While Slim Whitman made a big name for himself in Europe, he was also known as “America’s Favorite Folksinger” on this side of The Pond. This collection of his earliest albums has his two biggest hits “Indian Love Call” “Rose Marie” and “Love Song of the Waterfall” on his first Favourites album. His Country Hits album has him delivering wonderful renditions of “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “When I Get Too Old To Dream” and “Roll On Silvery Moon” while his followup Sings features “Mexicali Rose” and “When It’s Springtime In The Rockies.” 1961’s Just Call Me Lonesome has him in a nostalgic mood for “Vaya Con Dios” and “Remember Me (I’m The One Who Loves You)” with his release from ’61 producing a dreamy “Cool Water” and torch carrying “River Of Tears.” He could put a tear in the beer.
While best known these days for her career in television and romance with Burt Reynolds, Dinah Shore also had a respectable career as a singer, coming of age during the tail end of the Big Band Era of Swing. Her 1959 Yes Indeed album has her backed by a hip big band as she gives strong and surprisingly sultry reads of “Easy To Love” and “Falling In Love With Love.” From 1976, Dinah Down Home is a fun collection of southern treats including ”Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On” and the politically incorrect “Mississippi Mud.” In 1960, she’s sympathetically backed by Andre’ Previn for a rich collection of mellow ballads like “East Of The Sun” and “I Only Have Eyes For You.” Finally, she does a blues album that holds up surprisingly well, with sophisticated indigo shades on “Skylark” and a richly desperate “It’s All Right With Me.” Surprisingly impressive!
One man blues band from the Bay Area, Jesse Fuller and blues/folk artist Josh White each have two albums to share on this collection. For Fuller, his 1958 debut has him sitting comfortably with vintage spirituals like “I’m Going To Meet My Loving Mother” as well as hip shuffling pieces like “Fingerbuster” and “Memphis Boogie.” His 1961 release sounds like a street show as he plays the six string bass with his foot along with kazoo, cymbals, harmonica and guitar on fun-fested pieces like “Leavin’ Memphis, Frisco Bound,” “Runnin’ Wild” and “The Monkey and the Engineer.” Josh White’s 1960 album of ballads and blues has him swinging hard on “Midnight Special” while delivering a passionate and haunting take of “Gloomy Sunday.” His risqué-covered 1961 lp has him in an earthy mood for rural treatments of bawdy pieces like “Empty Bed Blues” as well as gospel tunes such as “His Eye Is On The Sparrow’ and “Lord Have Mercy.” A trip through dusty roads.