Rex Allen - The Last Of The Great Singing Cowboys

Nice Album - But WHERE Are His Hit Singles?

I have to agree with reviewer Marshall Stewart when he mentions the much smaller fan base for Country music in comparison to the far more lucrative [for the artist AND the record company] pop music genre. I add to that sentiment the equally true maxim that the early Country hits [1944-1959] remain the toughest to find of all three main categories [Country, Pop/R&R, and R&B].

A case in point is Rex Allen. This collection of some of the finest "cowboy" music by the one-time rodeo performer (who is, quite rightly, hailed as "the last of the great cowboy singers") is probably among the best you're apt to find on the market today. I especially like his version of the old standard Mexicali Rose [track 6]. His prowess on the fiddle and guitar can also be heard on Arkansas Traveller [track 1] and Raggin' On [track 12].

But are you aware that this star of some 19 Republic cowboy flicks between 1950 and 1954 also had seven Top 100 Country singles between 1949 and 1968, three of which crossed over into the pop charts, and that NONE are included in the several Rex Allen CD collections available anywhere?

One, Crying In The Chapel [# 4 Country/# 8 pop in 1953], can be found only on From The Vaults: Decca Country Classics and Only Country 1950-1954 - both out of stock and available in used form only. Another, Don't Go Near The Indians, with backing by The Merry Melody Singers, made it to # 4 Country and # 17 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in 1962. That can be found under Billboard Top Country Hits: 1962.

That leaves, in the "impossible to find" category, his first hit [Afraid - # 14 Country in 1949], which he did under the billing "Rex Allen and The Arizona Wranglers with Jerry Byrd", Sparrow In The Treetop, # 10 Country and # 28 pop in 1951 with Harry Geller's Orchestra & The Judd Conlin Singers, Marines, Let's Go [# 21 Country in 1961], Tear After Tear [# 44 Country in 1964], and Tiny Bubbles [# 71 Country in 1968].

I don't have any of the other CDs listed, but this is one of my favourites when I want to hear the eternal sound of the Arizona Cowboy. I just wish someone would get on the ball and give us his missing hits! September 9, 2007

Western music done superbly by Rex Allen

The recordings are simply outstanding. Rex' voice is the best. His style and honesty come through, big time. I just wish he had continued to record, but I understand the reasons why he, most likely, did not. Western/cowboy music has a very loyal, but comparatively small, fan populace. I'm happy to say I'm one of them. I also wish Rex was still with us. February 5, 2000

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