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Fun Autry Fact:

When the famous "Hollywood" sign fell into disrepair in 1978, various entertainers agreed to buy a letter for $27,777.77. Gene bought the first "L."

Album Information

The Essential Gene Autry, 1931-1953

Buy It Now

Released:
January 11, 2005

Label:
Columbia/Legacy

Sony Legacy presents the essential collection no music fan should be without! The first-ever double-CD anthology exclusively devoted to Gene Autry's Columbia Records career features forty tracks of Gene Autry's biggest hits and best-loved songs with a liner-notes essay by official Autry biographer Holly George-Warren. Included are classic recordings such as "T.B. Blues," "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," "Mexicali Rose," and "Peter Cottontail."

Track Listing

Disc One

  1. Back in the Saddle Again (2:35)
    (G. Autry, R. Whitley)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 1865 (A 31232), rec. 04/18/1939
    Vocalion record #05080, rel. 09/22/1939
    Originally Released 1939
  2. South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) (2:47)
    (J. Kennedy, M. Carr)
    Gene Autry
    mx. WC 2696 (A 31232), rec. 09/11/1939
    Vocalion record #05122, rel. 10/13/1939
    Originally Released 1939
  3. The Life of Jimmie Rodgers (3:09)
    (B. Miller)
    Gene Autry
    mx. 13496 (A 31231), rec. 06/22/1933
    Vocalion record #5504, rel. 07/15/1933
    Originally Released 1933
  4. Tumbling Tumbleweeds (3:14)
    (B. Nolan)
    Gene Autry Trio
    mx. 16629, rec. 01/11/1935
    Romeo record #5434, rel. 01/30/1935
    Originally Released 1935
  5. The Convict's Dream (3:05)
    (G. Autry, H. Hopper)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 1312-B (A 31231), rec. 03/22/1937
    Perfect record #7-05-73, rel. 04/20/1937
    Originally Released 1937
  6. Dallas County Jail Blues (3:00)
    (G. Autry, W.R. Calaway)
    Gene Autry
    mx. 10567 (CK 64987), rec. 04/13/1931
    Romeo record #5070, rel. 04/14/1931
    Originally Released 1931
  7. Dear Old Western Skies (2:35)
    (G. Autry)
    Gene Autry
    mx. 16569, rec. 01/15/1935
    Melotone record #351010
    Originally Released 1935
  8. The Yellow Rose of Texas (2:51)
    (G. Autry)
    Gene Autry and Jimmy Long
    mx. 13109, rec. 03/01/1933
    Vocalion record #04998
    Originally Released 1933
  9. Mexicali Rose (3:07)
    (H. Stone, J.B. Tenney)
    Gene Autry
    mx. C 1194, rec. 12/24/1935
    Perfect record #6-05-59, rel. 04/15/1936
    Originally Released 1936
  10. T.B. Blues (2:56)
    (J. Rodgers, R. Hall)
    Gene Autry
    mx. 10569 (CK 64987), rec. 04/14/1931
    Perfect record #12742, rel. 04/14/1931
    Originally Released 1931
  11. I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes (2:23)
    (A.P. Carter)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 678 (A 31232), rec. 02/24/1942
    Okeh record #06648, rel. 04/17/1942
    Originally Released 1942
  12. Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy) (3:06)
    (A. Gamse, J. LaCalle)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 520, rec. 09/26/1941
    Okeh record #06435, rel. 10/24/1941
    Originally Released 1941
  13. Listen to the Rhythm of the Range (2:28)
    (G. Autry, J. Marvin)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 1454 (A 31231), rec. 10/11/1937
    Perfect record #7-12-60, rel. 11/15/1937
    Originally Released 1937
  14. That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine (2:46)
    (G. Autry, J. Long)
    Gene Autry and Jimmy Long
    mx. 10943 (A 31231), rec. 10/29/1931
    Vocalion record #02991
    Originally Released 1931
  15. When It's Springtime in the Rockies (1:51)
    (M.H. Woolsey, M. Taggart, R. Sauer)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 1471 (A 31231), rec. 10/18/1937
    Perfect record #8-03-51, rel. 02/01/1938
    Originally Released 1938
  16. Be Honest With Me (2:45)
    (G. Autry, F. Rose)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 2313 (A 31232), rec. 08/20/1940
    Okeh record #05980, rel. 01/17/1941
    Originally Released 1941
  17. It Makes No Difference Now (2:42)
    (F. Tillman, J. Davis)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 316 (A 31232), rec. 06/18/1941
    Columbia record #37021, rel. 07/10/1941
    Originally Released 1941
  18. Deep in the Heart of Texas (2:43)
    (J. Hershey, D. Swander)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 677, rec. 02/24/1942
    Okeh record #06643, rel. 03/20/1942
    Originally Released 1942
  19. Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle (3:07)
    (T. Powell, L. Whitcup, W. Samuels)
    Gene Autry
    mx. LA 1473 (A 31231), rec. 10/18/1937
    Okeh record #04172, rel. 06/23/1938
    Originally Released 1938
  20. You Are My Sunshine (2:24)
    (J. Davis)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 315 (A 31232), rec. 06/18/1941
    Columbia record #37021, rel. 07/10/1941
    Originally Released 1941

