I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)

"I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)"
Single by Bing Crosby
A-side"I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)"
B-side"I Can't Escape from You"
Released1936
RecordedJuly 17, 1936
GenrePopular
Length2:40
LabelDecca Records 871
Songwriter(s)Johnny Mercer

"I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)" is a comic song written by Johnny Mercer for the Paramount Pictures release Rhythm on the Range and sung by its star, Bing Crosby. The Crosby commercial recording was made on July 17, 1936, with Jimmy Dorsey & his Orchestra for Decca Records.[1] It was a huge hit in 1936, reaching the No. 2 spot in the charts of the day,[2] and it greatly furthered Mercer's career. Crosby recorded the song again in 1954 for his album Bing: A Musical Autobiography.
Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.[3] It has also been covered by numerous jazz musicians, including Sonny Rollins, Monty Alexander, Joshua Redman, and John Scofield.

  1. ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p. 105. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
  3. ^ Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2010.