1977
Far Out West
Dance Tonight
All in the Journey
Cirle Rider
Alone Under the Stars
Romance with the    Range
Cowboy Trails
The Old Roan Horse
Banjos Broncs &    Buckaroos
Live at Tales From the    Tavern
Songs of Sweat and    Leather
Vannatta
Dark Rider
Remember Me
Ten Winters & Ten    Springs
Barrel Racing Angel
100 Years Too Late
My Roots Run Deep
Darn Hard to Tame
Trails Old & New
Beyond The Brand
Vedder Mountain    Memories II
All Over The Map
1880’s Cowboys
Dancing On The Wind
Cowboy Songs of the     Northern Rockies
River
Contenders Two
Tonic Water
Countryre Collections
Gunsmoke Whiskey     and Heather
Rhythm of the Ride
Spitzee Country
Ride a Wide Circle
Splicin' the Wire
Classic Country
Tim Hus
Ian Tyson
Jesse Fowler
30 Years of Stony Plain
Tried and True
Allen Christie
Cowboy Ways
Country Songs of the     Heart
One Last Horse
The Saloon Sessions
Hair in my Eyes Like a     Highland Steer
Christmas in the     Canyon
When Cowboys Dream
Fore the Coming of the     Wire
The Drifter
Caragana Wind
Out Where the Cowboys     Ride
Shades of the West
Open Range
Viva La Cowboy
Embers of Time
Last of the Troubadours
It's Time to Sing a Song
Magical Mystery Man
Songs of the Sage and     Saddle
Escovedo 101
Hooves of the Horses
Range & Romance
Time After Time
One Good reason
Keepin' it Country
Knockin' Down Fences
High Flyer
Swingin' Country Dance     Toons
Elsewhere
Church at the Wagon
Talk to Me
Modern Pain
The History of the     Cowgirl
The Call of the Far Away     Hills
To the Wood
Ghost Trains
The Eagle & the Snake
Save the Farm
Galaxy Cabaret
Some Kind of Fantasy

Music Reviews

Apr-May 2005

Music of the West
Sing and Swing

By Hugh McLennan

SHADES OF THE WEST

Eli Barsi

Eli Barsi is a true Canadian Treasure. Loved and respected by nearly everyone in the business of western music and country music, (and yes, there's a difference) this prairie farm girl from Saskatchewan is one of the hardest working artists in the business and a great role model for aspiring young performers. Her integrity and total commitment to sharing her gifts has led her to Branson, Missouri where, after opening for the legendary Sons of the Pioneers, she now has her own show at the beautiful Chateau on the Lake in Branson. Eli has made sure though that she's left room in her schedule for a number of performances in Western Canada in 2005. She describes her newest release, Shades of the West as a "western roots" album and it is arguably her best effort yet. Alberta's renowned cowboy poet Doris Daly wrote the words for the title song. It was a dramatic and engaging poem and it really comes to life with the music Eli wrote for it. There are two more Doris and Eli collaborations here, Just Call Him Cowboy and Makers Brand. The work of some of today's finest writers of Westerns songs have been selected including Michael Fleming's Lonesome Canyon, Curly Musgrave's One Last Trail, and a song that could become a new western classic, Every Cowboy Knows. As far as I know, until this album, only the composer Branson vocalist, Stan Corliss, had recorded the song. The Western classic Silver on the Sage is included here and features a guest appearance by two members of the Sons of the Pioneers - Luther Nalley and Sunny Spencer. If you've ever seen the Sons of the Pioneers live show, you'll know what virtuosos these two guys are. This unforgettable collection concludes with a beautiful biographical work called Eli's Song. Billie and I were held spellbound when Eli sang it at the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas when she appeared there with the Sons of the Pioneers. It was written especially for her live Branson show by Stan Corliss and Jim Grady. The entire production was recorded at Eli and John's Rockin Bar C studios in Branson, and the arrangements are superb. You can order Shades of the West from CopperStar Productions 888-941-4149, or from her website at www.elibarsi.com.