Marty Robbins was a great interperer of sad lonely songs.

Three that come to mind are:

THEY'RE HANGING ME TO NIGHT
SHACKLES AND CHAINS and of course
EL PASO.

All good songs. Most today wouldn't write anything like this and Radio wouldn't play them but there is still a place for songs in this general style. Probably no one would take a chance on recording these type songs either.

Radio doesn't care what they play as long as it is not too serious and fills some space.

It was charged several years ago that Radio was dictating to the Labels what they would play. Talk about the inmates running the Asylum. I write what I like and let the Chips fall where they may.


Ray E. Strode