The Ballad of Calico is the eighth studio album by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition and released as Reprise Records 6476.

The entire double album was written by Michael Murphey and Larry Cansler and the songs tell the stories of individuals who lived in the town.

"Madame De Lil and Diaboilical Bill", the saloon keeper who scares her boyfriend out of town when she finds out he's stealing from her.

Side Three closes with "Vachel Carling's Rubilator", a song about a con man who creates a machine which takes over the town.

"Rockin' Chair Theme" is a brief instrumental leading into the next song, "Old Mojave Highway" about the road itself which crossed the desert (now the pathway of Interstate 15).