Cowboy music has long been front and center in Tom Russell’s repertoire, from his first album right up to The Rose of Roscrae, his recent masterpiece, which incorporates such Old West evergreens as “The Streets of Laredo.” This 2010 release collects 17 of Russell’s self-penned cowboy numbers, including “Navajo Rug” and “Gallo del Cielo,” both duets with Canada’s great Ian Tyson; “The Sky Above, the Mud Below”; and “Zane Grey.” Russell’s albums are virtually all essential in my view, so I’d suggest skipping this compilation and opting instead for the original discs from which its tracks were culled. But if you’re looking for a one-CD introduction, this is as good a place to start as any.