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This new release from the Texas poet laureate
Red Steagall, recalls the pioneer spirit of the Irish
settlers who travelled vast distances to homestead new
land back in the 1800's. Red Steagall says; "Wagon
Tracks is a multi-generational trip told in the
first person from Ireland to the Oregon coast".
Steagall, with "If I
Never See Ireland Again" being written by
Steve Spurgin, writes all songs but this opening
track. "I had a call with my friend Steve
Spurgen and I said 'I'm really toying with this idea,
but I need a good starting song about Ireland and
leaving Ireland.' About two hours later he
called me back and said 'where do you want me to send
it'. He said that when he thought about the idea it
just poured out of him. Then I spent a year writing
the rest of it."
There are 10 songs on Wagon Tracks
and 2 poems. "Western Wagons"
written by Stephen Vincent Benet tells of the migrants travelling
west aboard those 
prairie-schooners. The second poem, "The
Last Buffalo" written by Red, tells of the prairie
Indians whose whole existence was dependant on the massive
herds of buffalo and how the white man came and decimated
these herds by the thousand.
As we continue on our long journey we pass
"Through The Cumberland Cap",
trek through Texas with "Gone
To Texas", "Out
On The Texas Plains" and "Texas
Bein' Texas". Head through "The
Yellowstone Valley", set up home with
"My Nebraska Homestead"
and we find our way to the west coast as "We
Danced On The Oregon Trail".
Wagon Tracks is
produced by Rich O'Brien, who is also a talented
musician playing guitar, banjitar, mandolin, mouth
harp, Indian flute and helps out with background
vocals. Other musicians involved with this magnificent
project includes Danny Steagall on guitar, banjo
guitar and background vocals, Mark Abbott on upright
base, Kevin Taylor plays drums, Tom Morrell can be
found on Dobro, with Reggie Rueffer playing fiddle and
Tim Alexander on squeeze box.
Wagon Tracks offers
a touch of the authentic west as you ride the range in
your mind's eye with a good horse between your knees.
"My America"
closes this breathtaking album painting a spectacular
portrait of the ever-changing landscapes and the
pioneering spirit that has made America the country it
is today. Wagon Track has
an elegance beyond its lyrics and a must for anyone
with a fascination of the American West.
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