I've decided to highlight an album in my collection for every year since 1959 (that being the earliest LP in the collection). There will be a few years in the 1990s and early 2000s where I may not have one to highlight, but for the most part every year for nearly 60 years will be represented. This doesn't necessarily mean it's my favorite album from that year - there are certainly still lots of gaps in my collection that need to be filled. So, let's begin with 1959.
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins is one of those seminal albums that should be in everyone's collection, whether you like country music or not. It's one of the classics of the genre and has been called "the single most influential album of western songs in post-World War II American music." The Western Writers of America have listed six of its songs as being among the top 100 Western songs of all time. "El Paso" and "Big Iron" are two of the best songs, in any genre, period. Both songs have been covered numerous times and the album has been an influence on countless artists. Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness' version of "Big Iron" is one of my favorite cover songs of all time.
Marty Robbins has long since passed on (he died in 1982) but he left a great musical legacy, and this album is his masterpiece and his contribution to the American cowboy mythology, and a must-have in any record collection.
Other notable albums from 1959 in my collection:
Ferlin Husky - Born to Lose
Hank Snow - When Tragedy Struck
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