Customer Reviews

Ultimate Collection

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Since some genius decided to quit printing the box set of Ernie's work, another company saw their chance and jumped at it and here's the result.

It is, actually, better arranged in this set than the box set for several reasons.

First, the songs are in chronical order as they should be.
Second, some of Ernie's best work, his gospel, spirituals, and hymns are represented. They were sorely missed in the box set. They close out the collection. This is approriate since Ernie closed most of his TV shows with one.
Third, the song "Hicktown" representing Ernie's brief comeback on the country charts is included.

A few more of Ernie's covers on country and pop standards would have been appreciated, but overall an excellent job.

The only genres you'll find this man listed under are "classic country" and "gospel". That's legit enough as far as it goes, but then how do you explain his signature hit "Sixteen Tons"? It got most of its exposure on pop radio with the Elvis stuff. It's not only blues in the classic Leadbelly "working man as a two-legged draft animal" tradition, the beat is moderate swing and the chord structure is bona fide jazz. About the only thing that might make it even faintly country is that the workplace mentioned is a coal mine, "company sto'" and all. Step up the beat a bit and Brian Setzer wouldn't give it thumbs down. Transpose it up half an octave and Tony Bennett would sing it. It goes to show you that pigeonholing music can be just as misleading as it is instructive.

This CD set contains songs that Ernie sang back when he was on television. It contains some of his famous work songs like "Sixteen Tons" and "Work Song" as well as the hymns he is know for. He has a wonderful voice and anyone who is a fan of the Ford show should definatly have this set in there collection.

I bought this CD for a few songs that I liked but was amazed at the number of song by Ernie that I had never heard. From a purely historical perspective of country music it is worth the price.