Search - Burl Ives :: Wayfaring Stranger

Consistent good quality and in chronological order

John Frame | Brisbane, Queensland Australia | 08/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Golden Years of The Wayfaring Stanger", transfers and production by Geoff Milne (4CD box, 2005 Jasmine Records).



All of these original Decca recordings (made from 1945 to 1953) have been transferred from vinyl yet sound quite clean (despite the odd blip or thud)and have a consistent sonic quality, regardless of whether they were live (on CD4 - the 1953 Coronation Concert in London), on radio (on CD2 - guesting on the Bing Crosby show) or from various studio sessions (on all 4 CDs). Part of the reason for the sonic consistency may be in that there has clearly been a decision made in the noise reduction process to also filter out any frequency above about 7kHz on all the tracks - however the remaining audio is very comfortable to listen to.



I've recently done a couple of my own Burl Ives transfers to CD, including carefully removing each audible pop or click from an excellent condition vinyl LP of "The Wild Side Of Life" - all those tracks also appear on this CD set. I can hear a big difference between my CD and Geoff Milne's. I know that the studio recordings were bona fide HiFi mono, with truly amazing subtleties in musicianship and vocal harmony. The only way to appreciate all that intricate detail is to accept also hearing some surface noise. However I'd still have to say that these productions by Geoff Milne are appealing, even though they have less dynamic range.



I like that all the tracks are arranged in chronological order of performance (rather than of release) and that we are given the actual dates and some other details. Geoff Milne's accompanying booklet includes an informed biography and is a good read.



Anyone who grew up with the albums "The Wild Side Of Life" and "Women - Folk Songs About The Fair Sex" will be happy to know that all those original tracks are here in very good quality.



There are also five versions of "The Blue Tail Fly", but not a dud song in sight. Highly recommended for any Burl Ives fan."

Great CD

Robert E. Schifferle | Buffalo, NY | 05/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over 100 songs sung by Burl Ives on 4 CD's. Some songs are repeated as different versions. Some duets with Bing Crosby."

Better than the old 78's

J. M. EVANS | Medford, Or USA | 11/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many of the old favorites that I listened to growing up on the old 78's, but now there is no clicking, hissing, and all the other noises that came from the worn old records, just the clean clear voice of Burl Ives. If you love these old songs, this is a great disk to have."