Frankie Laine - The Hanging Tree

[labyrinthineify]

wicked song

[grannydyess]

this man was great but i prefer marty robbins version. there was no better singer than marty but laine vaughn monroe johnny western run right behind him

[zilkinson1]

as a young boy .the only record of my fathers i was intrested in. was the one with the cowboy on the front and i carnt beleive i have found the best track on you tube

[markalson1938]

@zilkinson1 I think this Jazz Singer from Chicago made a lot of new fans with the Album "Hell Bent For Leather"

It also proved that you didn't have to be born in the South or th West to be able to sing "Country And Western".

[BetterGettaLawyerSon]

@zilkinson1 me exactly the same. that cowboyoutfit did it. loved this track the best too, a happy song about hanging: FTW

[zilkinson1]

as a young boy .the only record of my fathers i was intrested in. was the one with the cowboy on the front and i carnt beleive i have found the best track on tou tube

[MikeWhiskyTango]

There are lots of people who can sing in the world, but can they convey the 'atmosphere' of the story behind the lyrics? NO, not like Frankie.

[markalson1938]

@MikeWhiskyTango Yes, Frankie was one of a kind and always was. That is the reason it took him so long to make it to the top. He couldn't make it with the Big Bands of the 30;s & 40's as he didn't blend in to their way of playing music, he wasn't a Crooner and sang with to much passion. It took him 17 years of struggle and was in his mid thirties when he rose to the top.

[pristinebob]

todays singers cant put so emotion in to the songs its all beat box not real talent

[oliveoyl64]

marty robbins beat this version all over with a stick from well....the hanging tree. sorry, my poor excuse of a bad joke.

seriously, FL did a fine job, but i agree, it sounds too happy.

[grannydyess]

marty robbins is my favorite singer of all time. frankie laine was also very talented. love them both and both versions also.

[GrampappyJoe]

I've only heard marty robbins' version before. This version seems good but really lighthearted. I feel like robbins' is more emotional, as though he'd actually experienced it and had to let it all out.

[acla9000]

I love this song, and Frankie's voice was really awesome; but the arrangement gave it a somewhat 'happy' touch, not very suitable for such a song in my opinion. But it was worth knowing this version, so thanks for posting!

[markalson1938]

@acla9000 Your right, the arrangment for this recording was to up tempo. It didn't fit

the song. I remember seeing Frankie sing this song on The Oscars back in 1960 and he did it slower with more drama than this recording which was much better.

[4dandino]

I have never found any body like these old timer performers. This song and other songs of these 1950 performers and movie producers that produce this kind of master peices of the 20 century will never be found again.

The new generation performers, actors, and singers will never produce great work like Frankie Lane. Today''s movies, and singers, and actors, cannot make any music or movies without adding vulgarity, and when they produce music--lookout I cannot even understand the words.

[markalson1938]

@4dandino I could not have said it better. I think there must be singers with talent out there but they just don;t know how to use it

[Baskerville22]

Marty Robbins is my favourite C & W singer.. He has a truly unique voice, but this is Frankie laine's song.

[cf1934]

@Baskerville22 Frankie Laine is my favorite singer, but this is Marty Robbins' song!

[IronicallyVague]

So sad...

The father of the 5 year old Navaho boy who lives next door was shot 7 times a few days ago...

Kid don't know yet

:-(

There's always more gold, ain't worth a bullet or a rope

[mammie64]

Love these western theme music and to a much better time in all our lifes, thanks so much for posting!

[KIWI897]

Marty's was better!  This version is butchered. Marty's was dramatic and amazing!

[LynInOrlando]

@KIWI897 Two different singers, both great in their own ways - with two different styles. Both versions are excellent.

[zaaritha]

This version is as good as Marty Robbins`!

[duffymfx]

It's interesting that theme songs like this that accompanied the classics kind of told the whole story. I remember as a kid (in the 1950's and 60's) when I was in one room doing my homework and the folks were in the other room watching TV, I could almost tell what was happening just by the background music. Stealthy music when the bad guys are sneaking around, triumphant music when good is prevailing over evil. Soundtracks and back ground music just don't do that anymore. Mike in So Cal.

[zaaritha]

Good version!

[grannydyess]

i like both mr version and fl version, but if i had to choose, marty robbins would win hands down. no disrespect meant to anyone.

[wowjef]

With all due respect, Marty Robbins version doesn't hold a candle to Frankie Lane. Sorry. FL is the king of cowboy songs.

[haatari]

sorry dude, but you're an asholl...

[haatari]

ok than, my opinion is that you are an assholl... how about that!? frankie is a good singer(no doubt), but he's certainly not the king of cowboy songs!

[VealParmigiana]

He does not smoke; he is not an asholl

[naflodi]

I saw this movie as a kid and never forgot this song. To me it represents the innocence of youth and when I hear it, it brings me back there.

[highnrising]

I'm a huge Laine fan, but this song always seemed like "filler" on the "Hellbent for Leather" album--It just breezed by and made no impression.

When I later heard Marty Robbins version, I finally "got" the song. Marty sang it like he lived it.

[eldorado62]

Darn, Frankie....I wish I could sing like you!

[markalson1938]

I wish I could sing period. I can't sing at all, but I do know a great voice when I hear it.

[g1h2nedlaw]

We used to sing this with our band in a pub every Sunday night. Of all the songs this was the one they wanted to hear!

[eldorado62]

What a fantastic voice this man had. He was made for this stuff. Those were the days when a singer could carry a tune in a bucket!

[markalson1938]

Yes, well were are all those buckets today. I haven't heard anyone who deliver a song that you can believe in over 30 years.

[markalson1938]

Did anyone say it was better, some just said they liked this version better. That's called having a choice. What you like is not always what most think is the best. What a dull world this would be if every one thought the same. I put this on YouTube because a lot never heard it before. If only the "BEST" was submitted it would be a very small site.

[Rikki0]

markalson, I'm not really sure there really is "best" for any song. There are "preferances". Some people prefer Marty's version and some prefer Frankie's version. I am among the former, but that doesn't mean this isn't a great version as well. And like you said, it would be a dull world if we all thought the same. The "best" version is simply the one that an individual prefers.

[Rikki0]

Sorry, my reply really should have been to gatesofpearl.

[markalson1938]

You are so right

[Teripie]

"Hell Bent for Leather" was one of my favorite albums for years. I lost it somewhere long, long ago. It's good to hear some of it again.

Thanks!

[Coffee4011]

Yes, I do like Marty Robbins. And, as you say, his version was good.

[Coffee4011]

Thanks again.  I'll take this version over Marty Robbins, any day.

[markalson1938]

I will too, But Marty's version was good too.

[highnrising]

I don't think Laine matched--or beat--Marty Robbins' original with this song. He just zips through it and doesn't seem to by buying the lyric.

But Marty later gave Laine "You Gave Me A Mountain" and Frankie ripped that one out of the park!