Tennessee Ernie Ford (1919-1991) was one of the most successful Country artists to crossover and gain mainstream popularity. His deep, warm voice, humour and easy country-boy charm made him ‘Mister Country Music’, a huge star in the 50s. Sixteen Tons was both his biggest hit and Capitol’s fastestselling single to that date, and is the title of Retrospective’s generous 30-track programme packed with all his finest recordings from 1949-1957. It demonstrates that there was far more to him than just Sixteen Tons. There are fully 17 top ten smashes, headed by three more Number Ones: Mule Train, The Shotgun Boogie and his huge UK success Give Me Your Word.

Also included are six duets, with Merle Travis, Helen O’Connell, Ella Mae Morse, Betty Hutton and Kay Starr – a great 1950 double of I’ll Never Be Free and Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own.

Tracklisting:
1. Sixteen Tons
2. Milk ’Em In The Morning Blues
3. Tennessee Border
4. Country Junction
5. Smokey Mountain Boogie
6. Anticipation Blues
7. Blues, Stay Away From Me (with Merle Travis)
8. Mule Train
9. The Cry Of The Wild Goose
10. My Hobby
11. I’ll Never Be Free (with Kay Starr)
12. Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own (with Kay Starr)
13. Bright Lights And Blonde-Haired Women
14. The Shotgun Boogie
15. Tailor Made Woman
16. Stack-O-Lee
17. The Strange Little Girl
18. Mister And Mississippi
19. Rock City Boogie
20. Hey, Good Lookin’ (with Helen O’Connell)
21. I’m Hog-Tied Over You (with Ella Mae Morse)
22. Blackberry Boogie
23. Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker
24. Catfish Boogie
25. The Honeymoon’s Over (with Betty Hutton)
26. Give Me Your Word
27. River Of No Return
28. The Ballad of Davy Crockett
29. In The Middle Of An Island
30. That’s All