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Sunday 27 August 2017

Vintage Country Vinyl - Tennessee Ernie Ford


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

4 comments:

  1. 2 top tunes, although they are very very very similar. Will you be buying the 5cd set from BearFamily?

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  2. Although 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*.
    *(so Wiki says anyways)

    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.

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    Replies
    1. Having just listened to "paradise", I agree that it is well worth listening to.

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