Robbin's label, Columbia, thought El Paso was way too long to ever be a radio hit, so they released the song as an album cut only. Deejays found the cut on the album, were captivated by it, played it heavily, and four weeks after the release of the album, by popular demand, El Paso became a 45 RPM.
How did the complicated story told in the song come about? Well, Robbins knew the area. He was raised in Arizona and he was fascinated with El Paso and the western lore. Robbin's son says that, even as his dad worked on the words to the song, the family knew it was going to be an epic -- the story was so rich and full of imagery.
As someone who spent several years in country music radio, I can tell you that this was not only a giant on the pop charts, El Paso was also one of the most important and quintessential songs in the history of country music. What a cowboy song it was! The gunfighter songs never get any better than this one. Marty put out a sequel, years later, called El Paso City. It did well but there is no comparison to the original song. El Paso topped the charts in January, 1960.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
Steven, oh yes I remember that one too. I think I mentioned in a previous comment that I worked in my father's restaurant from 1956 until he sold it in 1961. I heard all the popular songs repeated dozens of times a day on the juke box.
John,
Boy I bet you heard that one more than just occasionally.
Raven,
My assistant, who is on a holiday, loved that song and dressed the part when it was on the stereo.
Yes I heard he was away somewhere making jewelry out of Alpaca Dung----or was that eating Alpaca dung?
Steven, I'm glad you're going into country music for awhile. That song is a classic and one that you just have to listen to the words over and over. You'll have great fun with wild women, cowboys, drunks, and honky tonk songs. I think you need to do "I'm going to hire a wino to decorate our home." Charles just can't get over his jealousy of Nutsy, can he? And there has probably never been a song based on squirrel envy.....
Barbara,
You sure called that right. Not sure just why Charlie is so jealous of the boy. Of course, there is lots there to be jealous of. I will be glad when he gets back from the Andes.
If you like country, I can work a few of those in. I was a deejay when the Wino tune came out. It was David Frizzell, brother of Lefty Frizell who was another late legend.
Steven, country is funny! I wrote a blog once about Hank Williams "Move it on Over." I can't find it now to link it. Is there an easy way to search and find an old blog?