Search - Tennessee Ernie Ford :: Songs of the Civil War

Cousin Ernie really NAILS it!

Lawrence Rapchak | Whiting, IN United States | 06/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great testament to the artistry of Ernie Ford as well as a document of the great music from the American Civil War era. Ernie's long-time arranger Jack Fascinato works absolute WONDERS with a small instrumental ensemble, which includes a rousing marching band ("Marching Through Georgia"), banjos, guitars, antiphonal military drums, harmonicas, 3 piccolos for "fifes" ("The Yankee Volunteer"), low clarinets, french horns and tympani to evoke the darkness and intensity of "Virginia's Bloody Soil" (Fascinato creates a "mini-symphonic" soundscape to paint the horrors of war here), and the brilliant combination of mandolin, bass harmonica, guitar, and bass for the gorgeous (and VERY sentimental) ballad "The Vacant Chair", which will surely bring a tear to even the most hardened listener.



What's amazing is the way in which these performances give us a powerful glimpse into our American past, with rousing marches (which were often adaptations of well-known Irish folk tunes), along with songs by the newly-emerging American popular composers, notably George Root.



Ernie is equally at home in every aspect of these performances, whether

it be the grim battle songs, the tender and haunting romantic ballads ("Lorena", "Rebel Soldier", etc), the robust and hearty marches ("The Why and the Wherefore" being particularly enjoyable), or the outright nuttiness of "Goober Peas", "The Valiant Conscript" or either version of "Dixie". Fascinato's first-rate instrumentalists (including a tuba player who can really plop out some massive low notes) and small male chorus made up of some of the finest session singers of the day contribute to the overall excellence of this cd, originally released as 2 separate LPS to coincide with the centennial observance of the Civil War.

Capitol Record's 1961 sonics are stunningly good---in fact, I have often used "Stonewall Jackson's Way" as a demo for testing stereo systems, so dynamic, clean and detailed is the sound. First-Rate stuff."

Songs of the Civil War

Jacqui Morse | South Portland, Maine United States | 06/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We already had the Civil War Songs of the South LP by this guy and reckoned that, with the extra stuff on the CD it was well worth the getting. We were right. My husband, who used to sing a lot if these songs, really enjoyed this Cd, although he didn't sing all of Lorena but, as he says, very few people do!"

Songs of the Civil War. Tennessee Ernie Ford

M. R. Carman | New Zealand | 11/18/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD would rank as one of the best in my extensive collection. The LP's were originally beautifully recorded by Capitol way back in 1961 and the stereo remastering is as good as it gets. Add to this the colourful and informative 64 page booklet containing notes on the recordings and of the civil war, plus the verses of all the songs. On the CD the superb voice of Tennessee Ernie backed by Jack Fascinato's orchestra and arrangements in my opinion could not be bettered by any other artists. The Bear Family have packaged it in a top quality didgipack. Purchase this set with confidence."