Customer Reviews

Tennessee Ernie Ford - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

One reviewer stops just short of calling Ernie Ford a "hick" and questions the appeal of the songs represented in this little album, claiming to have never heard of them. Well, let's look at the facts.

Yes he did sell millions of gospel/hymn LPs and EPs over the years and, for that reason, to many people whose musical tastes don't go beyond that genre this is the type of music for which he is best remembered. But the reality is, Ernie Ford appealed to a wide spectrum of musical preferences and that is born out by the fact that he also put 29 selections onto the Country singles charts, and 21 onto the pop charts between 1949 and 1976.

And here you get all three of his # 1 hits - Mule Train which reached # 1 Country [4 weeks at that spot] and # 9 Pop in 1949, the hilarious Shotgun Boogie which stayed at # 1 Country for FOURTEEN weeks in late 1950/early 1951 and reached # 14 Pop, and Sixteen Tons, TEN weeks at # 1 Country and EIGHT weeks at # 1 Billboard Pop Top 100 in 1955. The Cry Of The Wild Goose just missed the # 1 Country slot in 1950, settling for a # 2 as well as # 15 Pop. Not bad for a "hick" and, to boot, these will be recalled by many, if not that one reviewer.

The other seven selections here didn't fare too badly either. His version of The Ballad of Davy Crockett [there were several that year] made the Top 10 in both Country and Top 100 in 1955, and In the Middle Of An Island reached # 23 Top 100 in late summer 1957 with its flipside, Ivy League, registering as a "follow along" hit. Then there was the comical warning not to take the Bible too lightly in That's All, which made it to # 12 Country and # 17 Top 100 in March 1956, The Rovin' Gambler, a # 60 Top 100 that May, and First Born which topped out at # 46 Top 100 in December.

The Jack Fascinato orchestra backed him on all the hits in this package with the exception of tracks 2 (here he was back by the Cliffie Stone orchestra), 4, 6, and 7. To the reviewer who wondered about "One Suit" that was the flipside of another 2-sided hit for Capitol, 1957's The Watermelon Song [# 87 Top 100] and One Suit [# 93]. These are among the hardest to find of Ernie's Pop hits, along with the B-side to Sixteen Tons, "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" which reached # 78.

As I have mentioned in other reviews [Beach Boys, Young-Holt Unlimited], this EMI-Capitol 10 Best Series is one of the best such compilations to hit the market in the early days of CDs as all tracks are original hits and with excellent sound quality. The only drawback is the complete lack of liner notes.

I grew up listening to this singer's popular music (anyone out there know where to find his song "One Suit"?) but my husband didn't and he likes it too now. Some songs may be "rural" sounding but some numbers have a great sort of big band swing and a lot are just fun. His voice is surprisingly veratile and the arrangements are well done. Every song on here may not be my style but they aren't all the sometimes sappy hymn-style either. If you like his gospel songs that is no guarantee you'll like this for sure but if you just like his voice this will expand your appreciation of his abilities. And my kids really do like it.

Not only do you get Sixteen Tons but there is also Shotgun Boogie and the Ballad of Davey Crockett. No wonder Mr. Ford was popular during the golden age of pop singers, the 1950's because as this CD shows his songs were fun and there is a feeling of joy in his voice.

I bought my cassette of this album for $1.96 (plus tax) from Books-a-Million. In hindsight, I should have bought more of the tapes and CDs they had for that price. The tape probably didn't originally sell for more than $4. It's a good album with a mid-priced feel. In another review I noted that Mr. Ford was often better known for his Gospel recordings. But this album shows well that he started out as a country singer. His son Buck noted in his book River of No Return that his dad could sing all kinds of music. Many songs here charted on both the country and pop charts. We have his signature song, Sixteen Tons. I really enjoyed another Merle Travis song featured here, That's All. Several songs on this collection were also hits for other artists. In many instances the songs are more associated with them. Frankie Laine first did Mule Trail and Cry of the Wild Goose. Bing Crosby also sang Mule Train. Bill Hayes, along with Fess Parker, did Ballad of Davy Crockett. Patti Page sang Mister and Mississippi. Tony Bennett would have probably let ol' Ern have In The Middle of An Island. According to his autobiography, he hated the song and recorded it very reluctantly. He never performed it in concert. This album's biggest problem is its short length. You only get 10 songs! Other Curb budget albums had more. We get Ford's own Shot Gun Boogie. But he recorded other songs in that genre. The Roving Gambler is a fun song too. We get The Honeymoon's Over, a duet with Betty Hutton. Where is his classic duet with Kay Starr, I'll Never Be Free? Other omissions include: Anticipation Blues, First Born, Shoe Shoe Thompson, and Hick Town? These are featured on the more comprehensive Vintage Collection. It also includes some of the songs on this album. We get some liner notes by Don Ovens. They're short but informative. He repeated some of this material in the notes for another Curb album. The cover states that these are Ford's original Capitol recordings. That's good to know. It's unlikely that he never recut some of these songs. But the album Ford Favorites, also on Capitol, did feature some remakes. Consider this album a good starting point for hearing Ford's secular hits. I still enjoy his Gospel songs.

This oldie is a treasure. If you like the " Gospel Crooner" you'll like him in some of these most popular songs he recorded in the 50's. Only problem, this recording was a gift for my dad, with hopes I'd get to borrow it once in a while, Dad has it securely hidden in his cabinet of CD's. I'll have to borrow it after dad goes to bed! So good....get yourself a copy now!

Tennessee Ernie Ford's hits were some of the songs I heard and memorized when I was learning English. My American husband told me about Ernie. No one could sing Fourteen Tons like he did! This CD was certainly a great purchase just to have "Sixteen Tons" at my disposal. I can now understand the words to all English songs, but in those days my husband had to instruct me about the meaning of the title and some of the verses. Thanks for the opportunity to own the CD at such a reasonable price.

I purchased this as a gift for my mother who has Alzheimer's. I was trying to get the albums we grew up with on CD for her...this was one of them. We play this daily and get a great deal of pleasure from it. I would highly recommend this CD!

Brings back the memories for sure growing up and listening to Tennessee Ernie Ford. Has some songs I've never heard but I enjoyed this cd. If you like mellowier music this one is for you.

This was a gift for my brother-in-law and he was very surprised when I gave it to him for his birthday. He loved it!

Tennessee Ernie Ford was a great man and had a great voice. We are thoroughly enjoying his CD.