Reviewed by Trevor Kirk

Perhaps most people will know Burl Ives merely as a purveyor of ditties as "I Know An Old Woman Who Swallowed A Fly", "Ugly Bug All" and "Big Rock Candy Mountain". Others may remember film roles in The Big Country or Cat On A Hot Tin Roof as well as many Disney films. But Ives' music was deeply rooted in the old Sankey traditions of gospel singing, as this album demonstrates. The material is sung straightforwardly, always with that trademark timbre to his voice, and whilst there's nothing special about the songs or the singing, it's a reflection of the respect and affection that Ives commanded throughout his long career. He died just over four years ago but his memory will live on in his music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.