In case you’re not acquainted with the songs mentioned in my book, lewis sinclair and the gentlemen cowboys, here’s a playlist of where you can watch (and listen to) videos of them.

(Ghost) Riders in the Sky

“The Ghost Riders Mystery” was my working title for Lewis Sinclair and the Gentlemen Cowboys. Stan Jones wrote the song. Here he is singing it with The Death Valley Rangers.

And here’s Johnny Cash! Now, the audio doesn’t synch with the sound just right, but Johnny’s wearing black fringe and the guitar playing is dangerous! (So give it a listen.)

Good Year for the Roses

Jerry Chesnut wrote this song. If you click here you can watch him perform it.

George Jones’s version is the first recorded and perhaps the best known. Click here for his version.

The first time I heard it was on Elvis Costello’s Almost Blue album. I didn’t think anyone had heard this album except me, but it turns out his Good Year for the Roses went to number six on the UK charts.

This song has stuck in my brain (and my heart) for decades. So it’s fun for me to listen to Jerry Chesnut tell about writing it. I hope it’s fun for you too.

Move It On Over

Hank Williams wrote and performs this rollicking song about marital discord.

‘Round Midnight

When a certain character is being interrogated, they’re reminded to think of Thelonious Monk turning in circles as this song is performed by his band. He doesn’t do so here, but it’s a fine clip with many jazz greats joining in.

The Dreadful Wind and Rain (The Twa Sisters)

There are a bunch of versions of this old folk tune. This one, sung by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings is stunning. These two voices together . . . Beautiful.

And here are two comely young ’uns called Street Musicians performing the song on a log. They do a very nice interpretation.

I include this one despite its lower quality because Viva Seifert does a nice job of it and the lyrics are subtitled. (Although you may be happier if you don’t know the lyrics.) 

I’ll Fly Away

Charla sings this lovely old hymn in Lewis Sinclair and the Gentlemen Cowboys. Gillian Welch and Alison Krauss perform it on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. That movie’s soundtrack was so popular that the artists involved got together for the Down From the Mountain concert tour. I was in the audience when the tour came to where I lived. It occurred to me while I enjoyed the glorious harmonies filling the venue that I’d never read a country music-based mystery. And I decided to write one. So it’s a happy full circle to include a song from that tour and soundtrack in Lewis Sinclair.