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- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 4 months ago by Odin.
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December 9, 2018 at 7:52 am #118595
James B creatively mashed this song into his EP 282 Challenge which sent me on a search of versions of the song written in 1948 by Stan Jones. This was my favourite version by the Scorpions in 1961. Some pretty good guitar playing on this.
John -
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December 9, 2018 at 10:27 am #118621
Hello Charjo,
That was a great version of the song! I usually gravitate towards the Hank Marvin version as I love his playing and tone but this version was enjoyable. Thanks for posting it.
Jim
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December 9, 2018 at 10:40 am #118622
Pretty sweet, also, Jim.
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December 9, 2018 at 11:54 am #118635
Interesting collection of ghosts,😏 here’s a modern take that gets we bit bluesy 3/4 in 💀
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December 9, 2018 at 1:31 pm #118682
After hearing James B’s version, and remembering hearing it as a child, it made me wonder why the song was written in the first place. I mean, who would think up such a bizarre scenario in 1948? I would not be surprised if it were composed during the hippie days of LSD, but 1948???
Sunjamr Steve
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December 9, 2018 at 4:26 pm #118762
John,
That is the Hank Marvin version that I enjoy. Even started to learn his version of it but we recently have moved and my music books are all packed in boxes. I do need to learn to use the bar. Whammy bar that is!
Odin,
I have watched a few of Justin Johnson’s videos. He is a fantastic player. Unique tones and style but I do like some of his slide and blues/rock guitar playing.
Jim
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December 10, 2018 at 10:41 am #118949
Hi Jim I admire Johnson’s ability to experiment and still sound good even with a shovel.
Hank was brilliant as well Apache, not familiar with the Scorpions. Maybe we could have a in the style of Hank for the oldies😊
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December 10, 2018 at 11:01 am #118950
Steve this is from texashillcountry.com also stuff on wikipedia Ghost Riders In the Sky
Texas is full of lore, legends, and ghost stories. The tale of the Ghost Riders is by far the saddest, most evil, not to mention, the most famous one in the country. This legend is sadly true, a senseless ghoulish tragedy which took place in Crosby County, Texas. You may know it as Stampede Mesa.
ghost-rider
Photo: Pinterest
It all began like any other cattle drive should have back in the fall of 1889. The weather had been less than cooperative; the cowboys were worn to a frazzle and the herd had been restless the entire trip. Late one night as they began climbing the slope to the top of the range near the Neches River a storm began brewing. They’d planned to set up camp just over the ridge near the water. Sawyer, the trail boss rode ahead to check out the surroundings and look out for Indians. He was shocked to see a brand new homestead perched right on top of the hill. He’d taken this route hundreds of times without incident, but now this was blocking his entire herd from crossing. It would take hours to go around it.
Sawyer became infuriated. Without explanation, he shouted and cursed and, waved a blanket high into the air to create a stampede. The nervous cattle scattered. Horses, some with riders, some without began running with all their might. His men obediently followed behind. Sawyer was screaming, whipping at the animals, as lightning bolts began flashing through the sky. The panicked livestock hurled straight through the farmhouse crushing everyone and everything in its path. No one could hear the screams of the innocent as the animals raged through. Loud thunder and dark skies made the terrified herd keep running until they ran off of several nearby cliffs to their death. Horses holding the cowhands followed behind.
Wikipedia
The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways, he will be doomed to join them, forever “trying to catch the Devil’s herd across these endless skies”. Jones stated he had been told the story when he was 12 years old by an old cowboy friend.[1] -
December 10, 2018 at 12:16 pm #118956
Thanks for the story Odin, I hadn’t heard that before. I just liked the song and apparently so do a lot of folks. It’s a Texas sized tale whether it’s true or folklore!
James
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December 10, 2018 at 2:58 pm #118974
Hi James yes Texas sized tale,enjoyed your version sounded good slowed down. I see you even got a nod from the keymaster, well played.
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