Reviewed by Dave Brassington

Strangely, for someone who was such a prolific hit maker in country and pop music circles from the late '40's to the late '50s, this late but much loved artist has been poorly served by reissues. This three CD box set is therefore a welcome release. Based on the West Coast, Ford's booming, trained baritone voice and easy going likeability (projected on a weekly primetime TV slot on NBC from 1956-1961) ensured that he became one of country music's first popularisers. On the first disc here we get some of his hits from the late '40s to early '50s such as "Tennessee Border" and two classics "Mule Train" and "The Shot Gun Boogie". Throughout the first two CDs it is interesting to note some of the tracks he recorded with other artists eg pure pop singers such as Kay Starr and Betty Hutton. Some of these tracks do sound dated now as they were very heavily orchestrated. Ernie became very well know in Britain in the middle '50s with his huge hits "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" and the Merle Travis classic "Sixteen Tons". I am not sure when Ernie first became a Christian, but in the latter part of his life he recorded many very successful gospel albums, and as far as I know none of these have ever been reissued but on the third CD we get five classics of hymnody: "In The Garden", "Sweet Hour Of Prayer", "Softly And Tenderly", "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Rock Of Ages". I am sure this release will bring much pleasure to many who fondly remember this artist but the release would have been improved with higher quality sleevenotes.

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.

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