Woody’s Roundup gets own album - SOUNDS FAMILIAR by Baby A. Gil

Woody’s Roundup by Riders in the Sky is the sort of album that you will probably find in the bargain bin after a month or two in the shelves hereabouts. The reason for this is obvious. While it was inspired by the hugely successful computer animated film Toy Story 2, it is not the soundtrack and save for two cuts, is not really made up of songs from the movie.

The other thing is this is all about the favorite songs of Woody, a cowboy doll and I know that Filipino kids do not play cowboys and Indians anymore. They might even prefer the favorite tunes of the action-figure astronaut, Buzz Lightyear, who can fly off to the galaxy and beyond. Then there are also the performers, a group named Riders in the Sky. Although known as a living tribute to country music’s cowboy history, they are totally unknown in the Philippines.

While reading the list of Grammy nominees for this year though, I came across Woody’s Roundup which was nominated in the Musical Album for Children category alongside Songs from Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins, Pillow Full of Wishes by Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Still the Same Me by Sweet Honey in the Rock and This Pretty Planet by Tom Chapin. Now I do not know if Woody’s Roundup will win the Grammy but news of a nomination should certainly get music lovers interested.

There is no question about Woody’s Roundup as far as being interesting is concerned. The concept is something truly unique. According to Toy Story mythology, Woody was the star of 1950’s cowboy children’s show on television called Woody’s Roundup. This is why a toy collector aware of Woody’s value stole the doll in Toy Story 2.

An elaborate rendition of black and white Woody’s Roundup was created for the movie including a theme song which Grammy winner Randy Newman was asked to compose and which the famous cowboy group, Riders in the Sky was asked to perform. Reaction to the song was so positive that when the idea of coming up with another album inspired by Toy Story 2 was brought up, it was decided that it would be Woody’s Roundup by Riders in the Sky.

The album is described as a "rootin’ tootin’ collection of Woody’s favorite songs" and is made up of tunes that could have been used in the soundtrack of ’50s kiddie series. Leading the line-up is of course Newman’s Woody’s Roundup theme and the Toy Story song You’ve Got a Friend in Me. Then there’s an old one Act Naturally and a really old cowboy traditional Home on the Range plus several new works like Jessie, the Yodelin’ Cowgirl, Jessie is a cowgirl doll. The Ballad of Bullseye, Bullseye is Woody’s horse, Hey Howdy Hey, My Favorite Toys, How Does She Yodel?, Prospector Polka and One Two Three, Said the Prospector.

Riders in the Sky make everything sound like cowboy treats from the ’50s. You can almost ima-gine Roy Rogers and Gene Autry looming in the horizon astride their beloved horses to join Woody and Bullseye while listening to the album. Things have changed and cowboy movies are not anymore what they were before but Woody’s Roundup brings the music up to date for kiddies and certainly also grown-ups, to enjoy.

Incidentally, Riders in the Sky is made up of Ranger Doug on guitar and vocals; Too Slim on bunkhouse bass, guitar, vocals and sound effects; Woody Paul on fiddle and vocals, Joey the cowpolka king on accordion, vocals, keyboard, percussion and sound effects.

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Since we are now nearing the end of the first month of the new year, let us take a look at the songs listed in the Billboard Hot 100 hit list. This week marks the first one for It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy Featuring Ricardo "RikRok" Ducent, which dethroned Destiny’s Child’s Independent Women Part I from the soundtrack of the motion picture Charlie’s Angels from the number one slot.

Here is the rest of the top 10: Independent Women Part I by Destiny’s Child; Ms. Jackson by Outkast; Don’t Tell Me by Madonna; Love Don’t Cost a Thing by Jennifer Lopez; Again by Lenny Kravitz; He Loves U Not by Dream; If You’re Gone by matchbox twenty; Stutter by Joe Featuring Mystikal; and The Way You Love Me by Faith Hill.