Album Notes

Take a third generation ranch family, a livestock barn built in 1920 that has a large saddle room and some good original tunes and what do you get?

Prairie Melody, by The Calhouns.

Authentic music from rural America, so authentic that while the tack room was being used as a studio, spring calving was underway and every other part of the barn was in use housing cow calf pairs and horses!

The Calhouns recorded this album in 1994 and released it as "Prairie Melody" by The Calhoun Family.
The recordings are clean, nothing digital was used, so a little analog warmth and tape hiss can be expected.

The Family, Jim who is the father on guitar and vocals, Chris, who is the mother on Bass guitar and vocals,
Diana their daughter who was 14 years old at the time this recording was made, on keyboard and vocals and her 12 year old brother on the drums, and vocals on "Fishing With Grandpa".

The Calhoun Family toured all over the USA performing at county fairs and festivals all through the 1990's.

Jim and Chris still tour extensively, we invite you to check out our web site.

The songs are from the heart, some comical like the hilarious "You Bet Your Beef". This song was not chosen as a song sample as it is a story as well as a fun joking type song, so why tell the joke and not the punch line?

Another song that a sample would not do justice is the song "Jack". A true story of a great horse that lived in the late 1890's through the early 1900's. Sure to bring a tear to your eye.

The album starts out with "Grandpas Hat" which is a true story written in song and is for anyone who had a special grand father. Slow, thoughtful song.

The next song, also a true story, is called "Thunderbolt", which was just an old ranch horse, but he was my special friend, it is a tribute to him and our time together. Nice fast pace, upbeat song.

The third song is "Nebraska Summertime" that is a laid back song, but is a small look into a typical Nebr. ranch families observations of the summer season.

"You Bet Your Beef" is a comedy song about a rough and tumble ranch hand that finds that he hired on to an ostrich ranch!

"This Old Guitar" was written about my old guitar that recorded most of the song on the album. It is the most "country" song on the album.

"Jack" in a great story song.

"One Thing To Say" is a love song, very simple, very pretty.

"Sandhills Of Nebraska" is a tribute to the fresh and clean sandhills region, and how it's beauty awakens every year after the last snow melts each your.

9: "Prairie Melody" is the most traditional western song on this album, good slow tempo song.

10: "Fishin' With Grandpa" is a good song bringing back memories of lazy days of being with grandpa going fishing!

11: "In The Land of the Navajo" Originally, this song and #12 were released in New Mexico and Arizona and got some airplay. This song is a tribute to the Navajo tribe and how they are growing in numbers and in opportunity. Could be considered country rock in style.

12: "Drivin' Down the Hi-Line" is a fun little song about taking your old car out to test a few speed laws. Western Swing, fun untempo song.

Thanks for checking us out!