Big Iron

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For other uses, see Big Iron (disambiguation).

"Big Iron" is a country ballad by Marty Robbins, originally released as an album track on Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs in September 1959, then as a single in February 1960. It tells the story of an unnamed Arizona Ranger's gunfight duel with an outlaw named Texas Red (modeled on Billy the Kid) in the town of Agua Fria, New Mexico. The town predicts the death of the ranger, but he kills Texas Red with the quickness of the "big iron" on his hip. Breaking the tradition of Western showdowns taking place at high noon, the gunfight begins at 11:20.

[edit] In albums

Gunfighter Ballads And Trail Songs (September 1959), a compilation, CL 1349 - mono, CS 8158 - stereo, PC 8158
More Greatest Hits (April 1961), CL 1635 - mono, CS 8435 - stereo, PC 8435
Bend In The River (1968), D 445 - mono (Columbia Musical Treasuries), DS 445 - stereo
The Heart of Marty Robbins (1969), STS 2016 (Columbia Star Series)
All Time Greatest Hits (August 1972), CG 31361, KG 31361, C 31361
Marty! (1972 - 5 record set), P5S 5812 (Columbia Musical Treasury)
Streets Of Laredo, KH 32286 (Harmony, August 1973), LE 10576 (Columbia, December 1973)
Marty Robbins' Own Favorites (1974), P 12416 (Columbia Special Products)
Marty Robbins Gold (1975), NU 9060 (K-Tel)
Kingfish (1976)
All Around Cowboy (1980) P 15594
- No. 1 Cowboy (1980), P 15594 (re-release of "All Around Cowboy")
Marty Robbins (1981), GS 4003 (History of Country Music, Sunrise Media)
A Lifetime Of Song 1951 - 1982 (August 1983), C2 38870
Memories In Song (1983 - 2 record set), P2 19162 (Columbia Special Product)
The Best Of Marty Robbins (1984), RB4-214-1
The Essential MARTY ROBBINS:1951-1982 (1991), Sony Music Entertainment Inc C2T 48537 CT48538 CT 48539
MARTY ROBBINS Lost and found (1994), Sony Music Entertainment Inc CT 57695
MARTY ROBBINS Memories In Song (1994), Sony Music Special Products Compact Disc A 19163
MARTY ROBBINS LIVE Concert Versions Of His Greatest Hits (1995),Pickwick Group Ltd London England 300382
Under Western Skies (Oct 1995), Bear Family Records, West Germany 4 CD Bos Set BCD 15646
MARTY ROBBINS Legendary Country Singers (1995), Sony Music Special Products R989-06 PT-25142
Story Of My Life: Best of MARTY ROBBINS (Mar 1996), Sony Music Entertainment Inc Sony CK 64763
Under the Influences (1999) by Mike Ness
Big Iron (2001) by Carol Noonan
Unearthed (2003) by Johnny Cash