Red Steagall & The Coleman County Cowboys - For All Our Cowboy Friends

In this episode, we're featuring a rodeo-themed album from ex-bull rider Red Steagall and his road band The Coleman County Cowboys: "For All Our Cowboy Friends" (1977). The inclusion of The Coleman County Cowboys over the A-class Nashville pickers that Red was using at this period in his career adds authenticity: world-champion fiddler Snuffy Elmore dragging the bow, James Wood on steel and Red's younger brother Danny Steagall on guitar add road miles to the album's sound. The artwork alone is a great introduction to the legends of this All-American sport, with black and white photos of many of the greats to go along with Red's name-checking throughout the album. Red Steagall's music was and is anthemic for many in the rodeo fold and is packed full of story songs worth their weight in gold buckles: "Freckles Brown" is the true story of the first rodeo cowboy to ride the infamous bull Tornado; "Dawson Legate" details a man's tragic rodeo fever; "Two Pairs Of Levis And A Pair Of Justin Boots" takes a humorous look at a relationship bust-up and there's a lot of truth to the album-opener, titled simply "Rodeo".