"Ghost Riders in the Sky" isn't just a famous country ballad, it's a cowboy legend that's been around for centuries. Songwriter Stan Jones, who penned the song in 1948, said he first heard the folklore from an old cowboy when he was just 12 years old.
I was remembering this song which was popular when I was a child in the late 1950's. Could the singer have been Frankie Lane? I was so little then but I always love the storytelling of the song.
My NYC born and raised Mom, loved Western cowboy music. She used to sing this to me as a lullaby. Geoff Castellucci has done a solo music video that I really enjoyed. Great vibe with multiple Geoff's in awesome costumes.
"Ghost Riders In The Sky" was a song written by Stan Jones in the late 1940s and successfully recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby in 1950, all of whom enjoyed massive hit versions that year.
This has got to be the greatest Super Group ever! They're so fun to watch because they enjoy each other's company so much and are as close as brothers. There are a couple of "behind the scenes," of them in the studio that are a riot!
Nah they're close but the travelling Wilburys win out just! The highwaymen are all legends in one genre, the Wilburys were legends from many and the first album happened so fast and so organically! Just saying 🤣🥰👍
I'm a Brit and I've known thissong since I was a child. Used to give me goose bumps thinking of those cowboys riding forever trying to catch those beasts.
Seriously, if you want stories, you need to listen to Marty Robbins Epic, El Paso. Marty was a true singing cowboy. His voice was so gorgeous and true and could take you anywhere he wanted to go. El Paso for sure then Cool Water, Big Iron, Strawberry Roan, Pink Carnation…deep rabbit hole..so good. ❤
Now that I'm older, I can manage to listen to El Paso. I was too sensitive when I was younger and I hardly could listen to it. But it is a great story. And Marty had a great voice and, like many famous singers, distinctive too.
Greetings from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪 I saw them in concert in Dublin in the early 90's , you are right they all took turns and stepped forward to sing their own big hits and then sang the group songs. Absolutely magic night . Love your reactions
You could 😅spend many days exploring the music of these men. This entire concert is on RUclips, they each do their own songs and sometimes each others and then many together that are classics like this song. You are watching probably 200 years of classic American music, fame and talent together, noone has ever matched it and probably never will!!
Did you review Glen Campbell and Roy Clark doing an instrumental of this? If not, you should. Glen and his 12 string are amazing and there are not enough words to describe Roy.
I suggested he watch the video of Glen Campbell and Roy Clark duo of Ghost Riders In the Sky when he was reacting to Roy Clark’s rendition of Malagueña. I’ll suggest that again.
Kris Kristofferson is an amazing songwriter. Sunday Morning Coming Down, Why Me, Me and Bobby McGee, For the Good Times, Loving Her Was Easier, and many more! You should also check out the songs that Waylon and Willie did in the late 70's. Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, GoodHearted Woman, and Lukenbach Texas.
Love this song, and this 'super group' known as Highwaymen are so good! I know they all have or had great solo careers, but when they got together, it was pure magic! 😊😊
Chris tried to sell Johnny a song and couldn't get a meeting with him. So he landed his helicopter on Johnny's front yard. Been best friends ever 😊since.
Well, an old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw Plowing through the ragged sky And up the cloudy draw Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky He saw the riders coming hard And he heard their mournful cry Yippie-yi-ay (yippie-yi-ay) Yippie-yi-yay (yippie-yi-yay) Ghost riders in the sky Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet 'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky On horses snorting fire As they ride on hear their cry As the riders passed on by him he heard one call his name (Merle Haggard) If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride Trying to catch the devil's herd Across these endless skies Yippie-yi-ay (yippie-yi-ay) Yippie-yi-yay (yippie-yi-yay) You lost a "yippie" there Ghost riders in the sky Ghost riders in the sky
Did you notice how Johnny focused the attention on the guitar player? My children's paternal grandfather Norman Blake played mandolin and other instruments for Johnny before going solo and said he did this often. Quote: 'When he's playing I'm not singing why do you want the camera on me?' This group have some tight knit 'family' members and have been know to name children after each other.
Their concert was the best ever, they rleach did some of their own greatest hits, sang lots together also. The BEST collaboration of these 4 super super stars was beyond unreal
What Waylon had trouble getting over was the last thing he said to Buddy Holly and group…Buddy said something about hope you enjoy that cold ass bus and Waylon said Well, I hope your damned ole plane crashes…it haunted Waylon til he died!
The original version by Stan Jones was recorded in late 1948 or early 1949. A recording by Stan Jones and his Death Valley Rangers was issued on Mercury 5320 in May 1949. Fellow songwriter Eden Ahbez sent the song to Burl Ives, who recorded his own version in early 1949.
