Back In the Day 1957, 2010

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Ol' Rockin' Ern (Capitol)

Old Time Religion (Green Hill)

Ernie's rustic-life matriculation left him seasoned in manners that ensured he was first-hand familiar with both fence post and altar call. His back-country boogie kicked heels to the swiss-cheese moon and back down to grassland. But the man's honorings of the Divine promise of salvation were horses of different colors altogether.

The bass-baritone immensity of his voice -- rip-snorting and aw-shucks gleeful in secular circumstances -- assumed reverential tones indicative of heart-and-soul sincerity in the presence of celestial majesty. 

Both records compiled tracks Ernie had previously waxed. Cliffie Stone, Speedy West, and Jimmy Bryant played on Ol' Rockin' Ern's songs - the three dealt wizardry in Cliffie's Hometown Jamboree band. (And the pipe-puffing bass-string guru authored four songs featured.) Their respective flairs stand out like shoes on a cobra.

Some of Old Time Religion's 15 selections also included Cliffie and Speedy (though their talents were recalled as a bit muted). And harmonic nobility the Jordanaires imbued tracks with characteristically august intonations. As was illustrated by sacred numbers restored from 1956 forward, Ernie's standing-in-need-of- prayer renditions prompted introspection and awareness that the loving Supreme Creator's hand beckoned. 

Recommended Ol' Rockin' Ern: "Milk 'Em in the Mornin' Blues," "Catfish Boogie," "Anticipation Blues," "Country Junction," "Shot-Gun Boogie," "Blackberry Boogie," "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own"

Recommended: Old Time Religion: "Just Over in the Gloryland," "Old Time Religion," "It Is Well With My Soul," "Just a Little Talk With Jesus," "I Love to Tell the Story," "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Whispering Hope," "I Need Thee Every Hour"

Videos: "Country Junction"   "Blackberry Boogie"   "Ain't Nobody's Business but My Own" (w/Kay Starr)   "Just Over in the Gloryland"   "I Love to Tell the Story"   "Whispering Hope"

Ol' Rockin' Ern:

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Old Time Religion:

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With Randolph Scott on the set of 1951 film Man In the Saddle

Back in the Day, 2001

Al Dexter

Pistol Packin' Mama

(Roots of Country)

Voices credit Texan Al not only with crafting imperial '30s/'40s/'50s Western Swing, but for perhaps being the first to employ term "Honky Tonk" in song. So don't be put off by the cheapjack cover art; though this important music may not have gotten top-drawer handiwork it deserved, reward ambles into view when stylus touches down. 

Al penned 1943's jocular "Pistol Packin' Mama." From it, he accrued an abundance of cheddar, and it became his best-known contribution to American Music. (The pleasant ditty inspired a host of covers, as well as a Republic comedy of like vintage.) But it was far from Al's sole worthy. Also populating this wax are several numbers (like "Poor Little Honky Tonk Girl," "Down at the Roadside Inn," "Honky Tonk Chinese Dime," and "Fisherman's Boogie") that merit similar evergreen situation. 

Assembled players the Troopers proved themselves clod-kickin' crackerjacks. Often, violin-and trumpet-bounce sprang winkingly, with guitars (both electric and steel varieties) holding forth in affable tones.

As can be anticipated, given this compendium's spanning decades, stylistic evolution is apparent. Early tracks tend toward spareness and loveable crudity, whereas later ones enjoy fuller instrumentation and more production attentions.

(My one quibble concerns the mysterious exclusion of early 1946 instrumental "Guitar Polka." It settled into charts' #1 slot for a reoported 16 weeks, and boasts more big-grin animation than a barrel of digital music plugins.)

Recommended: "Poor Little Honky Tonk Girl," "I Learned About Love from You," "Down at the Roadside Inn," "There'll Come a Time," "Why Did It Have To Be," "Honky Tonk Chinese Dime," "Too Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry," "A Good Man is Hard to Find," "Pistol Packin' Mama," "Honey Do You Think It's Wrong," "Fisherman's Boogie," "New Broom Boogie," "Hi De Ho Boogie"

Videos: "Poor Little Honky Tonk Girl"   "Down at the Roadside Inn"   "Pistol Packin' Mama"   "Honky Tonk Chinese Dime"   "Fisherman's Boogie"

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