CHUCK PYLE: Camel Rock

Chuck Pyle

Camel Rock

© 1995 Chuck Pyle (709557102426)

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The Zen Cowboy recorded live accompanied by the spirited fiddle of Gordon Burt.

tracks

1 Drifter's Wind
2 Ruby
3 Larimer Street
4 Camel Rock
5 Colorado
6 Highway Highway
7 Keep It Simple
8 The Entertainer Rag
9 Night Horse
10 Tuscon Cactus Queen
11 Camile
12 Hey Hey Mama
13 Jaded Lover

notes

TO SOME, singer/songwriter Chuck Pyle is a walking contradiction. One reviewer labeled him "the Zen Cowboy" for his delightful but seemingly at-odds mix of upbeat New Age humor and straight-from-the-saddle poetry. Deciding to, as he says, "ride the horse in the direction it's going," Chuck has taken the nickname to heart, shaving his head and blending Zen truisms with horse sense.

His music mixes western themes, folk, rock, cowboy poetry and new age humor into his own unique "Southwestern Acoustic" sound. The songs are at once complex and enchantingly funny. He compresses a story to its very essence, quoting bumper stickers, proverbs, world leaders and old cowboys then mixing in his own philosophical blend of Cowboy Zen.

An accomplished songwriter, Chuck's songs have been recorded by a number of popular artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker, John Denver, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Suzy Bogguss, Tish Hinojosa and Chris LeDoux. The song "Colorado" became the theme song for the PBS series, Spirit of Colorado, which is beamed world-wide by satellite. In 1980, Chuck wrote "The Other Side of the Hill" which has been recorded by over 20 different artists including Chris LeDoux who renamed the song "Cadillac Cowboy" and took it to the top of the country charts in 1991.

But along with being a lauded songwriter, Chuck Pyle is a well-known performer in his own right. He has developed his own powerful and unique finger picking style which he calls "Rocky Mountain Slam Picking," which simultaneously emulates rhythm guitar strums and lead guitar lines making him sound like an entire band. He has taught guitar seminars at such prestigious events as the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and the Swannanoa Gathering.

Pyle, a native of Newton, Iowa, has lived on Colorado's front-range for over 30 years and has spent most of that time traveling the country playing theaters, festivals, colleges and coffeehouses. He has five albums to his credit, and is currently in the studio working on his sixth.

reviews

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  • Chuck's music immerses us into the vibrant world of the Southwest
    author: Nature's Wisdom

    Chuck's music "sings" the listener through that "dark night of the soul" that all of us experience at times - and emerges us into the vibrant world of the Southwest! Here, kneeling Camel Rock (like Night Horse) guides us by evening star-shine along rocky paths (Highway, Highway) and through desert sands (Show[ing] Us The Way) - to a glorious dawn-glow rising in New Mexico - with good news for more than all time... (Camel, Kneel Softly - Davenport & Schram)

  • Camel Rock
    author: Jean Ann Mercer

    And... my Chuck Pyle Collection grows! Yay! I love this album- having been away from Colorado now for years- I guess I've been in New Mexico long enough to know its my home. How Chucks songs mirror a true path!

  • Soulful delivery of some really well-written songs
    author: Doug Fesler

    The songs are at once entertaining, challenging, spiritual, and the delivery is fantastic. Chuck's guitar groove had me mesmerized, and then Gordon's fiddle kicked in and transported me elsewhere. Made me want to see Chuck Pyle live again.

  • author: CD Baby

    The Zen Cowboy recorded live accompanied by the spirited fiddle of Gordon Burt.

  • Great Music, Fun CD
    author: James Wartinger

    This live recorded CD is great music and also fun to listen to. Colorado is my all time favorite Chuck Pyle tune. His version of Keep It Simple is very funny. You gotta like Sedona Ramona (cactus queen). I highly recommend this CD.

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