Public_Cowboy_No._1_(album) Knowpia

Public Cowboy #1: The Music of Gene Autry
Public Cowboy #1: The Music of Gene Autry
Studio album by Riders in the Sky
Released	October 22, 1996
Genre	Western
Length	38:46
Label	Rounder
Riders in the Sky chronology

Public Cowboy #1 is a studio recording released on CD by the Western band Riders in the Sky on October 22, 1996.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

Critical reception edit

According to AllMusic's Bruce Eder, the Riders in the Sky created this album in the wake of performing a Gene Autry medley on television with Autry himself in the audience.^[1]

The songs are done reverently but with a real sense of fun, essentially the same balancing act that has made them a success on stage and television. Their main innovations are the harmony singing, which works well throughout, and a jazzy approach to Jimmie Rodgers' "Can't Shake The Sands of Texas From My Shoes." Autry's versions have held up magnificently well, but this loving tribute album is a necessary addition to any fan's collection.^[1]

In another review, James H. Nottage wrote:

Gene Autry's music was always more than something which fed childhood fantasies. It is still more than something which fuels or expresses adult nostalgia. A life-time of writing, performing, and recording music marks Gene Autry as an undeniable influence on his diverse audiences, on the development of Western music, and on the image of the cowboy. Even a performer as important as Autry could be forgotten in time if it were not for a new generation which records his music. We are fortunate that the Riders are of our time and have offered such an instrumental and vocal tribute which stands as a respectful interpretation of Gene Autry's cowboy classics. Let Riders in the Sky take you on a journey through our collective musical heritage. It is a trip worth taking.^{[citation needed]}