You should look up the story of how Kris Kristofferson got some of his songs to Johhny Cash. As Kris tells it he may have "borrowed" a helicopter and flew to Johnny's house and landed in his yard.
Reggie Young... one of the best ! Reggie has played on many hit songs. Reggie was one of the original session guitarists that helped build American Recording Studios in Memphis. The Memphis Boys played with Elvis, Jimmy Buffet, Box Tops, BJ Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis... Reggie passed Jan 2019.
Love this with the giants of country music. My favorite is the goosebump inducing 1949 version done by The Sons of the Pioneers, with haunting harmonicas and Bob Nolan's clear voice. We had the 78rpm version and I nearly wore it out in the late 50's. I still have that old record, and a way to play it, crackles and all. Thanks for the memories. Blessings.
INTERESTING ! Waylon Jennings was the guitar player for Buddy Holly. He gave up his seat on the plane to the Big Bopper on the night of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holley, Richie Valance, and the Big Bopper. Better known as “The Day the Music Died”. (Yes the song). The Big Bopper had the flu and didn’t want to ride on the bus. That partly led Waylon to his depression and drug addiction out of survivor’s guilt. Just thought you would like to know that.
WOW!!! I've not been into country so did not know that these legends performed together! Great ballad and music from these 'Greats' of country music! Thanks for doing a REACTION on them!
Let me tell you about The Highwaymen, both collectively and individually. The 4 members of The Highwaymen were all big stars before the highwaymen became a thing. Originally, they were just going to get together to do the one song "The Highwaymen", which would be their biggest hit going to #1 on the country charts. They had so much fun working together, they decided to do a whole album. The Highwaymen thing lasted about 10 years. They put out 3 albums, did a lot of shows, and had a few hits. Their second biggest hit was "Silver Stallion" which is a great song. The song video is pretty cool and there is also a live concert video of them performing this song which is pretty good. Each member also maintained their own individual careers during this time. The Highwaymen was an on and off kind of thing. All 4 of them were/are songwriters, but Cash and Jennings mainly wrote for themselves. Both Nelson and Kristoferson were successful songwriters before they made it as singers and performers. Two of Nelsons big hits for other people were "Crazy (done by Patsy Cline)" and "Hello Walls (done by Faron Young)." Kristoferson's biggest hits for other people are probably "Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)", "For the Good Times (Ray Price)", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night (Sammi Smith)." Kristoferson's biggest hit on his own is probably "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" which is a fantastic song. He was also a somewhat successful actor in the 1970's. Waylon and Willie had worked together before, putting out a few albums and having a few hits together. Their biggest hit as a duo is probably "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." or maybe "Good Hearted Woman." They were also 2 of the principles, along with Tompall Glaser and Jesse Colter (Waylon's Wife), who made the landmark country music album "Wanted! The Outlaws." This was the first country music album to ever go platinum, selling more that 3.5 million copies. Waylon was also a part of another famous collaboration, along with country stars Bobby Bare, Mell Tillis, and Jerry Reed, called "Old Dogs." They put out the hilarious double album, also called Old Dogs, which contained a collection of Shel Silverstein (writer) songs about getting old. With songs like "I Aint Too Old to Cut the Mustard (I'm Just Too Tired to Spread It Around)" it's a fun listen and all the songs are great. Willie Nelson has had more hits as part of a duo, and more singing partners than anyone else in music history. He has made albums, and had hits, with the likes of Merel Haggard, Ray Price, Julio Iglesias, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Ray Charles, Roger Miller, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few.
Excellent info regarding those four great country legends! Just wanted to add, I know Shel Silverstein wrote "A Boy Named Sue" famously sung by Johnny Cash. Silverstein also penned numerous children's books - I still have my copies of "Where the Sideway Ends" and "The Giving Tree." He was a very talented guy.
This song "Ghost riders in the sky" was also done in a southern Rock style by a group called The OutLaws in1980 this is my favorite version with a great guitar solo. I think this song came out originally in the 1940's and has a lot of covers, a lot. In the late 70's I worked as stage crew in college for several years at the university I attended. The all time craziest partying bands I experienced in that time was Willy , Waylon and Chris Christophersons and Johnny on their outlaws tour. The crowd was family/country/ well behaved/ no drugs. I got so 2nd hand stoned from smoke coming off the stage. I was working stage security and the behind stage party was uncontrollable drunk fest. When I first smelled smoke I looked at the crowd and thought "NO WAY" before realizing it came from the stage. So many crazy stories from that one concert I could tell you and my most memorable concert.
As many have said, "Ghost Riders" is an old song done by most country singers. A modern version can be hear by "Southern Raised", a southern Missouri group, not nationally know but I suspect will grow. Also, listen to "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" theme, performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. This movie theme song is said, by many, to redefine the Western movie theme songs over the years.
