Trails & Rails

 

Comments about
Water, Weeds & Ghosts

(more)

Water, Weeds & Ghosts, is a collection of 26 tracks of cowboy standards that people have been singing for the last 60-100 years... from the cowboys who sang on night herd, the Tin Pan Alley writers and the performers who sang on stage, and the silver screen stars who sang on celluloid.

That we are still singing and listening to these songs, attests to the power of the beautiful tunes and the words that remind us of our wonderful western heritage.

Thank you for helping us keep this music alive. ~~ T&R

 

"I thought it was the old pioneer's singing.
Very, Very, Very, well done. Keep up the good work."

Musician Adirondack Jim Smith March 2009

 

"You have such a way of doing these songs that everyone loves
while still adding your own 'you' to them. I just love it."

Jane - The Desert Princess Inn Bed & Breakfast Resort in Arizona Feb 2009

 

"You guys know what music is supposed to do !"
Dennis Anderson - Action Sports Photo; July 2008

 

"Western songs are the heartbeat and life blood of the Southwest.
Trails & Rails has unearthed some buried musical treasures to keep these traditional melodies from becoming ghost music. What stands out are the seriousness and purposefulness of the band to keep this music fresh and entertaining while still respecting its tradition and origins.

Allen Singer - The San Diego Troubadour CD review - February 2009

 

 

 

 

"Ghosts of Tombstone"
(Nominated for 2008 WMA Traditional Album of the Year)


Comments about
"Ghosts of Tombstone"

 

"Walt & Paula, Please accept my apologies. I said that your new CD (Ghosts of Tombstone) is great. I was wrong......the word is AWESOME !! We're sitting here on Wednesday night (November, 2007) listening to it for the 942nd time ! (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration . . .) Please extend our congratulations to Bruce & Ken and everyone else involved in the production of this GREAT album !"

 -- Esther (for Rich & Esther Dollarhide - Tombstone Western Music Festival)

 

"The songs on "Ghosts of Tombstone may be classified as western music, but they are much more than that. As you listen to this disc, you'll experience life's journey sung through the western landscape. Tex, Rex, Hopalong, Gene and Roy would be proud!"

Review of CD by Allen Singer
San Diego Troubadour
February 2008

 

"I've now listened to "Ghosts"at least once a day, every day for two weeks.
Some days I've listened to it several times. Thank you for making this CD;
it is one of the most enjoyable records I have ever listened to.
It is one of the only records I've ever heard where I really like every single song.

 -- John Bartlett, San Diego luthier and author ~ December 2007

 

"...your CD's arrived OK ...I am enjoying them very much! Really great stuff!"

 -- ChuckarooThe Buckaroo;
     Calling All Cowboys Radio,
     Bend, Oregon ~ January 2007

 

"I can't help but play this infectious song every once in a while"

 ...regarding 'Best Dang Life' -- in an e-mail from Marvin O' Dell,
Around the Campfire host on Heartland Public Radio ~ February 2008

 

"I have that waltzing around the Linden Tree song going around in my head;
I must have played it at least five times today as I was driving around.
That is a super song!"

 -- e-mail from author Tom Leech ~ April 2008

 

"We like listening to this collection.
The more we listen, the better it gets."

Darrell Arnold                     
Cowboy Magazine review
Spring 2008
 

 

"The songs are really cool! I can't wait till I can hear you play live!"

Sincerely,
Calvin Barrett ~ Age 8
March, 2008

 

Trails & Rails - Ghosts of Tombstone
Review by Allen Singer

 

Read about Walt & Paula
in the February 2008 San Diego Troubadour

 

Thinkin' 'bout Montana
(Nominated for 2008 WMA Song Of The Year)

Ghost Riders in the Sky

 

 

 

 

 

Comments About the CD "From Way Out West"


  • One of my favorite compositions on the disc, "Night Time Out on the Range" by Jerry Campbell & Robert Wagoner, opens the album and "Echoes of the Trail" is one of my favorite renditions. In case you missed them at the festival (Albuquerque 2006), they did a Great job!
    - from O.J. Sikes review of "From Way Out West" -in The Western Way - Winter 2007

  • "Keepin' It Cowboy" was my favorite tune! Great CD. Such great harmony and so mellow! Your voices blend so well and my favorite part - you just come through as enjoying it! Are you sure you two don't belong in Arizona? Just keep makin' that good music.
    Your Arizona Fan Club,

    - Joanne
    (regarding: From Way Out West-2006)
  • You're talking to a real cowhand from the Rio Grande. I love the old cowboy music and you folks do a bang-up job !
    - The New Mexico Kid (Anthem 2006)

  • Your website is as colorful and beautiful as your songs and harmony! Keep it up!
    - Jody in Prescott 2006
  • Delightful program. It was grand to learn about Cowboy lore.
    - Peggy and Jim (August 2006)

  • For only two people, you created wonderful harmonization and a great program.
    -anonymous (August 2006)

  • "You Nailed It!"
    -Les Buffham - Big Nose Kates - Tombstone 2006
  • "For me, you were the highlight of the evening"
    - Marilyn Tuttle, Singer and Western Music promoter (Tucson 2006)

  • "You guys were great ! "
    Jon Messenger, Singer/Songwriter and past Western Music Association President.

  • "I came to all of your concerts - I know I may have missed some other people, but when I find something I like, I stick with it!"
    Tucson attendee, La Donna (2006)

  • I have been extremely fascinated with the music of Paula Strong and Walt Richards (AKA Trails & Rails), since I heard them in Tucson in 2004. ....They are excellent pickers and singers....I think you would really enjoy their music... instrumentals, vocals - both are excellent. Their latest CD, "From Way Out West" is very highly recommended!
    - Jay Taylor in Country Musical Trails Less Traveled - January/February 2007

  • The acoustic duo Trails & Rails (featuring Walt Richards and Paula Strong) has a new CD titled, From Way Out West. It's made up of contemporary compositions, with one traditional instrumental. There's a second instrumental, featuring Ken Wilcox on acoustic Guitar and Walt on banjo, that's one of my favorite cuts on the CD! As their name implies, the group looks for both train and Western songs, and they found a good one that combines both themes for this project, "Night Train Down the Yellowstone," by Les Buffham & Mike Ley, and another Buffham collaboration, this time with Mike Fleming, on "Tres Bells of Ol' Gran Boquillas." It recalls the theme of the popular song "Serenade of the Bells" from the early 1950s. One of my favorite compositions on the disc, "Night Time Out on the Range" by Jerry Campbell & Robert Wagoner, opens the album, and "Echoes of the Trail" is one of my favorite renditions.
    - O.J. Sikes in The Western Way - Winter 2007

 

 

 

Other Comments

 

 

Other comments by various audience members:

  • "I love your harmonies - "

  • "You two have such wonderful on-stage interaction."

  • "We could tell that you really enjoy what you're doing."

  • "Excellent show!"

  • Trails & Rails adds "...a very nice sound" to Marvin O'Dell's new CD, "Letter to Molly"
    - O.J. Sikes in The Western Way - Winter 2007

 

 

 

 

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