[KHester]

And Melissa, funny you mention Wildfire. I have always loved that song. Saw Michael Martin Murphy live a few years ago (he was on a show with Steve & Cindy, or I wouldn't have seen him). Turned out he is a great performer (except for his gratuitous remarks about not worrying about skin cancer). He did a great rendition of Marty Robbins' El Paso, another song I have always loved. He didn't do Pony Man, but he has recorded it, and he also recorded Tennessee Stud. So he's definitely a good guy in my book. He has a "America's Horses" CD which I have displayed somewhere near the top of my Lightfoot site home page. I listen to it often when I travel, and need a change from Lightfoot or Gillette.[/QUOTE]

There has been some problems with the rights to Wildfire. According to Mary Arnold Miller the widow of Roger Miller, and former singer with Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. Michael Martin Martin sold publishing rights to Wildfire to Roger Miller. Roger then found out that the rights also had been sold to other people. both before and after Roger bought them. It seemed that at one time whenever Murphy would need some money he would sell the rights to Wildfire. This was told at a First Edition reunion in Oct 2011

Michael Martin Murphy and Larry Cansler wrote a much overlooked gem
If you want to hear a real neglected masterpiece check out the Ballad of Calico by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition. It's a theme album that takes place in a 1880's silver mining town.
most of the songs are based on actual events.