Music of the West
By Hugh McLennan
October - November 2005
WHEN COWBOYS DREAM
KG & The Ranger
 Karen Gogolick (KG) and Rick Roltgen (The Ranger) have been following their love of Western music for over a decade and their musical ability has followed a steady upward trail. I guess it was about eleven years ago when several hundred of us who share a passion for the music of the West gathered in Tucson, Arizona for the annual Western Music Association festival that we first met this charming couple from Wisconsin. When Cowboys Dream is their latest release and to my ears, it's their best by far.
I love their song selection. There are hundreds of beautiful western songs that are known only to the dedicated few who grew up in the golden age of Western music. Karen and Rick have included gems like Move Along Lazy Cattle, Song of The Rover, Round Up Time is Over and Trail Dreamin by Bob Nolan, as well as Cool Clear Water.
One of the highlights is Karen's beautiful harmonica solo on Trail Dreamin'. Their voices have really found "the blend" in the years they've sung together and it works both ways. With Rick on melody and Karen doing harmony or vice versa, it's never prettier than on Moonlight on The Colorado. There's a real nice harmonica solo in this one too.
My favourite track here is the newest song on the collection. Rick wrote Happy Dreamin' Cowboy, and it's one of those rare songs where everything comes together and it really works. I'd give it the nod as the hit track on this CD.
Karen Howell, known to western fans from coast to coast as "Rodeo Kate" (from Sagebrush Swing, Texas Trail Hands, Daughters of The Purple Sage, and countless other groups), adds her fine fiddle work along with Dave Fallow on lead guitar and mandolin. Steve Kasprzak adds acoustic bass. Order this one from their website at www.kgandtheranger.com or by phone at (608) 222-4084.
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