It’s a comfort knowing that talented musicians like Jim “Curly” Musgrave and Belinda Gail are still out there writing, recording and performing traditional Western music — or “cowboy songs,” if you like. Separately, these two acclaimed singers and guitarists have each carved a nice little niche over the past few years as valued preservationists of this classic American music genre.
Musgrave, who’s also an outstanding songwriter, was the Western Music Association’s (WMA) Male Performer of the Year in 2002 and 2003, and its Songwriter of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He received the Academy Of Western Artists Will Rogers Awards as Male Performer of The Year and Entertainer of the Year in 2003. Former Sons of the Pioneers member Rusty Richards recently referred to Musgrave as “one of the finest Western songwriters since Bob Nolan.”
As for Gail, she’s won the WMA Award for Female Performer of the Year an unprecedented four consecutive years, 1999 through 2002, and again in 2005, and earned the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers award for Female Performer of the Year in 1999 and 2004.
Together, Curly and Belinda make a team as endearing and entertaining as, well, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Their voices really complement each other. Musgrave has a relaxed, masculine voice in the grand tradition of all great cowboy singers, and Gail’s voice is strong, pretty and homespun. Musgrave offers up some very skilled yodeling, too — the kind you just don’t hear much any more — and there are tight harmonies throughout.
This record is a wonderfully concocted throwback, with some of Curly’s well-crafted original Western and gospel songs as well as winning versions of such standards as “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and “Streets of Laredo.” Terrific lead vocals highlight Curly and Belinda’s version of Canadian cowboy icon Ian Tyson’s “Somewhere in the Rubies,” and there’s even a countrified take on “Wind Beneath My Wings.” I like this version better than Bette Midler’s or Sheena Easton’s, frankly.
There’s some great picking on this record — all the guitars are Taylors — especially on the Spanish-accented “El Fuego.” For some reason, John Denver seems to be hot right now, and Curly and Belinda pay their homage to John with their spirited take on the Denver hit “Wild Montana Skies,” which is done a bit faster than John’s original, a bit more up-tempo. But it works.
Musgrave’s strengths as a melody maker and poet are evident on such tunes as his country swingin’ “You Can’t Put a Brand on Me.” Curly undoubtedly recognizes the funny irony of a song in which a cowboy begs not to be branded. Shouldn’t this one be sung by the cow?
My favorite tune is “Creakin’ of the Leather,” a perfectly rustic salute to the life of a cowboy. Just a terrific tune, musically, lyrically, vocally, with some nice yodeling from Curly and an almost-a-cappella final verse.
This is a record of which Curly and Belinda should be very proud. It’s not hip or trendy, it’s just affectionately made, charming and timeless. I guarantee you will enjoy it, and I can only hope that Curly and Belinda keep making music for a long time and that this great American style of music never dies.
— Jamie Reno
It’s a comfort knowing that talented musicians like Jim “Curly” Musgrave and Belinda Gail are still out there writing, recording and performing traditional Western music — or “cowboy songs,” if you like. Separately, these two acclaimed singers and guitarists have each carved a nice little niche over the past few years as valued preservationists of this classic American music genre.