“(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend” is a cowboy song written in 1948 by American songwriter Stan Jones. A number of versions were cross-over hits on the pop charts in 1949 with Bing Crosby, Burl Ives, Peggy Lee, Spike Jones, and Vaughan Monroe each doing well with it that year.
Over the years more than 50 versions have been released by artists including Frankie Lane, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, Sons of the Pioneers, The Ventures, Dean Martin (no kidding) and Elvis Presley.
A particularly odd take had to be Lawrence Welk’s version. What the hell did that sound like? Add to the list Slim Whitman, and let’s not forget the Blues Brothers 2000.
The Vaughan Monroe version first appeared on the Billboard charts on April 15, 1949, lasted 22 weeks, reached No. 1, and was ranked by Billboard as the No. 1 song for 1949. The specific lineup was Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra with Vaughn Monroe and The Moon Men (Johnny West, Walter Olsen, Bill Mustard and Nace Bernert) on vocals.
Some interesting bits from the website Song Facts are that:
- Stan Jones wrote and recorded “Ghost Riders in the Sky” in 1948. He was a forest ranger who wrote songs on the side.
- The melody is based on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.”
- The song presents an image of cowboy hell – riders who are doomed to chase the Devil’s cattle for all eternity.
Pretty impressive voice on old Vaughan Monroe.