I saw them live in the early 90's. They did their own songs, each other's songs and Highwaymen songs. It was a great show, 4 legends having a great time and taking us along foe the ride.
That fellow playing lead guitar is Reggie Grimes Young Jr. (December 12, 1936 - January 17, 2019)[1] was an American musician who was lead guitarist in a lot of big hits! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Young
There are some videos of their concerts here on YT and they are amazing. I'm a fan of music from the 70's, 80's but enjoy lots of music from other era's. I love Clint Black's song called The Goodnight-Loving about Northeastern New Mexico. It is amazing and I'm from Albuquerque New Mexico and can easily relate to this song. There are so many wonderful songs. I also love Dwight Yoakam's song Nothing. So amazing.
@@Nancy-g2o Lots of groups have done it and to explain it to Pegasus is difficult. He needs to listen to the songs before he's made his mind up. I'll look for a good video of this with the great graphics showing the picture the song writer was painting. That's what Kristofferson does when he writes a song, he paints a picture we can see in our minds. I looked and didn't find the video's I'd seen before. They are somewhere on the net for sure Nancy. I come across them again and take the link and post it here on this page.
It’s been said “if you play a country song backwards you get your girl back and your dog back” The history of country is deep story telling If you wanna fire version of Ghost riders in the sky Outlaws did a live version
This concert was awesome. From the same concert: "Sunday Morning Coming Down" is one that I think you'll really appreciate; written by Kristofferson (like so many other hits), it's quite the story of how Kris, in an effort to get Cash's attention to have a look at this song, flew an Army helicopter to Cash's home. Of course, Cash made it famous. I hope you'll do more from this concert. Thank you BP! Btw, Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar, veteran/pilot, and janitor (I think in that order)...and one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. And, he's still living.
The Ghost Rider is folklore! There was a comic book series in the early seventies! But the song is a country staple from the 1920s in one form or another!
Ghost Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter, film and television actor Stan Jones.
Highwsymen: "City of New Orleans". This is a good one too. ( video) Roy Clarke and Glenn Campbell: " Ghost Riders" (video) George Jones: "He Stopped Loving Her Today". ( video) * Kris Kristofferson was in the 1970's movie version of " A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand. Check out their video of the song "Evergreen"
As soon as I saw this... it reminded me that I gotta call my Pop to check in on him. Just put a new motor on his tractor last week. He was supposed to be running it yesterday.. No news is good news? Lol 😂
The song was written in the 1948 by Stan Jones who at the time was Park Ranger in Death Valley. The riders are ghosts of cowboys who did not repent of their sins and are chasing the devil’s herd of cattle for eternity. Today almost all singers including the Highway Men get the words of the first verse wrong. In the first verse it’s the Ghost Herd that the “lone cowpoke” saw in the sky. They were followed by the Ghost Riders in the second and subsequent verses. The he heard the warning from one of the Ghost Riders. The song is a western cowboy fire and brimstone sermon of epic proportions. Stan Jones had a career as part time actor, musician and songwriter. He did not have a big hit with his recording of Ghost Riders. Accounts vary but the song was first recorded and released in February 1949 by the great Burl Ives, famous folk singer and actor. Probably his best known movie role was as Big Daddy in “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. His version of Ghost Riders is a mesmerizing, mournful version with just him singing with one guitar accompaniment. Find that and compare it to Vaughn Monroe’s version which was the big chart topper for the song. Monroe’s version was heavily orchestrated as he was a popular Big Band leader and singer of that era. The version done by the Highway Men is pretty much the same as Johnny Cash’s single cover of the song using heavy orchestration featuring French Horns. Many others covered the song but the Ives, Monroe and Cash versions are probably the tops IMHO. The real title of Jones’ composition is (Ghost) Riders In Sky: A Cowboy Legend. The name of the modern day cowboy western music group Riders In the Sky pays homage to Stan Jones’ masterpiece. Check them all out.😊
Johnny did this song solo as well. First time I heard it I was driving in a thunderstorm, good time for it! Poco did a rock cover of it in the 80’s. All great versions.
I love seeing your reactions to music I grew up with. Thanks to my mom, friends parents, my sister's I grew up listening music from the 50s ,60s, 70s, 80s. Your reactions make my day
Yes, in this concert they each sing their own songs, and sing songs together. You should watch this particular concert, it's really good. I taped it years ago. The Highwaymen is just the name of their group.
The group was formed in 1985...Kris Kristofferson had a military career and at one point was assigned to teach English literature at West Point but left the Army to pursue a musical career... Loved the album.
This is the theme song of Every Motorcycle Clubs Ever❤❤❤❤ . Do you know of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse 😅 this is a traditional tail told by cowboys by campfire for many many centuries.
