SO underated..... I always tell people how much this guy influence me.... with the help of his cowriter/arranger Chip Davis who went on to form Mannheim Steamroller, the guy did the unthinkable.... He esentially melded Progressive Rock and Country music.
I am sorry to hear about your father, and U feel bad that CW McCall I’d dead too. I am sure they are in Heaven and maybe best buddies and are singing this song together. I hope they are liking down on you and singing “Convoy.” CW McCall was/is a nice guy.
I was in Ouray July 2008 and had dinner with Bill (C.W. McCall) his voice is still strong and the words are clear. These old towns and mills are fading away lost to time and weather. We lost the Empire Chief Mill and The Torpedo Eclipse Mill due to snow slides in 2008. Any one who is interested can write Bill Fries; PO Box E, Ouray, CO 81427 Bill is one heck of a guy and we look forward to seeing him in July. He just had his 80th Birth day on November 15.
I agree and the song is nice. Ending with Oh Susannah us unnecessary. but I understand why he did it/. His parents used to play ragtime music at parties, and he wants to//wanted to keep their legacy going.
The song was called The Silverton: She was born one mornin on a San Juan summer Back in eighteen and eighty and one She was a beautiful daughter of the D and R G And she weighed about a thousand ton Based on the Silverton Narrow Gauge in Durango, Colorado
Thank you for posting the songs and the pictures of the South San Juans. I hiked those mountains back in the mid 80's when i was a teenager and fell in love with the area !
Too bad CW never recovered Buffalo Soldier by reggae singer Bob Marley. The song (or most of the song ) is about the heart of America, the Midwest, which includes Iowa and Nebraska.
C.W.McCall also recorded a song (around about this time) called 'The Green'. Not sure if I got the title right, but it was on an LP of his back in, or around 1975. Can't find it on 'You Tube' though, and it's a fantastic song. I thing the LP was just called 'C.W.McCall'. I used to have this album. He also sang a song about a locomotive (track two, side one). Does anyone have these two great songs they could download?
I don't know what happened before, but somehow the video is playing correctly on my cell phone. Very sorry about my earlier comments. It IS an AWESOME song!
Our God is an Awesome God. He created the entire universe and everyone and everything in it. How Awesome is it that Jesus Christ died on a cross to save us from our sins. Nowadays everyone and everything is awesome.
I'm watching this again. Wife and I were watching videos on RU-vid about ghost towns and I remembered this video. It plays fine now. Sorry about my past complaints. Must've been a crummy phone or bad internet connection.
nice pic of the house in animas forks... i was scared to go in it when i was younger... i took my family there a few years ago and just seeing it again just as it was 100 years or more ago is just amazing and the view is breath taking... my favorite pic of all.... thanks for posting i hope to be moved there in a couple of years myself...
Sorry about my bad comment earlier. Somehow the video plays correctly now. This IS a terrific song and cool pics in the video also. Again, sorry about earlier.
Yes, "Green River: is the title, and it's one side two of "Black Bear Road," his first album I think. "Ghost Town" was the last track of side one (spooky way to end a side, no?). Is this one of the re-recorded versions from the CD compilation I read about on wiki? It's not the original LP version for sure...
Was a good thing the gold ran out. In them days they would ripp the mountain to death for riches. We still have no respect in corporate life. i think most have love for the land and want respect
Most are around Ouray and on the Alpine Loop. We are losing many of these to time and in 208 we lost the Empire Chief Mill due to snow slides. If you want to see the last true spirit of America you better take a trip soon. There are jeep rentals and guides for hire in Ouray. If you want to feel true awe for what the settlers had to travel and endure you need to take this trip. The town of Ouray is called the Switzerland of America.
My version of this from the black bear road album is quite different; both with the singing on the bridges and the backing vocals; must be a different recording.
Our God is an Awesome God. He created the entire universe and everyone and everything in it. How Awesome is it that Jesus Christ died on a cross to save us from our sins. Nowadays everyone and everything is awesome.
@Winonasalibi I encourage you to drop a note to Bill and let him know that. If you send anything to have him sign remember to include return postage. Bill Fries P.O. Box E Ouray, CO 81427 Bill is 82 and we won't have him to much longer. I encourage any one he touched with his music to write and say thanks. Lawrence
I DID IT! I sent him a photo of him performing at Knott's Berry Farm in 1977 (I was THERE) and he sent it back signed To Fredie... Memories are like Starlight....they go on forever..... CW McCall" It nearly brought me to tears.... I'm gonna be in Ouray this coming Sunday (5/21/17) planning on driving to Animas Forks. I wish I could meet him but I couldn't possibly be that lucky.... this is enough. I'm happy beyond words. If you see him please give him my best wishes!
That's cool. I emailed him a few years ago and asked if he would autograph my copy of his Greatest Hits. I mailed my CD to him, and he signed it and sent it back. I wish I could meet him.
