The Ballad of Paladin

"The Ballad of Paladin"
Single by Duane Eddy
B-side	"The Wild Westerners"
Released	June 1962
Genre	Rockabilly
Length	1:56
Label	RCA Records 8047
Writer(s)	Johnny Western, Richard Boone, Sam Rolfe
Producer(s)	Lee Hazlewood
Duane Eddy singles chronology
"Runaway Pony" (1962) "The Ballad of Paladin" (1962) "(Dance With The) Guitar Man" (1962)

"The Ballad of Paladin" is a song written by Johnny Western, Richard Boone, and Sam Rolfe and performed by Duane Eddy. The song reached #10 on the UK Singles Chart and #33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.^[1] Members of the Western Writers of America chose it as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.^[2]

The song was produced by Lee Hazlewood and arranged by Bob Thompson.^[3] Drummer Earl Palmer played on the session.^[4]

Other versions

• Johnny Western recorded a version that was the theme to the television show Have Gun – Will Travel.
• Al Caiola released a version as part of an EP in 1962.^[5]
• Faron Young released a version as part of an EP in 1963.^[6]

References

1. Duane Eddy, "The Ballad of Paladin" Chart Positions Retrieved April 28, 2014
2. Western Writers of America (2010). "The Top 100 Western Songs". American Cowboy. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014.
3. Duane Eddy, "The Ballad of Paladin" single release Retrieved April 28, 2014
4. Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, forward by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 176
5. Al Caiola, "The Ballad of Paladin" EP release Retrieved April 28, 2014
6. Faron Young, "The Ballad of Paladin" EP release Retrieved April 28, 2014