Pickin' the Cattleman's Trekkin' the Gila Bob Napier & Mickey Cochran
	Historic Songs of El Paso and People who settled the West Ron King & Mickey Cochran

Welcome to our original acoustic FOTW music page!

Due to the many video samplers posted, (see our video sampler page) we've had many requests for more material, or original recordings, written and played by Mickey Cochran. First, we'd like to thank everyone for their positive response and support of our website video samplers (and the complimentary requests for CDs and other original music). Mickey has recorded 3 CDs worth of material...in the past...so we've compiled a selected sampling of these recordings into the following demo page. If interested in ordering any of these CDs, please let us know...He's going back in the studio to produce and record further works centering on the "Folk of the Wood" philosophy: 100% all natural wood-wise music. All of the following files are in high quality, complete MP3 format with varying sizes at varying estimated download times. Their duration has not been edited. These are the entire songs as they were originally recorded. Enjoy. And, please stay tuned for quite a few more songs to be listed over the next few weeks.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING! After downloading these MP3 format files, be aware, you may need the latest MP3 player to listen to them. Free MP3 players may be obtained from the internet. Visit www.mp3.com for your free MP3 player. All of these recordings, linked on this page, are registered and protected under copyright law. ©2000-2009 Folk of the Wood - Mickey Cochran - Ron King - Bob Napier

Album Title: "Trekkin' the Gila"

			This instrumental recording project was created and produced by Mickey Cochran and Bob Napier... Bob Napier: Fiddle • Acoustic Guitar Mickey Cochran: Banjo • Mandolin • Acoustic Guitar This was an all instrumental endeavor with the objective to capture the essence of the Gila Wilderness and the Mountains of New Mexico within an all acoustic medium. There are 10 tracks in total....7 of the tunes are original...and 3 are traditional.
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MP3 File Digital Track 1:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Trekkin' the Gila	by: Mickey Cochran and Bob Napier	A journey into the Gila mountains near Silver City New Mexico. Listen for the tasteful use of "Keith" D-Tuners. Primarily a banjo instrumental with superb guitar and fiddle breaks. To learn more about Keith D-Tuners, click here.	2.5MB
Track 2:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Hate To See Ya Go	by: Mickey Cochran	A lyrical banjo instrumental...this tune was repeatedly aired on an Atlanta rock station as I was told by a friend who lived in Georgia.	3MB
Track 3:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Hummingbird Train	by: Mickey Cochran	A fast-moving fingerstyle guitar piece...you can hear the Hot Tuna/Jorma Kaukonen influence. This tune is in Drop-D tuning which essentially carries the "hummingbird" drone. Many have wanted me to write tab out on this tune...therefore, stay tuned...I will post it on the FOTW website.	2.3MB
Track 4:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Whitewater	by: Mickey Cochran and Bob Napier	Here's a tune also written in honor of the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. Whitewater is the name of a river that runs through a canyon near Glenwood, New Mexico. This river truly flows with pre-history from the Mimbres to Geronimo.	1.9MB
Track 5:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Whiskey Before Breakfast	Traditional	Here's a timeless melody...A fiddle/mandolin duet. Accolades to Bob Napier for some truly superb fiddle harmony! I learned this melody through the aural tradition from a fiddler up in Angel's Camp, CA. Angel's Camp was the origination of "The Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain.	2.6MB
Track 6:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
El Condor Pasa	Traditional	A South American Classic with haunting overtones...this melody could easily be centuries old. (Author Unknown) Played as a solo mandolin piece. I play this one to my lama to make him feel at home.	2.6MB
Track 7:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Loch Lavan Castle	Traditional	A Celtic tune with medieval overtones. Mandolin solo in Am...some great fiddle improvisations by Bob Napier! I wonder if there's a "Loch Lavan Monster"?	2.4MB
Track 8:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Song for Janet	Mickey Cochran	A ragtime guitar piece written in the circle of fifths...as usual, great fiddle playing on Bob Napier's part. I used to play a lot of ragtime guitar, especially throughout my high school years. I was first intrigued by this style through one of Stefan Grossman's book: "Country Blues Guitar". After delving into ragtime guitar, I discovered many of the "American Primitive Guitar" exponents such as John Fahey and Leo Kottke.	2.5MB
Track 9:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Rockin' the Franklins	Bob Napier	Rock fiddle is not necessarily a new concept...although, Bob Napier infuses it with elegance and finesse. The Franklin mountains are bordered by El Paso, TX. Bob and I were raised scaling these mountains as kids...these mountains also still hold the secret of the "Lost Padre Mine".	2.1MB
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John Hardy	Traditional	Here's a classic bluegrass banjo tune played in both Scruggs and Melodic style. This particular tune was played on a Tennessee Flathead banjo originally made by Mark Taylor.	1.6MB

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Album Title "Historic Songs of El Paso"

			This is a recording project that was created and produced by Mickey Cochran and Ron King... Ron King: Lead Vocals • Acoustic Guitar Mickey Cochran: Banjo • Mandolin • Guitar • Dobro • Harmonica Return to Top of Page

MP3 File Digital Track 1:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
On the Butterfield Trail	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	A tribute to the first Overland Stage spanning the Southwest. It was a rough ride through a harsh wilderness. Notwithstanding, this stagecoach experience left an immense influence on the relentless growth of a settled west.	2.6MB
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The Golden Trail	by: Ron King	A lyrical ballad in honor of the indigenous cowboy who was the fabric of the Southwest.	2.7MB
Track 3:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Stoudenmire's Eulogy	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	Dallas Soudenmire was an early lawman of El Paso...he left an "indelible" mark with his poor markmanship.	3.7MB
Track 4:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Texas Ranger's Only Defeat	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	A historical recitation about the El Paso Salt Wars. Salt was the first form of "salary" in Roman times. Hence, the word "salary" itself is derived from the word "salt". Held in high value in the Southwest during the 1800s...so much so, that many lives were lost in pursuit of this "white gold dust".	3.3MB
Track 5:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Hardin's Lament	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	John Wesley Hardin...famed outlaw...alleged to killing even more than Billy the Kid. This particular song, exactly as recorded here, aired on the TV series "Saturday Night Live".	3.5MB
Track 6:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Paso Del Norte	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	Captures the flavor and spanish atmosphere of one of the earliest settlements in the US. "Paso del Norte" is spanish for "Pass of the North". El Paso was a natural conduit for early explorers and settlers...it's surrounded by mountains that delineate a pathway towards the North.	2.8MB
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Sierra De Cristo Rey	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	Written about the cross on Sierra de Cristo Rey...a true traveler's lighthouse.	4.1MB
Track 8:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Pastor Nelson's Crusade	by: Ron King	One of the first Christian medicine shows.	2.1MB
Track 9:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
My Grandma's Song	by: Ron King	Most all of us can relate to this one.	2.2MB
Track 10:	Written By:	Song Notes:	Size:
Elusive Spirit	by: Mickey Cochran and Ron King	Written about Pancho Villa...who was renown as leading the only foreign invasion into the Continental US...Columbus, New Mexico. Pancho Villa was a true enigma...as this song so clearly illustrates.	4.3MB

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Interview with Mickey Cochran

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