| The Ballad of Paladin | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Duane Eddy |
| B-Side: | The Wild Westerners |
| Released: | June 1962 |
| Genre: | Rockabilly |
| Label: | RCA Victor |
| Producer: | Lee Hazlewood |
| Prev Title: | Runaway Pony |
| Prev Year: | 1962 |
| Next Title: | (Dance with the) Guitar Man |
| Next Year: | 1962 |
"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 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]
| Chart (1962) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (CHUM Hit Parade)[6] | 9 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 33 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[8] | 48 |
