Please find below the Dropbox link to download and private Soundcloud link to stream, Ghosts of the Old West, the first album collaboration between Ithaca, NY folk singer-songwriter George Mann and veteran Australian folksinger Mick Coates, which is scheduled for release on February 13 2026 on Running Scared Productions.
There were more than 20 people camped out at Mick Coates’ house during the Maldon Folk Festival, George Mann among them, and each night would end around Mick’s kitchen table, slowly growing more crowded as folk dribbled in from town. Some went to bed, while others settled in for a late-night session. At some point late in one of those evenings, Mick and George got to talking about recording, and the idea of this album began to take shape.
“I thought the contrast of our voices, alternating lead vocals on the songs, would be an interesting blend, and we both love the kind of story-songs that we feature on this album,” George said. When the title Ghosts of the Old West came to him, George suggested to Mick that they each write a song with that title, though for clarity, Mick’s song is called ‘The Ghosts of the Old West’.
They began talking about and planning for the album, and Mick had friends he wanted to visit in the United States. A plan was conceived, and over 4 days at Will Russell’s lovely and loving Electric Wilburland studios, most of the album was recorded. “This was a more than worthwhile and unexpected experience for an old cowboy singer riding the twilight trail”, Mick said. “I loved the idea and am glad that we were able to see it through”.
While sonically the album has a strong country/western feel to it, there are also acoustic cuts and some fine singing and musicianship throughout, with hints of both the old West of the US and the ghosts of Australia’s past.
Socials
George Mann (US) is a songwriter’s singer who would just as soon share stories and songs from the long history of folk music as sing his own songs! He has produced albums featuring such folk music legends as Utah Phillips, Pete Seeger and Tom Paxton, and produced national tours of the US and Australia in honour of The Almanac Singers (2013) and Joe Hill (2015). George released his CD This Chain in October 2023, and in September 2024 he released a CD of Si Kahn’s songs, Labor Day, to honour Si on his 80th birthday.
Mick Coates (Australia) settled in the quaint old goldmining town of Maldon back in late 2000 just before he reached the ripe old age of 50. Already a regular folk festival fan it wasn’t long before he tapped into the rich vein of local Central Victorian musicians, bought a cheap guitar, a capo, and, armed with 3 chords, started annoying anyone who was polite enough to listen! Things progressed and his bass/baritone voice saw him out front with a couple of fine bands belting out close-to-the-bone Johnny Cash covers, old folk and cowboy songs at festivals stretching from the remote Northern Territory to all over SE Australia. His proudest achievement is the self-titled 2022 album Mick Coates & the Shallow Gravediggers, featuring 14 uniquely Australian songs mostly penned by Mick, his fellow band members and friends.
GHOSTS OF THE OLD WEST - TRACK-BY-TRACK SONG NOTES
- For the West
This song sets the scene for the album, with the full band and some great interplay between Tim Ball on violin and Rich DePaolo on electric guitars. A song of leaving home, inspired by the death of a friend’s mother at an early age. Words and music © 2025 George Mann
- That Sweet Plaintalkin’ Country Girl
The first song Mick wrote, about 20 years ago. Sad love songs seemed to be a constant in a lot of the stuff he was listening to at the time. A tried-and-true formula but upbeat, not a pitiful dirge this one! It’s been revamped and getting another airing to a wider audience this time around. Written by Michael Coates
- Ghosts of the Old West
George wrote this song at Beluthahatchee, the artist’s retreat near Jacksonville, Florida where Woody Guthrie once hung out with author Stetson Kennedy. While Ghosts of the Old West is not a concept album, the story behind this song came to George as he was beginning to plan the album, and the magic of Beluthahatchee, which has yielded a half-dozen songs during George’s recent visits, brought it to life. It features fine fiddling from Tim Ball, and Alice Saltonstall and Rich DePaolo on harmonies. Words and music © 2025 George Mann
- In Irons from Limerick City
The first 60 odd years of Australia’s colonization involved the usual English cruelty. Poverty-stricken petty criminals were transported en masse for a minimum of seven years, firstly to ease overcrowding in the British penal system and secondly as cheap labour for the ill-gotten wealth of the land-stealing squattocracy! A DNA test a few years ago unlocked Mick’s paternal family tree, and to his delight, he found two convicts in his lineage from the early 1820s. Written by Michael Coates, Thomas & Cathey Ryan
- They Call Her Dolly Parton
Yes, the woman in the song exists, and is still alive as this
album goes to press. George sings for dozens of nursing and veterans’ homes in upstate New York and on the road, and occasionally finds songs among the many fascinating, and often forgotten, people living out their lives in these facilities. A quiet song with lovely piano by Molly MacMillan. Words and music © 2025 George Mann
- The Ghosts of the Old West
The original inspiration for this album was George’s idea
that both he and Mick write a song each of the same name. This sure suited Mick, as he’s been performing classic western songs for over 20 years. Over the last 15 years he’s scoured the southwest of the USA visiting many of the famed landmarks of legendary outlaws. Having a marguerita or two in Rosa’s Cantina while Marty sang “El Paso” on the jukebox took care of half the song. Climbing the stairs at the Lincoln County jail where Billy the Kid made good his escape after disposing of two deputies inspired the rest!
Written by Michael Coates and Kenneth Barber
- The Reverend Mr. Black
The classic story of a man standing up to a bully, and a chance for a group chorus singalong! George first heard The Kingston Trio sing this as a toddler, and it’s always been one of his favourite Kingston Trio songs. Written by Mike Stoller, Billy Edd Wheeler, and Jerry Leiber
- Ira Hayes
George first met Mick at the Maldon Folk Festival, where Mick was doing a set of Johnny Cash tunes on the festival’s closing night. That deep baritone, delivered with an Aussie accent, got George’s mind thinking, and when they began talking about making this album, this song was an obvious choice. Not one of Johnny Cash’s better known songs, but one of his most important.
Written by Peter La Farge
- Anymore
Harry Stamper was a union longshore worker and musician in Oregon who also wrote and recorded many great union and worker songs, including “We Just Come to Work Here, We Don’t Come to Die.” This song, though written almost 40 years ago, speaks volumes in today’s political climate. All acoustic guitars, with George and the beautiful harmonies of SingTrece! Written by Harry Stamper
- The Lonesome Plains
A good friend of Mick’s, fellow Victoria-based singer/ songwriter Charlotte Le Lievre, wrote this one “specifically for Mick’s dulcet tones.” They have spent many hours together with guitars, beers and whiskey around campfires in the remote deserts of western New South Wales. Told from the perspective of an old cowboy reflecting upon his life of endless droving and his desire to return to the open plains and his final resting place. A common theme found in many songs of the old west! Written by Charlotte Buckton
- ’Til the Cows and ’Roos Come Home
While both George and Mick are grounded in folk music,
when you have access to such fine musicians, why not use them? George was still working on this song as they went in to record the basic tracks, and the words took some time. This often happens when, as in this case, the singalong chorus arrives in one piece… and yes, whiskey was involved. Michael Wellen on drums and Doug Robinson on bass, with Molly MacMillan on grand piano and Rich DePaolo on guitars, all shine on this closer - with a creeping, sinister feeling to it, but in the end, all will be fine. Words and music © 2025 George Mann
For further information: Geraint or Deb Jones at G Promo PR • Email: gpromo@btinternet.com • Web: www.gpromopr.com
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