The Ballad of Paladin

"The Ballad of Paladin" is a song written by Johnny Western, Richard Boone, and Sam Rolfe and performed by Duane Eddy. The song reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 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] Eddy's flip side was the theme to The Wild Westerners.

"The Ballad of Paladin"
Single by Duane Eddy
B-side	"The Wild Westerners"
Released	June 1962
Genre	Rockabilly
Length	1:56
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(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 song was produced by Lee Hazlewood and arranged by Bob Thompson.^[3] Drummer Earl Palmer played on the session.^[4] Duane Eddy was good friends with the show's star Richard Boone and appeared with him in a couple of the episodes. He also appeared with him in the 1962 motion picture The Wild Westerners

The song was also used heavily in the film Stand by Me.^[5]

Charts

Chart (1962)	Peak position
Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[6]	9
Ireland (IRMA)[7]	8
UK Singles (OCC)[8]	10
US Billboard Hot 100[9]	33
US Cash Box Top 100[10]	48

Other versions

• Johnny Western recorded the original version in 1958 that was the regular theme to the television show Have Gun – Will Travel from the second season on--it was used at least four times in season 1, including episodes 33 & 34. His co-writers were the show's star and creator. Years later, he recorded a parody, "The Ballad of Palindrome", with the western swing and comedy group Riders in the Sky.
• Al Caiola released a version as part of an EP in 1962.^[11]
• Faron Young released a version as part of an EP in 1963.^[12]

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 19 October 2010.
3. Duane Eddy, "The Ballad of Paladin" single release Retrieved April 28, 2014
4. Scherman, Tony, Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story, foreword by Wynton Marsalis, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., 1999 p. 176
5. "The Ballad of Paladin" Retrieved August 30, 2023
6. "CHUM Hit Parade, week of September 3, 1962".
7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Ballad of Paladin". Irish Singles Chart.
8. "Duane Eddy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
9. "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. August 25, 1962.
10. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 25, 1962".
11. Al Caiola, "The Ballad of Paladin" EP release Retrieved April 28, 2014
12. Faron Young, "The Ballad of Paladin" EP release Retrieved April 28, 2014