I wish I could have attended one of their concerts. I loved the Highwaymen’s storytelling. Yet another of dozens of reasons I’m blessed to be a Baby Boomer. We had the BEST music of any generation- IMHO ❤
Watch Kris do Why Me. It is moving. About his way of thinking during his service in Viet Nam. The Outlaws have another great rock version of this. But we all know that. Peace and good wishes to all, from Oregon.✌
I first heard this song by Gene Autry, the movie singing cowboy from the 30's to the 50's (Also sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and wrote Here Comes Santa Claus, and owned the California Angels in the Major Leagues
Hi🤗👋🏽🎶👍. I saw Willie on 04/20, in Laughlin Nevada, it was a small outdoor venue at The Harrah’s casino right where the COLORADO RIVER IS. Free tickets, free Room stay, Free play and Free Food…. So happy to be able to see WILLIE NELSON,…. Never thought I would ♥️🔥. Thanks for sharing
A good song that tells a story is Guy Clark's song "Desperados Waiting for a Train," sung by Jerry Jeff Walker. It was recorded in Luckenbach, Texas. Another good song from the same album is "London Homesick Blues."
"Ghost Riders in the Sky" isn't just a famous country ballad, it's a cowboy legend that's been around for centuries. Songwriter Stan Jones, who penned the song in 1948, said he first heard the folklore from an old cowboy when he was just 12 years old.
I was remembering this song which was popular when I was a child in the late 1950's. Could the singer have been Frankie Lane? I was so little then but I always love the storytelling of the song.
Vaughan Monroe also recorded this song in the late-1940s.
If you like this try the traveling willberys a super group Bob Dylan, Geoff Lynn, Tom Petty, George Harrison & Roy Orbison give it a go
@@sandramooreI grew up with the Frankie Laine version. My dad had his album which had Rawhide and High Noon along with this song.
My NYC born and raised Mom, loved Western cowboy music. She used to sing this to me as a lullaby. Geoff Castellucci has done a solo music video that I really enjoyed. Great vibe with multiple Geoff's in awesome costumes.
This isn’t just an unbelievable group of legends performing the vocals, this is one of the greatest group of musicians to ever share a stage!
This is a great old song written in 48. It has been covered numerous times. The Outlaws' version is good too
Kris has written some great songs like "Me and Bobby Mcgee " and "Why Me Lord?" Also "Help Me Make it Through the Night "
Sunday Morning Coming Down
Chris was excellent in the TV mini-series Amerika. (yeah, yeah and Blade also).
Johnny & Waylon are gone. RIP. Kris turns 88 on June 22. Willie turned 91 on April 29.
Sadly we've just lost Kris. Willie 92❤
Kris Kristofferson Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down is a must for anyone who likes country.👋
100!! Not sure I'd box it only into country, but yes, it's an awesome song.
Johnny Cash did this one too, my favorite
The lyrics are brilliant too
@@user-calm_salty yes. They do it together in this same Nassau concert.
@@user-calm_salty yes, Kris wrote it and brought it to Cash. Via helicopter 🚁 😉
I get goosebumps every time one of these gentlemen starts his vocals. Absolute legend.
"Ghost Riders In The Sky" was a song written by Stan Jones in the late 1940s and successfully recorded by Vaughn Monroe, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee and Bing Crosby in 1950, all of whom enjoyed massive hit versions that year.
Don't forget Johnny Cash also had a big hit with this song
And the original Sons of The Pioneers
wow , i thought it was written by Burl Ives all these years.
Sons of the Pioneers are the original singers of this song, many years ago.
You can add Geoff Castellucci to the list of singers of this song. Nice reaction 👊🏾
This has got to be the greatest Super Group ever! They're so fun to watch because they enjoy each other's company so much and are as close as brothers. There are a couple of "behind the scenes," of them in the studio that are a riot!
Nah they're close but the travelling Wilburys win out just! The highwaymen are all legends in one genre, the Wilburys were legends from many and the first album happened so fast and so organically! Just saying 🤣🥰👍
The music from this song has always give me goosebumps. I remember my dad loved this song.
It makes my heart smile to see someone who didn’t grow up with this enjoy it so much.
This is one of my favorite songs from when I was a kid.
I'm a Brit and I've known thissong since I was a child. Used to give me goose bumps thinking of those cowboys riding forever trying to catch those beasts.
Well said…I feel the same way!!!
My Grandpa was a real cowboy in Cheyanne. I remember him playing and singing this to me in the late 1940s. His favorite ever song.
It's a retelling of the legend of the Wild Hunt from several different mythos, including German, Norse, and Celtic.
This whole concert is absolute heat
Saw a video of the whole concert with documentary combined. Great!
The Highway men performing "The Highway man" is my fav, and a must listen for you. All four get to sing a stanza!!!!
That is what I'm saying, the true highwaymen spirit is in the songs where they all sing.
