The writer said Burl Ives was the first to record, but it may have been Vaughn Monroe in 1949.
Other popular recordings were by Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins
Sons of the Pioneers version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMqKv7BOg_s
My father had the 78 of Vaughn Monroe.
Burl Ives’ and Vaughn Monroe’s versions charted about the same time—late spring of ‘49—but Vaughn had the bigger hit.
Exactly right. #1 on the Hit Parade by VAUGHN MONROE the year I was born. It’s always been a favorite of mine.
This was an incredible post. I loved it and appreciated it more than u will ever imagine. I’m a huge fan of ballads. I grew up with a dad who loved the Vaughn Monroe version of Ghost Riders in the Sky. I like it better than any other. When we were stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, my teen daughter was friends with the granddaughter of Vaughn Monroe. Her mother had his gold records mounted on a wall in their quarters.
My dad’s other favorite was a song called Cool Water……followed closely by The Hanging Tree. My own children grew up hearing that music.
Thank you for the post. Happy New Year.
Sons of the Pioneers did this song also. The first time I heard it was from them when I was a kid. My dad had the record.