In March, 2005, after more than ten years of traveling throughout the country providing conservation messages, the Fiddlin’ Foresters finally recorded their first CD as part of the Forest Service Centennial celebration. In the Long Run, released in June 2005, features 18 of the songs and tunes used in their programs.

Track List - click on title to see lyrics and hear song
Cripple Creek
Song Of Wyoming
Saint Anne’s Reel/Mississippi Sawyer/Julie Ann Johnson
Vacant Chair
Smokey the Bear
Fire on the Mountain
Cold Missouri Waters
I’ll Fly Away
Eight More Miles to Louisville
New River Train
Colorado Trail
Cabbage Head
Ragtime Annie
Night Riders Lament
You Ain’t Talkin’ To Me
Ghosts of Yesterday
I’m Ready to Go
In the Long Run

In the Long Run was produced by Bendiksen Productions, Denver, Colorado. Lance Bendiksen, who composed and produced the music for the two-hour documentary The Greatest Good, put the amateur musicians through hard rehearsals and days of 10-12 hour recording sessions at Colorado Sound. Bendiksen also wrote the title song, “In the Long Run.”

Modern recording techniques use a computer based ProTools program to capture isolated vocals and instrumentals from separate sound rooms. After all the parts were recorded they were combined, mixed and mastered to make a great sounding recording that captured the unique old time sound of the Fiddlin’ Foresters.

The 24-page educational booklet that accompanies In the Long Run was written by Frank Beum, Forest Service public affairs specialist from the Southern Region, and members of the Fiddlin’ Foresters. It provides conservation messages, Forest Service Centennial history, and lessons for the future. Rocky Mountain Region graphic artist Judy Dersch provided outstanding graphics and layout for the project.

The Rocky Mountain Nature Association is printing, marketing and distributing In the Long Run through their sales outlets and on their web site.