Ghost Riders in the Sky

The current musical project on which I am embarked has given me the opportunity to learn so much about some of the less-well-known popular music of the 1950’s and 60’s — especially the guitar-based instrumentals. I think both the music and insights to be worth sharing.

One of the side benefits of doing these arrangements has been what I’ve learned about the artists and music along the way. When I heard this song recently, it was an obvious candidate for one of my arrangements. It had been covered by the Ventures, The Shadows, the Spotnicks, and Duane Eddy. I subsequently learned that it was written in 1948 by a country artist named Stan Jones and covered by innumerable vocal and instrumental artists. There’s an incredible set of these versions at
http://www.secretspain.org/ghostriders.html.