1. Milk 'Em In The Morning Blues
2. Country Junction
3. Smoky Mountain Boogie
4. Anticipation Blues
5. Mule Train
6. Cry Of The Wild Goose
7. My Hobby
8. Feed 'Em In The Morning Blues
9. The Shotgun Boogie
10. Tailor Made Woman
11. You're My Sugar
12. Rock City Boogie
13. Kissin' Bug Boogie
14. Hey Good Lookin'
15. Hambone
16. Everybody's Got A Girl But Me
17. Snowshoe Thompson
18. Blackberry Boogie
19. Hey Mr. Cotton Picker
20. Kiss Me Big
21. Catfish Boogie
22. The Ballad Of Davy Crockett
23. Sixteen Tons
24. Rovin' Gambler
25. Blackeyed Susie
Before “Sixteen Tons” became an enduring classic, Tennessee Ernie Ford was cutting a string of rollicking country and rhythm and blues recordings that showcased his extraordinary bass-baritone voice. This 25-track collection brings together uptempo sides recorded between 1949 and 1959, with a lively mix of hillbilly boogie, country, blues and early rock ’n’ roll.
Ford is joined by an impressive cast of musicians, including country guitar pioneer Merle Travis, steel guitarist Speedy West, pianist Moon Mullican and guitarist Jimmy Bryant. Highlights include “Country Junction”, “Smoky Mountain Boogie”, “The Shotgun Boogie”, “Rock City Boogie”, “Blackberry Boogie” and “Catfish Boogie”, alongside “Mule Train”, “The Ballad Of Davy Crockett” and the unmistakable “Sixteen Tons”.
Essential listening for fans of vintage country, hillbilly boogie and the roots of rockabilly, this collection captures Tennessee Ernie Ford at his most energetic. With 25 classic recordings and a detailed 16-page booklet in the original edition, it offers a terrific snapshot of the country music scene as it moved towards the rock ’n’ roll era.