He's done that one before.
That is my favorite song from the group. It's much deeper than most people realize.
Seriously, if you want stories, you need to listen to
Marty Robbins Epic, El Paso. Marty was a true singing
cowboy. His voice was so gorgeous and true and
could take you anywhere he wanted to go. El Paso
for sure then Cool Water, Big Iron, Strawberry Roan,
Pink Carnation…deep rabbit hole..so good. ❤
Now that I'm older, I can manage to listen to El Paso. I was too sensitive when I was younger and I hardly could listen to it. But it is a great story. And Marty had a great voice and, like many famous singers, distinctive too.
"El Paso" is probably my favorite song from this genre.
Greetings from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪
I saw them in concert in Dublin in the early 90's , you are right they
all took turns and stepped forward to sing their own big hits and then sang the group songs.
Absolutely magic night .
Love your reactions
You could 😅spend many days exploring the music of these men. This entire concert is on RUclips, they each do their own songs and sometimes each others and then many together that are classics like this song. You are watching probably 200 years of classic American music, fame and talent together, noone has ever matched it and probably never will!!
Did you review Glen Campbell and Roy Clark doing an instrumental of this? If not, you should. Glen and his 12 string are amazing and there are not enough words to describe Roy.
I was going to suggest this. Glen and Roy are both phenomenal on the guitar. This performance is incredible.
Totally agree. They are super amazing. You should listen to it. Jeanette, New Zealand.
Great suggestion.
Yes, they are two of the best guitar players ever! Just talented beyond belief! ✌🇨🇦♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
I suggested he watch the video of Glen Campbell and Roy Clark duo of Ghost Riders In the Sky when he was reacting to Roy Clark’s rendition of Malagueña. I’ll suggest that again.
This is an awesome song 💕. Love it
All 4 extraordinary song writers
Classic song too. The Outlaws did a version that was a radio hit in the 70's. Saw them in 78.
I know yer a rapper and ive never heard of you. Ive listened to rap and country for decades. Tons of respect for what you do.
Kris Kristofferson is an amazing songwriter. Sunday Morning Coming Down, Why Me, Me and Bobby McGee, For the Good Times, Loving Her Was Easier, and many more! You should also check out the songs that Waylon and Willie did in the late 70's. Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys, GoodHearted Woman, and Lukenbach Texas.
Love this song, and this 'super group' known as Highwaymen are so good! I know they all have or had great solo careers, but when they got together, it was pure magic! 😊😊
I'm 71 years old and remember riding many miles singing this and many other old cowboy songs. Such great memories.
Chris tried to sell Johnny a song and couldn't get a meeting with him. So he landed his helicopter on Johnny's front yard. Been best friends ever 😊since.
Well, an old cowboy went riding out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
Plowing through the ragged sky
And up the cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
He saw the riders coming hard
And he heard their mournful cry
Yippie-yi-ay (yippie-yi-ay)
Yippie-yi-yay (yippie-yi-yay)
Ghost riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred, their shirts all soaked with sweat
He's riding hard to catch that herd, but he ain't caught 'em yet
'Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snorting fire
As they ride on hear their cry
As the riders passed on by him he heard one call his name (Merle Haggard)
If you want to save your soul from hell a-riding on our range
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
Trying to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies
Yippie-yi-ay (yippie-yi-ay)
Yippie-yi-yay (yippie-yi-yay)
You lost a "yippie" there
Ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky
To this day Willie Nelson still plays "Trigger" his prized Martin. Lukas Nelson sounds just like his Dad ❤
And Willy's daughter sounds like him . Check out the video with Willy and
Paula Nelson singing '' Have you ever seen the rain''
Did you notice how Johnny focused the attention on the guitar player? My children's paternal grandfather Norman Blake played mandolin and other instruments for Johnny before going solo and said he did this often. Quote: 'When he's playing I'm not singing why do you want the camera on me?' This group have some tight knit 'family' members and have been know to name children after each other.
Highwaymen was the biggest song I think. It was epic.
And all four have a verse. Spooky.
Their concert was the best ever, they rleach did some of their own greatest hits, sang lots together also. The BEST collaboration of these 4 super super stars was beyond unreal
Waylon Jennings never got over loosing that coin toss the day the music died.
What Waylon had trouble getting over was the last thing he said to Buddy Holly and group…Buddy said something about hope you enjoy that cold ass bus and Waylon said Well, I hope your damned ole plane crashes…it haunted Waylon til he died!
@@timcaldwell5241 yes, after he lost the toss, but ok.
The original version by Stan Jones was recorded in late 1948 or early 1949. A recording by Stan Jones and his Death Valley Rangers was issued on Mercury 5320 in May 1949. Fellow songwriter Eden Ahbez sent the song to Burl Ives, who recorded his own version in early 1949.
