Best of the West is a compilation recording by the Western

Western music (North America)

Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...

 band Riders in the Sky, released in 1987. It is available as a single CD and contains highlights from their first five albums on the Rounder label.

By this point in their career, Riders in the Sky have become recognized as Western

Western music (North America)

Western music originated as a form of American folk music. Originally composed by and about the people who settled and worked throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Directly related musically to old English, Scottish, and Irish folk ballads, Western music celebrates the life of...

 music authorities. They were at the forefront of sparking a revival of interest in Western music in the style of the Sons of the Pioneers

Sons of the Pioneers

The Sons of the Pioneers are one of America's earliest Western singing groups whose classic recordings set a new standard for performers of Western music. Known for the high quality of their vocal performances, musicianship, and songwriting, they produced finely-crafted and innovative recordings...

. This album presents classic cowboy songs and new originals.

Track listing

1. "Cowboy Jubilee" (Chrisman, LaBour) – 1:44
2. "That's How the Yodel Was Born" (Douglas Green) – 2:19
3. "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" (Stan Jones
   Stan Jones (songwriter)
   Stan Jones was an American songwriter and actor.Stanley Davis "Stan" Jones was born in Douglas, Arizona, and grew up on a ranch. When his father died, his mother moved the family to Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, competing in rodeos to make money...
   
   ) – 3:19
4. "Don't Fence Me In" (Bob Fletcher, Cole Porter
   Cole Porter
   Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
   
   ) – 2:38
5. "Ol' Cowpoke" (McMahan) – 3:00
6. "Wasteland" (Green) – 3:30
7. "Blue Bonnet Lady" (Chrisman) – 2:54
8. "Blue Montana Skies" (Green) – 3:29
9. "After You've Gone" (Creamer, Layton) – 2:42
10. "Here Comes the Santa Fe" (Green) – 3:12
11. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds
    Tumbling Tumbleweeds
    "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" is a song composed by Bob Nolan, one of the founding members of the Sons of the Pioneers. Although one of the most famous songs associated with cowboys, the song was composed by Nolan back in the 1930s while he was working as a caddy and living in Los Angeles...
    
    " (Bob Nolan
    Bob Nolan
    Bob Nolan was a Canadian-born American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and composer of numerous Country music and Western music songs, including the standards "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds." He is generally regarded as one of the...
    
    ) – 3:33
12. "La Cucaracha" (Traditional) – 1:52
13. "Soon as the Roundup's Through" (Chrisman) – 3:54
14. "I Ride an Old Paint" (Traditional) – 2:14
15. "Riding Alone" (Green) – 3:06
16. "Hold That Critter Down" (Nolan) – 2:04
17. "Ride with the Wind" (Green) – 3:04
18. "Cowboy Song" (Chrisman) – 3:06
19. "Prairie Serenade" (Green) – 2:44
20. "Nevada" (Chrisman, Ritter) – 2:41
21. "Home on the Range" (Traditional) – 4:12
22. "So Long Saddle Pals" (Chrisman) – 1:23

Personnel

• Douglas B. Green
  Douglas B. Green
  Douglas B. Green , better known by his stage name Ranger Doug, is an American musician, arranger and award-winning Western music songwriter, best known for his work with the Western music and comedy group Riders in the Sky in which he plays guitar and sings lead and baritone vocals. He is also an...
  
   (a.k.a. Ranger Doug) – guitar, vocals
• Paul Chrisman
  Paul Chrisman
  Paul Chrisman , better known by his stage name Woody Paul, is an American singer, fiddler, and composer, best known for his work with the Western swing musical and comedy group Riders in the Sky. With the Riders, he is billed as "Woody Paul — King of the Cowboy Fiddlers".Chrisman began playing...
  
   (a.k.a. Woody Paul) – fiddle, vocals
• Fred LaBour
  Fred LaBour
  Frederick LaBour , better known by his stage name Too Slim, is a Grammy award winning American musician, best known for his work with the Western swing musical and comedy group Riders in the Sky....
  
  (a.k.a. Too Slim) – bass, vocals

External links

• Riders in the Sky Official Website