Disc Two

  1. Jingle Jangle Jingle (2:37)
    (F. Loesser, J. Lilley)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 831 (A 31232), rec. 06/10/1942
    Okeh record #06690, rel. 06/26/1942
    Originally Released 1942
  2. Don't Fence Me In (2:31)
    (C. Porter)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 1143 (CK 37465), rec. 11/29/1944
    Okeh record #6728, rel. 12/26/1944
    Originally Released 1944
  3. Oklahoma Hills (2:44)
    (W. Guthrie, J. Guthrie)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 1793, rec. 04/08/1946
    SMSP A 31233, rel. 2000
    Originally Recorded 1946 & Released 2000
  4. Gallivantin' Galveston Gal (2:38)
    (S. Nelson, M. Leeds, F. Wise)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 1887, rec. 07/02/1946
    Columbia record #37923, rel. 09/29/1947
    Originally Released 1947
  5. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You (2:42)
    (S. Wiseman)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 1586, rec. 11/01/1945
    Columbia record #37079, rel. 09/02/1946
    Originally Released 1946
  6. Goodnight Irene (2:52)
    (H. Ledbetter, A. Lomax)
    Gene Autry with The Pinafores and The Cass County Boys
    mx. RHCO 4192, rec. 07/30/1950
    Columbia record #38934, rel. 08/07/1950
    Originally Released 1950
  7. Sioux City Sue (2:37)
    (D. Thomas, R. Freedman)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 1792 (A 71812), rec. 04/08/1946
    Columbia record CS1035, rel. 04/27/1970
    Originally Released 1970
  8. Home on the Range (2:38)
    (arr. C. Cotner)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 1867, rec. 06/05/1946
    Columbia record #37184, rel. 02/03/1947
    Originally Released 1947
  9. Roly Poly (2:31)
    (F. Rose)
    Gene Autry
    mx. RHCO 10688, rec. 12/13/1953
    Columbia record #21207, rel. 12/28/1953
    Originally Released 1953
  10. I Hang My Head And Cry (2:41)
    (F. Rose, G. Autry, R. Whitley)
    Gene Autry
    mx. H 600, rec. 12/13/1941
    Okeh record #06627, rel. 03/27/1942
    Originally Released 1942
  11. God Bless America (2:34)
    (I. Berlin)
    Gene Autry
    mx. RHCO 4468, rec. 04/20/1951
    Columbia record #39405, rel. 05/21/1951
    Originally Released 1951
  12. Ghost Riders in the Sky (3:15)
    (S. Jones)
    Gene Autry with the Pinafores and The Cass County Boys
    mx. HCO 3879 (A 31233), rec. 08/16/1949
    Columbia record #20635, rel. 11/14/1949
    Originally Released 1949
  13. On Top of Old Smokey (1:46)
    (Traditional)
    Gene Autry
    mx. RHCO 10070 (CK 63422), rec. 12/27/1951
    Columbia record #386-PVD, rel. 09/01/1952
    Originally Released 1952
  14. Buttons And Bows (2:40)
    (J. Livingston, R. Evans)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 3060, rec. 12/26/1947
    Columbia record #20469, rel. 08/16/1948
    Originally Released 1948
  15. Old Chisholm Trail (1:25)
    (Traditional)
    Gene Autry
    mx. RHCO 10071, rec. 12/27/1951
    Columbia record #384-PVD, rel. 04/11/1952
    Originally Released 1952
  16. Old Soldiers Never Die, They Just Fade Away (3:13)
    (G. Autry, C. Cotner, W. Burch)
    Gene Autry
    mx. RHCO 4464, rec. 04/20/1951
    Columbia record 4-39405, rel. 05/21/1951
    Originally Released 1951
  17. Dixie Cannonball (2:36)
    (G. Autry, V. Horton, R. Foley)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 2022 (A 31232), rec. 09/09/1946
    Columbia record #37963, rel. 11/10/1947
    Originally Released 1947
  18. Peter Cottontail (2:42)
    (S. Nelson, J. Rollins)
    Gene Autry
    mx. CO 42939, rec. 03/02/1950
    Columbia record #38750, rel. 03/13/1950
    Originally Released 1950
  19. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) (2:31)
    (G. Autry, O. Haldeman)
    Gene Autry
    mx. HCO 2587, rec. 08/28/1947
    Columbia record #37942, rel. 10/06/1947
    Originally Released 1947
  20. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (3:09)
    (J. Marks)
    Gene Autry and The Pinafores
    mx. HCO 3810, rec. 06/27/1949
    Columbia record #38610, rel. 09/01/1949
    Originally Released 1949

Notes & Background Information

Compilation Producers: Nedra Olds-Neal and Larry Cohn
Executive Producer: Karla Buhlman
Mastering: Mark Wilder at Sony Music Studios, New York
Additional Mastering: Woody Pornpitaksuk and Maria Triana
Digital Restoration: Ken Robertson
Legacy A&R: Steve Berkowitz
Product Manager: Laura Grover
A&R Coordination: Patti Matheny
Art Direction: Howard Fritzson
Design: Lisa Sparagano
Photography: © Autry Qualified Interest Trust and The Autry Foundation; photo restoration by Howard & Jill Levine
Research: Sage Guyton, Autry National Center Collections Assistant
Packaging Managers: Norm Elrod/Triana D'Orazio

© 2005 Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc. / Originally Recorded 1946 & Released (2000) (Disc 2: #3), Originally Released 1931 (#6, 10, 14); 1933 (#3, 8); 1935 (#4, 7); 1936 (#9); 1937 (#5, 13); 1938 (#15, 19); 1939 (#1, 2); 1941 (#12, 16, 17, 20); 1942 (#11, 18; Disc 2: #1, 10); 1944 (Disc 2: #2); 1945 (Disc 2: #5); 1947 (Disc 2: #4, 8, 17, 19); 1948 (Disc 2: #14); 1949 (Disc 2: #12, 20); 1950 (Disc 2: #6, 19); 1951 (Disc 2: #11, 16); 1952 (Disc 2: #13, 15); 1953 (Disc 2: #9); 1970 (Disc 2: #7); (P) 2005 Sony BMG Music Entertainment Inc. / Manufactured by Columbia Records / 550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022-3211 / Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. This package consists of previously released material.

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