Love Burl's version❤
You should look up the story of how Kris Kristofferson got some of his songs to Johhny Cash. As Kris tells it he may have "borrowed" a helicopter and flew to Johnny's house and landed in his yard.
Yes that's a terrific story and absolutely true!
great to see these legends together!!!
this is one of my absolute favs by them
Thanks!
Thank you for your extra support!
Reggie Young... one of the best ! Reggie has played on many hit songs. Reggie was one of the original session guitarists that helped build American Recording Studios in Memphis. The Memphis Boys played with Elvis, Jimmy Buffet, Box Tops, BJ Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis... Reggie passed Jan 2019.
The original was one of my dad’s favorites - he passed in June 2022 and had previously requested me to make sure it was played at his funeral😭
Love this with the giants of country music. My favorite is the goosebump inducing 1949 version done by The Sons of the Pioneers, with haunting harmonicas and Bob Nolan's clear voice. We had the 78rpm version and I nearly wore it out in the late 50's. I still have that old record, and a way to play it, crackles and all. Thanks for the memories. Blessings.
A couple of years ago, Low Bass Singer Cover, Geoff Castellucci did a cover of it. He’s a low base singer, Absolutely Amazing!
INTERESTING ! Waylon Jennings was the guitar player for Buddy Holly. He gave up his seat on the plane to the Big Bopper on the night of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holley, Richie Valance, and the Big Bopper. Better known as “The Day the Music Died”. (Yes the song). The Big Bopper had the flu and didn’t want to ride on the bus. That partly led Waylon to his depression and drug addiction out of survivor’s guilt. Just thought you would like to know that.
WOW!!! I've not been into country so did not know that these legends performed together! Great ballad and music from these 'Greats' of country music! Thanks for doing a REACTION on them!
I was lucky enough to see this show at the Nassau Coliseum. Once of a lifetime show
“Big River” is on this concert and all 4 of them perform it together although it’s originally Johnny cash’s song
Every song they performed in this concert is well worth a reaction. I think you'll enjoy them all.
Love them and have loved this song since I first heard it on a 78 record! 😂
Let me tell you about The Highwaymen, both collectively and individually. The 4 members of The Highwaymen were all big stars before the highwaymen became a thing. Originally, they were just going to get together to do the one song "The Highwaymen", which would be their biggest hit going to #1 on the country charts. They had so much fun working together, they decided to do a whole album. The Highwaymen thing lasted about 10 years. They put out 3 albums, did a lot of shows, and had a few hits. Their second biggest hit was "Silver Stallion" which is a great song. The song video is pretty cool and there is also a live concert video of them performing this song which is pretty good. Each member also maintained their own individual careers during this time. The Highwaymen was an on and off kind of thing.
All 4 of them were/are songwriters, but Cash and Jennings mainly wrote for themselves. Both Nelson and Kristoferson were successful songwriters before they made it as singers and performers. Two of Nelsons big hits for other people were "Crazy (done by Patsy Cline)" and "Hello Walls (done by Faron Young)." Kristoferson's biggest hits for other people are probably "Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)", "For the Good Times (Ray Price)", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night (Sammi Smith)." Kristoferson's biggest hit on his own is probably "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" which is a fantastic song. He was also a somewhat successful actor in the 1970's.
Waylon and Willie had worked together before, putting out a few albums and having a few hits together. Their biggest hit as a duo is probably "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys." or maybe "Good Hearted Woman." They were also 2 of the principles, along with Tompall Glaser and Jesse Colter (Waylon's Wife), who made the landmark country music album "Wanted! The Outlaws." This was the first country music album to ever go platinum, selling more that 3.5 million copies.
Waylon was also a part of another famous collaboration, along with country stars Bobby Bare, Mell Tillis, and Jerry Reed, called "Old Dogs." They put out the hilarious double album, also called Old Dogs, which contained a collection of Shel Silverstein (writer) songs about getting old. With songs like "I Aint Too Old to Cut the Mustard (I'm Just Too Tired to Spread It Around)" it's a fun listen and all the songs are great.
Willie Nelson has had more hits as part of a duo, and more singing partners than anyone else in music history. He has made albums, and had hits, with the likes of Merel Haggard, Ray Price, Julio Iglesias, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones, Ray Charles, Roger Miller, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few.
Excellent info regarding those four great country legends! Just wanted to add, I know Shel Silverstein wrote "A Boy Named Sue" famously sung by Johnny Cash. Silverstein also penned numerous children's books - I still have my copies of "Where the Sideway Ends" and "The Giving Tree." He was a very talented guy.
These men are giants. ❤❤❤
Was born in 56, and wa absolutely crazy about the song when I was a kid. Have heard a few different rednditions. Still love it
This song "Ghost riders in the sky" was also done in a southern Rock style by a group called The OutLaws in1980 this is my favorite version with a great guitar solo.
