Search - Walter Brennan :: Old Shep

A Tear For Old Shep

R. Miller | Aurora, IL USA | 12/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a sucker for schmaltzy songs, and "Old Shep" fits the bill. I have also heard Elvis' version of this song, but no one, and I mean no one, can wring the emotions out of you with this song like Walter Brennan. If you're not in tears by the end of this song, you're not human.



This whole CD is a great throwback to the days of the family farm and family life, all with a strong religious foundation. Throw in some cowboy and prospector flavors, and you wind up with a great piece of Americana. These "songs" are not sung - they are essentially spoken stories set to music, sometimes with back-up singers thrown in. You couldn't find a more fitting voice for these songs than Walter Brennan's.



This CD will probably appeal most to people, like me, who knew of this music and Walter Brennan from our youth. I would suggest reviewing the song samples before ordering, as this style of music, along with its now-dated style of musical arrangement, is not for everyone. I, however, was pleased to find this available on CD and added it to my collection as soon as I discovered it."

The Best of Nostalgia

Graham Anderson | Lower Templestowe, Victoria Australia | 08/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well Walter Brennen should be in every home, it would have to come under the heading of naration, Listen to the message within they are funny, tear jerkers, so readily able to relate to. I remember when I first heard these they were on 78's, boy am I glad they reproduced these as it would be a shame not to give other generations the chance to hear such tracks.Just think they are the very best, and I know of a lot of people that love the opportunity to listen, it gives such enjoyment."

OLD SHEP ... A NEW LOOK ON LIFE

mike serena | STONE MOUNTAIN, GA | 07/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the CD's I've ever listened to, "Old Shep" by Walter Brennan is certainly one of them. I think that "Six Feet Away", the heart warming story of the outlaw who holed up and they had to shoot him even though they didn't want to was my favorite. It ranks right up there with "El Paso" by Marty Robbins in the pantheon of outlaw songs where the outlaw got shot at the end of the song. It doesn't have the je ne sais quoi of "Pancho & Lefty" by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson but it's close.The title song in which the narrator couldn't shoot his dog even though the dog was old and feeble is a classic. It reminded me of Argo, Odysseus's dog who pined for his masters return for almost twenty years and then when Odysseus finally did return, Argo smelled him and died. Odysseus may not go down in the annals of great dog owners but "Old Shep" will live forever alongside that other dog classic, "Dad Gave My Dog Away".It was a stroke of pure genius to close the album with "Suppertime". The fond reminiscence of his mother calling him to the dinner table and it's juxtaposition with his belief that the almighty is soon to call him home was inspiring, to say the least.When some people thing of the "concept album" they thing of "Tommy" by The Who. It seems ironic that I first heard this concept album on the very same day that John Entwistle, bass player for The Who died."