I returned Chet Atkins and Friends to charity and in doing so came away with Sixteen Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Marginally better. About a quarter of the 12 tracks past muster - namely Sixteen Tons and these two country rockabilly numbers.
A couple of others start promisingly then descend into novelty records with silly voices thrown in. I suspect that as he became a TV personality the quality of the music was a secondary concern.
Not sure whether this one is a keeper
Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shot-Gun Boogie
Tennessee Ernie Ford - Blackberry Boogie
2 top tunes, although they are very very very similar. Will you be buying the 5cd set from BearFamily?
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DeleteAlthough I'd heard "Shotgun Boogie" way back when I've always thought of Tennessee Ernie as a one hit wonder with "16 Tons". The original, written by Merle Travis, is supposed to be about life in life in coal mines in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky*.
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Coincidentally, the awesomely wonderful John Prine wrote a song called "Paradise" - and it's also set in Muhlenberg County. He namechecks Muhlenberg County in the lyrics. It's one of my all-time Prine favourites and well worth listening to.
Having just listened to "paradise", I agree that it is well worth listening to.
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