A welcome CD release!
allemande | Columbia, MO USA | 07/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When the release of this title was first announced there were but thirteen tracks listed as its contents, comprising several EP releases from the early 1950s. Not listed, however, were any tracks from "This Lusty Land", an LP from 1956. The record has since been amended from that earlier listing and the neglected tracks accounted for, bringing the total to 25 on this CD. I mention this because, for some us anyway, the long out-of-print tracks from "This Lusty Land" are the primary reason for owning this disc.
If you are an Ernie Ford fan, this will be an essential purchase for you; if you are not a fan, you should probably check into it anyway. "This Lusty Land" was (according to the CD's program notes) Ford's first LP release. It is a well-crafted effort in several ways, beginning with its Americana theme evoking legends, places, and characters from across the land; and of course there is the flawless baritone voice of Ernie Ford abetted by arranger/conductor Jack Fascinato. a longtime Ford collaborator, whose at times surprisingly spare arrangements lend fine support yet are never intrusive.
The songs collected here include "John Henry", about a folk hero; "Rovin' Gambler", about an American anti-hero of sorts; and "Sixteen Tons", a Merle Travis composition and the first true breakthrough crossover hit for Ford. But the lesser-known coal mining ballad "Dark as a Dungeon", also by Travis, is included here, and one wonders why it wasn't a hit as well. And there is "Chicken Road", a haunting kaleidoscope of memories from the midwest in general and Missouri in particular. It is one of several odd little gems distinguishing this album.
This collection was released on the Jasmine label, evidently based in England. The recordings, originally on Capitol, have the good fidelity that label has been known for, transferred very nicely to CD. Jasmine reveals that the CEDAR process was used for the transfer and, while I thought CEDAR had been abandoned in favor of newer and presumably more effective forms of audio restoration, it is hard to fault the results here.
The 25 tracks on this disc come to over 65 minutes of playing time, creating good economy on a mid-price CD. But at any price, having the complete "This Lusty Land" album available again (plus the EPs, or course) is a bonanza. I have years-old memories of the Capitol LP with a black label and a rainbow border (like the Beatles albums of the period) and, while the compact disc doesn't efface the charm and visual appeal of the vinyl record, the sound is all there. Buy it and enjoy!
"
Great Memories
Coal Miner | Tennessee | 06/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Having once been a coal miner I have always been a fan of Tennessee Ernie. This Cd brings back a lot of memories from my younger days. The service and product were excellent."
Lusty Land
LaRue L. Cline | 11/10/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I owned the record a long time ago. It was loaned to a family member and never returned. You can only imagine the delight I felt when I was able to buy a CD version. The CD is even better than I expected. So pleased!!!"
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1