done a better job with my choices. Will keep your notes in mind should we ever crack this one back open.

Originally Posted by B.D.Thomas
I really like your choice of the 3/4 time signature, it fits the song very well. Even though your song has a different vibe, your storytelling reminds me of Knopfler's solo stuff. Great story, great storytelling. LOVE it!

Thanks, B.D.! Marty's classic "El Paso" was in 6/8, and I'm sure that influenced my time signature choice on this one. I'll attribute the storytelling completely to the lyricist. I do love Knopfler's story songs. "Romeo and Juliet" (with Dire Straits) is as perfect a song as there will ever be in my mind.

Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
Very well done. I like this kind of song. The Pony Express. They preferred young boys barely into their teens and orphans. Small, lightweight, naive, and orphans. The life expectancy of those riders wasn't very long and with no family to notify, a disposable and easily replaced commodity. Between the bandits, outlaws and Indians, they had a hard road to ride.

THANKS, Herb! I love this kind of song as well. A lot we remember about The Pony Express, was mythologized by Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show. We only know now that he was never actually a rider as he claimed...

Originally Posted by floyd jane
RW,DA,DC...Good write, good vocal, good BAND.
Good mix. A story well-told. The Band fits nicely. Subtle and supportive. (I did expect you might add one of the Spaghetti Western bartones from BIAB) fj

Thank you, Floyd! BiaB DOES have great sounding baritones. I was going to craft the production in the style of Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, but when I relistened to the album and checked the credits, I was stunned to be reminded that this album only has vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Now the BGVs are tight and layered, and the lead guitarist is the incomparable Grady Martin, but still...that's pretty mind boggling. So anyway, I kept the pedal steel and piano because I liked them, but refrained from further embellishments like the harmonica I REALLY wanted.

But...Glad you liked the tune as it is!

DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
StudioCat DAW dual screen
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)