I think this song came out originally in the 1940's and has a lot of covers, a lot.
In the late 70's I worked as stage crew in college for several years at the university I attended. The all time craziest partying bands I experienced in that time was Willy , Waylon and Chris Christophersons and Johnny on their outlaws tour. The crowd was family/country/ well behaved/ no drugs. I got so 2nd hand stoned from smoke coming off the stage. I was working stage security and the behind stage party was uncontrollable drunk fest. When I first smelled smoke I looked at the crowd and thought "NO WAY" before realizing it came from the stage. So many crazy stories from that one concert I could tell you and my most memorable concert.
Amazing Classic all Legends and Legendary performance !
I saw them play at the Lloyd Noble Center, in Norman, many years ago! Excellent!
WANTED! THE OUTLAWS is a great Album that you have to React to..!!!
It was the FIRST country album to sell 1 MILLION!!!
I come to your channel when I need to relax. Thank you for being you.
As many have said, "Ghost Riders" is an old song done by most country singers. A modern version can be hear by "Southern Raised", a southern Missouri group, not nationally know but I suspect will grow. Also, listen to "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" theme, performed by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. This movie theme song is said, by many, to redefine the Western movie theme songs over the years.
As a child one of the first songs I learned by heart from my Uncles collection of 45s. This one and Cool Clear Water
I saw them live in the early 90's. They did their own songs, each other's songs and Highwaymen songs. It was a great show, 4 legends having a great time and taking us along foe the ride.
That fellow playing lead guitar is Reggie Grimes Young Jr. (December 12, 1936 - January 17, 2019)[1] was an American musician who was lead guitarist in a lot of big hits! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Young
Chills with this line up and this iconic track. Would love to hear the original .
There are some videos of their concerts here on YT and they are amazing. I'm a fan of music from the 70's, 80's but enjoy lots of music from other era's. I love Clint Black's song called The Goodnight-Loving about Northeastern New Mexico. It is amazing and I'm from Albuquerque New Mexico and can easily relate to this song. There are so many wonderful songs. I also love Dwight Yoakam's song Nothing. So amazing.
There are videos of this tune with images of the Ghost Riders in the sky. Many groups done this song!
I searched for images alone. Some were perfect. I first heard it done by the Sons of the Pioneers.
@@Nancy-g2o Lots of groups have done it and to explain it to Pegasus is difficult. He needs to listen to the songs before he's made his mind up. I'll look for a good video of this with the great graphics showing the picture the song writer was painting. That's what Kristofferson does when he writes a song, he paints a picture we can see in our minds.
I looked and didn't find the video's I'd seen before. They are somewhere on the net for sure Nancy. I come across them again and take the link and post it here on this page.
I saw them in concert. They all sang together and sperate. It was a great concert.
It’s been said “if you play a country song backwards you get your girl back and your dog back”
The history of country is deep story telling
If you wanna fire version of Ghost riders in the sky
Outlaws did a live version
I was lucky enough to see them live. Best and most fun concert ever! They sounded better live and were so funny and entertaining 😆
This concert was awesome. From the same concert: "Sunday Morning Coming Down" is one that I think you'll really appreciate; written by Kristofferson (like so many other hits), it's quite the story of how Kris, in an effort to get Cash's attention to have a look at this song, flew an Army helicopter to Cash's home. Of course, Cash made it famous. I hope you'll do more from this concert. Thank you BP! Btw, Kristofferson was a Rhodes Scholar, veteran/pilot, and janitor (I think in that order)...and one of the most prolific songwriters of our time. And, he's still living.
Oh, and Kris was an actor also (Convoy, Blade are 2 I can think of atm); actually, all 4 have been in many movies over the years.
The Ghost Rider is folklore!
There was a comic book series in the early seventies! But the song is a country staple from the 1920s in one form or another!
Ghost Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" is a cowboy-styled country/western song written in 1948 by American songwriter, film and television actor Stan Jones.
Highwsymen: "City of New Orleans". This is a good one too. ( video)
Roy Clarke and Glenn Campbell: " Ghost Riders" (video)
George Jones: "He Stopped Loving Her Today". ( video)
* Kris Kristofferson was in the 1970's movie version of " A Star is Born" with Barbra Streisand. Check out their video of the song "Evergreen"
I love The City of New Orleans. ❤❤
Absolutely loving you giving time to these legendary story tellers & artists ❤
As soon as I saw this... it reminded me that I gotta call my Pop to check in on him.
