Tiomkin, Dimitri: Rawhide

Dimitri Tiomkin's iconic western theme from the TV series of the same name (1959-62) evokes the energy and excitement of a 19th-century cattle drive.Originally sung by Frankie Laine, the lyrics (by longtime Tiomkin collaborator Ned Washington) describe riding the range in the Wild West, with picturesque references to dogies (motherless calves) and vittles (the folk spellingfor victual or prepared food). The song remains among the most recognized of western themes, recorded by such diverse artists as Johnny Cash, The Jackson 5, Oingo Boingo, and Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi in The Blues Brothers.