Artists/albums that have a traditional Tex-Mex sound/vibe like that song "El Paso (I fell in love with a Mexican girl)" by Marty Robbins

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I really like the vibe of "El Paso" by Marty Robbins, but when I heard a bit more of him, I was disappointed that his other stuff (at least what I heard) didn't sound like "El Paso" at all. I don't know much about country-western music-- except that I don't like Honky-Tonk and Hank Williams Sr... Someone recommend me something!

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Monday, 30 June 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Not country really, but the instrumental band the Friends of Dean Martinez is great. I recommend their album Atardecer.

― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 30 June 2003 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think it has something to do with being a little kid in Texas in the mid 70s, but "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell always reminds me of that Marty Robbins song. Probably have nothing to do with one another really.

― direct_program, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

i play "el paso" on jukeboxes a lot but i don't actually like it, or marty robbins, that much.

― amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 00:37 (twenty-two years ago)

try some freddy fender.

― mte, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Not solely traditional, but Feast of Wire by Calexico has a bit of that particular flavour/vibe/aesthetic/etc.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 13:07 (twenty-two years ago)

The horns in "Ring Of Fire" are great like that; do you like that one? I had all kinds of good suggestions until I noticed you don't like HW Sr....come on now!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay to be fair they're different worlds but really. Calexico is not such an odd recommendation as I thought at first (being a fellow Arizonan I bristle at comparisons to Tex-Mex). If you're looking for more TEX go for Eddie Arnold, Rex Allen Sr., if more MEX go contemporary norteno like Los Tigres Del Norte. Do you like the song "El Cucaracha"?

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I had all kinds of good suggestions until I noticed you don't like HW Sr....come on now!

Really? Maybe I haven't heard the right Hank Williams Sr. then. I bought the 2CD best of Hank Williams and it was all your run-of-the-mill honky tonk stuff. I didn't think it had much character. And I don't remember it sounding anything like "El Paso."

― King Kobra (King Kobra), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Roberto Pulido is good, I like the 'orquestral' sound

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

This is kind of a pet peeve of mine -- I'm not sure exactly what the etiquette is on "Sr." and "Jr." (and "III"), but I think Hank Williams is Hank Williams, period.

― mte, Wednesday, 2 July 2003 00:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Hank Williams is Hank Williams
Hank Williams Jr is Hank Williams Jr
Hank Williams III is Hank Williams III

― amateurist (amateurist), Wednesday, 2 July 2003 00:54 (twenty-two years ago)

This really is a wonderful song, but yeah I have a tough time thinking of anything else that sounds quite like it and I'd love to hear more myself. Obviously there were a bunch of songs and artists in that "cowboy" subgenre, with similar narratives. But those lovely flamenco stylings are what set "El Paso" apart. One sort of similar song I've found - in fact, it essentially copies the verse melody - is "The Yellow Bandana" by Faron Young; unfortunately the guitar is more understated, and it doesn't share "El Paso"'s soaring, thrilling chorus.

If you're not averse to checking out newer stuff, you might want to give a listen to Joe Ely's 1995 record Letter to Laredo. It's got some beautiful flamenco guitar all over it. The production is actually pretty good and sympathetic to the songs, but I'm not the biggest fan of Ely's voice. Maybe try to download the songs "Gallo del Cielo" or "Letter to Laredo" and see if it's to your liking.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 3 July 2003 05:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i used to have a marty robbins box set which had a bunch of follow-ups to this song that sounded more or less the same. it comes from the theme songs that were made for western movies, basically. ("the man who shot liberty valance" was bacharach's failed attempt to do one of these [failed because john ford wouldn't let it appear in the movie and because it doesn't really work as a story-song].) as such it comes straight out the hollywood cowboy subgenre of western music, which robbins integrated into something a little more upscale i suppose.

really if you like this song that much (i find it too florid) you should get marty robbins' "gunfighter ballads and trail songs" lps which are the masterpieces of the genre. a major c&w touchstone, those albums are.

― amateurist (amateurist), Thursday, 3 July 2003 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, but do they have FLAMENCO?!

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Thursday, 3 July 2003 06:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Search: Giant Sand's medley of "El Paso" and Neil Young's "Out On the Weekend."

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 3 July 2003 07:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Try this guy on for size:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00006J3SK.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

That's Emilio Navaira, he of formerly the purely Tejano realm, but now of the realm of "I want to be a cowboy por la raza!" If you're wanting to get into country with a Tex-Mex twist, there's no better person to further investigate.

Trust me. At every bloody wedding or quinceanera I've ever had to attend the DJ ends up playing Tejano 1/3 of the night and I end up having to put up with this (*points up above*) as well as the very highly popular cumbias and the like. *makes gagging noises*

― Innocent Dreamer (Dee the Lurker), Thursday, 3 July 2003 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

There's always Chinga Chavin.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 3 July 2003 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.