Just put a new motor on his tractor last week. He was supposed to be running it yesterday.. No news is good news? Lol 😂
The song was written in the 1948 by Stan Jones who at the time was Park Ranger in Death Valley. The riders are ghosts of cowboys who did not repent of their sins and are chasing the devil’s herd of cattle for eternity. Today almost all singers including the Highway Men get the words of the first verse wrong. In the first verse it’s the Ghost Herd that the “lone cowpoke” saw in the sky. They were followed by the Ghost Riders in the second and subsequent verses. The he heard the warning from one of the Ghost Riders. The song is a western cowboy fire and brimstone sermon of epic proportions.
Stan Jones had a career as part time actor, musician and songwriter. He did not have a big hit with his recording of Ghost Riders. Accounts vary but the song was first recorded and released in February 1949 by the great Burl Ives, famous folk singer and actor. Probably his best known movie role was as Big Daddy in “Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. His version of Ghost Riders is a mesmerizing, mournful version with just him singing with one guitar accompaniment. Find that and compare it to Vaughn Monroe’s version which was the big chart topper for the song. Monroe’s version was heavily orchestrated as he was a popular Big Band leader and singer of that era.
The version done by the Highway Men is pretty much the same as Johnny Cash’s single cover of the song using heavy orchestration featuring French Horns. Many others covered the song but the Ives, Monroe and Cash versions are probably the tops IMHO. The real title of Jones’ composition is (Ghost) Riders In Sky: A Cowboy Legend. The name of the modern day cowboy western music group Riders In the Sky pays homage to Stan Jones’ masterpiece. Check them all out.😊
Thanks!
Thank you so much
I went to a Tommy Cash show here in Nova Scotia Canada in 2008. He did all his brothers songs and sounded just like him
I thought Tommy Cash was a rapper..... did music with suicide boys little big and Oliver tree......
@@kaynesheldon4905 well I don't know about that but in 2008 he did all his bothers songs it was great and sounded just like Johnny
Tommy was Johnny's youngest sibling, with a successful country career.
Everyone thought Johnny Cash was finished after this, but he went on to do the American Recordings Collection.
Johnny did this song solo as well. First time I heard it I was driving in a thunderstorm, good time for it! Poco did a rock cover of it in the 80’s. All great versions.
eerie, powerful song, covered by many artists since it was written in 1948.
I’d love to see more reactions to Waylon Jennings, BP.
He is the incredibly talented and has a huge catalog of amazing music!
I love seeing your reactions to music I grew up with. Thanks to my mom, friends parents, my sister's I grew up listening music from the 50s ,60s, 70s, 80s. Your reactions make my day
I’m from Nassau County, Long Island, New York so this has a special place in my heart.
Really is the best music when the highway men get together
Song and performance give me chills
Blues Brothers 2000 has the best visual representation of Ghostriders I have ever seen. You should check it out.
Never seen this version. Great! Thanks BP! 😀
Yes, in this concert they each sing their own songs, and sing songs together. You should watch this particular concert, it's really good. I taped it years ago. The Highwaymen is just the name of their group.
Thanks BP!! I'm sorry I missed your Premiere, but I love this live version!! Peace and love only 🙏
The group was formed in 1985...Kris Kristofferson had a military career and at one point was assigned to teach English literature at West Point but left the Army to pursue a musical career... Loved the album.
Written in 1948 or 49. Recorded by many greats. Awesome song!
Their biggest hit was "Highwayman" It's a great song.
This is the theme song of Every Motorcycle Clubs Ever❤❤❤❤ . Do you know of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse 😅 this is a traditional tail told by cowboys by campfire for many many centuries.
I wish I could have attended one of their concerts. I loved the Highwaymen’s storytelling. Yet another of dozens of reasons I’m blessed to be a Baby Boomer. We had the BEST music of any generation- IMHO ❤
Watch Kris do Why Me. It is moving. About his way of thinking during his service in Viet Nam. The Outlaws have another great rock version of this. But we all know that. Peace and good wishes to all, from Oregon.✌
This was Great.... Give us more... Old ROCKER from Thailand...
Kris Kristofferson's performance of "Best of All Possible Worlds" from this concert is fantastic.
Best of all Possible Worlds is the most sarcastic song I have ever heard. Its amazing
I first heard this song by Gene Autry, the movie singing cowboy from the 30's to the 50's (Also sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and wrote Here Comes Santa Claus, and owned the California Angels in the Major Leagues
Hi🤗👋🏽🎶👍. I saw Willie on 04/20, in Laughlin Nevada, it was a small outdoor venue at The Harrah’s casino right where the COLORADO RIVER IS.
Free tickets, free Room stay, Free play and Free Food…. So happy to be able to see WILLIE NELSON,…. Never thought I would ♥️🔥. Thanks for sharing
A good song that tells a story is Guy Clark's song "Desperados Waiting for a Train," sung by Jerry Jeff Walker. It was recorded in Luckenbach, Texas. Another good song from the same album is "London Homesick Blues."