Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour & Sincerity [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] [Import]

Burl Ives | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 2000)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Jasmine Music
• ASIN: B00005080L
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,142 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Doughnut Song

2. Blue Tail Fly

3. I Know My Love

4. Lavender Cowboy

5. The Big Rock Candy Mountain

6. The Little White Duck

7. The Goat And The Train

8. Mr. Rabbit

9. The Fox

10. It Makes No Different Now

11. Cowboy's Lament (Streets Of Laredo)

12. I've Got No Use For Women

13. Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)

14. Venezuela

15. I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes

16. On The Grand Canyon Line

17. Sweet Betsy From Pike

18. Mr. Froggie Went A-Courtin'

19. Rodger Young

20. Foggy, Foggy Dew

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Given his range as an entertainer, it is no surprise that the offerings here show Burl Ives as a versatile singer across the musical spectrum. The folk repertoire is well represented with material like "The Riddle Song" and "Sweet Betsy From Pike", both from the earliest part of Burl s recording career, as is the charming "I Know My Love". From a few years later come the well-known "Blue Tail Fly", "Big Rock Candy Mountain" and "Foggy, Foggy Dew", and even later "Mr. Froggie Went A-Courtin ". With the unfulfilled prospect of becoming a Singing Cowboy (the genre was over-subscribed by then), in 1947 Burl recorded two Western-type songs, "It Makes No Difference Now" and "I m Thinking Tonight Of My Blues Eyes". Danny Kaye s version of "The Little White Duck" is perhaps better known than Burl s, but both did the children s song justice. Other children s songs here include "The Goat" and "The Rabbit", although the last has a macabre finale. By contrast, and on a very serious note, the conscripted songwriter Frank Loesser, a private in the U.S. Army, was asked by the Infantry Corps to write a song celebrating their war-hero Rodger Young, a young man who had recently died in the Pacific campaign. Burl Ives was the first to record the song in February 1945, oddly at the same time recording just one other, disparate number, "Foggy, Foggy Dew".Burl was only a spasmodic visitor to the singles charts, scoring his biggest hit in 1961 with "A Little Bitty Tear". In the late 1940s, he had some success with the gentle "Lavender Blue", also with "Riders In The Sky". Here you have a very listenable cross-section of songs by Burl Ives, each one treated by the master as of equal merit, whatever its origins. Incidentally, the busy guitarist who adds so much to some of the numbers is Tony Mottola, the highly respected jazz and session musician. See Also: JASBOX14/4 - The Golden Years Of - The Wayfaring Stranger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a great Burl Ives compilation!, February 28, 2004

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour & Sincerity [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

Burl fans have waited years for a quality CD which includes most of his great songs. Though this compilation omits a few of his treasures, it's still the best Greatest Hits package out there. If you own only one Burl Ives album, then make it this one. Unfortunately, current marketers rehash many of Ives' worst songs, the ones geared towards small children, basically novelty songs. Unfortunately, there are a couple of these clunkers of this album, but you can easily skip over those.

Most of this is an adult album with some of the most common-sense and beautiful singing you will ever hear. Many of the cuts were recorded in 1960 with just Burl, his guitar and a few special effects. The songs are American standards and Burl's interpretation is marvelous throughout. His penetrating, unique voice will send shivers down your spine with his rendition of Riders in the Sky. There are some curious omissions, like Mule Train, John Henry and Lindy Lou. You can buy "Wayfaring Stranger" for those gems.

Ives is a master at singing these songs and this is a honest, stripped-down, unadorned masterpiece. They don't make music like this anymore, and as far as this genre goes, this is as good as it gets.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Delight, June 11, 2007

By 

Sandra Collins "Sandy" (Sequim, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour & Sincerity [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

This CD is advertised as having charm, humour and sincerity. All true. My husband has been telling me for over 20 years about Burl Ives singing Ghost Riders in the Sky, but I didn't pay much attention. I mean, I have heard that song by other artists before, and it didn't impress me. Then finally, one day I was trying to think of some little gift for him to show that I love him so much, and this song came to mind. I went on Amazon, typed in the song and artist, and there it was. Clicked "Buy It Now", and promptly forgot about it. In short order, there it was in the mailbox, and hubby out of town. I opened it (remember, it was bought as a present for HIM), and just sat and smiled and smiled and smiled as I listened. The Riders In the Sky brought tears to my eyes. I have heard that song before, but never like this version!! Every song is a feast to the ears. Pure listening pleasure. I suspect I will have to order my own since we have separate offices!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, Comforting Music, September 12, 2009

By 

R U Crosley "Bumble Bee" (Montana) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humour & Sincerity [ORIGINAL RECORDINGS REMASTERED] (Audio CD)

Excellent cd, I love happy, humerous music, its a nice change from what you hear on the radio.