By golly it's clean clear to Flagtown, come on
C.W. McCall is, of course, known for his #1 hit "Convoy" and for some other songs, like "Wolf Creek Pass", that were hits on the country charts. Later I came to find out that the name "C.W. McCall" is fictitious and really consisted of two people (Bill Fries and Chip Davis). Not only that, but their backup group, the ones who did those catchy disco-ish chorsus in between "C.W. McCall's" twangy rapping, was none other than Mannheim Steamroller. Things are getting curiouser and curiouser.Fortunately for us music fans, the identity of the Real McCall is not all that important. What is important is the music, which stands today as not only one of the essential 1970s nostalgia pieces, but also as great music with an "outdoorsy" feel for somebody who knows and loves the modern American West. He has songs about Wolf Creek Pass up on the Great Divide, river running on the Green River in Utah, the Potowotamie County Weed Patrol, avalanches in Ouray County Colorado, rendevousing in Jackson Hole, driving down to Santa Fe on an icy highway, interstate truck drivers, ecology, and his cat Roy. Some common themes emerge: The local Conoco station, treacherous roads and passes in Colorado, and playing cat-and-mouse with law enforcement all turn up repeatedly in these songs. Too bad not all of his great songs are on this CD and most of his stuff is out of print, but this is a good sampler. Hint to record companies: C.W. McCall deserves more than a budget-line greatest hits CD - he rates a boxed set, including rarities like "Kidnap America" and "Comin' Back for More" as well as his hits.
Really Is The Best
C.W. McCall lived a hard-knock life and has been largely under appreciated as a singer. His songs, however, paint lively and glorious pictures of a life many of us love to imagine. The classic Convoy is probably his best known work. Wolf Creek Pass is another wonderful classic evoking images of the trucker life and the funny things that can sometimes happen. My favorite McCall song is Green River. I can almost see the mists of the early morning...men in plaid flannel blowing on their hands and sipping steaming cups of coffee. The canyon walls echo with their whispered talk as the river roars it's challenge. No McCall song sets my mind into over-drive like this one. If you only buy one C.W. McCall album, make sure it includes Green River.
We Got A Great Big Convoy Rocking Through The Nigh
I Love C.W.McCall his music is so much fun and at the same time he has a seriouse side there are some classics on here like Convoy(natch),Silvertone,Old Home Fill'er up and Keep on Truckin Cafe and Autobaun
C.W.McCall Rules
great but not excellent
From the Roundhouse at Ridgway to the Depot in Durango on board the Rio Grande Southern RR's Gallopin Goose rail car number 5, to driving a load of chickens on a flatbed out of Wiggins over Wolf Creek Pass to 4x4ing over Black Bear Road to running in a Convoy or Rafting on the Green River this album has it all but it is somewhat lacking in song selection such as where's the better knowin train song "The Silverton"? and two of the best trucking songs I know "Night Rider" and "I've Trucked All Over this Land"? and don't forget old 30 and Riverside Slide which is based on a true story. If CW put those songs on this or a new CD it would be in my book Excellent
Hey, Where's Crispy Critters?
No true CW MCCALL fan should stoop to buying any collection that would omit the classic singer/songwtiter/rapper's most seminal work! Looks like I'll have to pass on this one and be satisfied with CW McCall's Greatest hits. What a disappointment.
