We’re focusing on the 59 version as that feels more finished – besides, we already have two versions of the song from 49.Īt the start of the Sons of Pioneers version, we get a feeling of adventure. The Sons of Pioneers actually did two versions of (Ghost) Riders In the Sky – one in 1949 and one ten years later in 1959. Maybe the cowboy was brave, maybe he was stupid – or maybe he knew there was a message. When a herd of ghostly cattle descends from the sky….that’s a cue to get out of the way. One thing that really puzzles me – why did the cowboy try to catch the herd? Honestly if it were me, I’d keep a safe distance, even run the other way. Honestly, the song terrifies me! Cattle with their brands on fire, horses snorting smoke, and the aforementioned bass guitar mimics a fast heartbeat – such as someone encountering something bizarre and otherworldly. In some ways the song parallels Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Story.” The damned warn the rancher of his fate if he doesn’t turn from his ways. A rancher encounters a herd of ghost cattle, and a handful of the damned chasing these cattle. The story of the song bases itself in the supernatural. The instrumentation relies heavily on the bass and very little on the electric and acoustic guitars – a rarity in country music. The song is haunting – especially the chorus as we hear the Ghost Riders sing “Yippie aye yay, yippie aye yo” in a reverb heavy chorus.
The youtube video below is the only version I know of! But how does it sound? The record is rare, and hard to find even online. Not always credited as the original, Stan Jones wrote (Ghost) Riders in the Sky. So saddle up, and ride your horse into the wild blue yonder….as we compare covers of (Ghost) Riders In the Sky to several different cover versions. Instead – I picked 9 versions to compare. While it might be fun to compare every version of this song ever recorded – it would take way too long.
Ghost riders in the sky series#
Oh – the song even inspired the Marvel Comic series Ghost Rider!
Heck, I’d bet that Barry McGuire’s “ Cosmic Cowboy” has its root here. Add to the mix the amount of songs inspired by (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, such as The Door’s “ Riders on The Storm,” Def Leppard’s “ Foolin,” and Motörhead’s “ Iron Fist” – it’s quite an influential song. Wikipedia lists over 100 versions in 11 different languages. The song (Ghost) Riders in the Sky must be one of the most recorded country songs ever.
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