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Burl Ives Collection

With his trademark beard and guitar, Burl Ives seemed to always be able to sing the songs that people wanted to hear.

Burl Ives

43 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 18 hours, 13 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
20 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from May 06, 1948:

"Burl Ives on Spike Jones"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Burl Ives
(1909 – 1995)

Burl Ives

Musical, Comedy and Variety (1940s - 1950s)

Folk music, literally the music of the people, can be a slippery concept, especially when it is applied to as big and as diverse as America. What is folk music? In OTR we enjoy several different forms of American music, Jazz, Hillbilly Music, Swing, Big Band Music, Country and Western, Classical, "Sweet" Jazz, Religious Music, Marches, even Rock and Roll. All of these musical forms were popular enough to have received sponsored airtime on network radio during the Golden Age of Radio, but does that make any of them folk music, the music of the people?

Burl IvesFolklorists tend to classify music as "folk" if it is more associated with farms and the countryside than the cities. For musicologist Charles Seeger (Pete Seeger's dad), folk music was "associated with a lower class". Folk music is part of an oral tradition of passing down stories from generation to generation, and folk songs have often been around so long that no one knows who their composer was. A useful definition of folk music is "songs that everyone knows". The music of Burl Ives certainly fits that definition.

Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives was born in Jasper County, Illinois, in 1909. His father was a farmer and little Burl learned his first tunes at the elbow of his pipe-smoking grandmother. When his uncle and mother heard him singing in the garden one day, his uncle invited the tyke to sing for an old soldier's reunion in a nearby town. Burl's rendition of "Barbara Allen" impressed both his uncle and the old soldiers.

Ives was a habitual joiner. He was a member of the Lone Scouts before the organization disbanded and was absorbed into the Boy Scouts of America. He took part in many Boy Scout Jamborees and was eventually awarded the Silver Buffalo, Scouting's highest honor. The Ives family were active Masons. Burl was inducted into DeMolay in 1927 and was a 33rd Degree Mason. He was also a Ham, call sign KA6HVA, which became a recognized "silent key" after he passed away.

Burl was a linebacker in high school and learned to play the banjo. In 1927, he entered Eastern Illinois Teachers College to pursue a career as a football coach, but while listening to a lecture on Beowulf during his junior year he suddenly realized he was wasting his time. He walked out of the classroom (slamming the door as the professor made a snide remark), slung his banjo over his shoulder, and hit the road.

The early years of the Great Depression were hard for everyone, but they were seminal for a young folk singer on the road. He played when he could find an audience, worked odd jobs, and learned songs wherever he could. In 1931, Burl found a job singing on WBOW Terre Haute and went back to school at Indiana State Teachers College. Later in the decade he attended the Juilliard School in New York.

Folk music was becoming more and more of a political statement during the Depression. Burl had his own radio show, The Wayfaring Stranger, in 1940, featuring traditional folk songs. He was associated with the Almanac Singers for a while. The Almanacs included Woody Guthrie, Will Geer, Millard Lampell and Pete Seeger. The group was active in the American Peace Mobilization, which opposed America's entry into the Second World War. The APM was founded from the remains of a branch of the Comintern, and refashioned itself as the American People's Mobilization in June of 1941 when Hitler invaded Russia. Now the APM was calling for America to immediately join the Allied cause.

Burl IvesBurl's draft number came up early in 1942, and he served at Camp Dix and Camp Upton as part of the cast of Irving Berlin's This Is The Army. He transferred to the Army Air Force when the show went to Hollywood and was honorably discharged as a corporal due to medical reasons in September 1943. In December, he took a job at CBS's New York studios for $100 per week.

Ives stayed with CBS through the 1940s, as well as some appearances on AFRS. He got his start in the movies in Smoky (1946), playing a singing cowboy. As the 1950s were dawning, Burls’ show business career was beginning to hit full stride until he was named in Red Channels and accused of having Communist affiliations. Given the importance of folk music to the American labor movement, the accusation is hardly without merit. Some folk singers were pinker than others, but it is hard to understand the connection between "Jimmy Crack Corn" and trying to overthrow the nation.

In any case, when called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, Ives chose to cooperate by "naming names". As a result, Burl’s name was removed from the blacklist and he was able to continue with his movie career. Naturally, his folk singing friends considered this to be a betrayal, especially Pete Seeger. Ives maintained that by cooperating with the HUAC he was merely doing his duty as a good citizen. Seeger and Ives finally reconciled enough to appear on stage together in 1983 at a benefit concert in New York (Burl by now was confined to a wheelchair) and harmonized on "Blue Tailed Fly".

Ives’ film career took off during the remainder of the 1950s. He played Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Big Country (1958), and had his abdomen filled with marbles in the climactic scene of Ensign Pulver (1964), a sequel to Mr. Roberts. In 1964, Burl voiced Sam the Snowman in the Rankin and Bass Christmas classic, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. Although his recording of the title song never sold as well as it did for other artists, but "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Silver and Gold’ have become perennial Christmas favorites.

Burl Ives had a hard beginning, bumming his way across the country in the 1930s with just a banjo and a song. Then his first radio broadcast was in 1940, and was interrupted by a radio bulletin about the fall of France. But he picked himself up and kept on plucking until he landed his own show later that year. He went on to become a well-known actor and did many guest appearances on other radio shows, including Bing Crosby's show as well as Martin and Lewis, Spike Jones, and Command Performance.

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

    10
    9     1


    COMMENTS

    Great recordings of Burl Ives

    Daniel Verified Purchase

    A splendid selection from this wonderful entertainer full of sons of yesterday which still have appeal to the youth of today.

    Jim Verified Purchase

    My FAVORITE role of his, was his portrayal if Big Daddy, in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

    Vince Verified Purchase

    A GREAT VOICE AND ACTOR, GOT BETTER WITH AGE.

    Franklin Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    43 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 13 min
    43 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 13 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 43 shows - total playtime 18 hours 13 minutes
    2. AFRS Burl Ives with Paul Whiteman.mp3
    3. Author Meets Critics 481107 Wayfaring Stranger.mp3
    4. Bing Crosby 461120 Burl Ives.mp3
    5. Bing Crosby 470421 Burl Ives.mp3
    6. Bing Crosby 471022 040 Phicol Rt W C Webb B Ives.mp3
    7. Bing Crosby 490302 094 Philco Rt Burl Ivesdshore.mp3
    8. Bing Crosby 510516 Burl Ives.mp3
    9. Bing Crosby 510627 074 Burl Ives And Ken Murray.mp3
    10. Boris Karloffs Treasure Chest 501001 003 Burl Ives.mp3
    11. Bur lIves Show 470124 Peter Grey.mp3
    12. Burl Ives Show 460000 Wyoming Will Be Your New Home.mp3
    13. Burl Ives Show 461215 Wish I Was An Apple On Tree.mp3
    14. Burl Ives Show 461220 Get Along Little Doggies.mp3
    15. Burl Ives Show 471128 Songs Of Seas.mp3
    16. Burl Ives Sings 461219 15 Cowboy Songs.mp3
    17. Burl Ives Sings 461221 17 Ill Go No More Rovin.mp3
    18. Cavalcade Of America 431213 Check Your Heart At Home.mp3
    19. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 19 El Capitan.mp3
    20. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 El Capitan And Corporal.mp3
    21. Columbia Workshop 410302 068 Roadside.mp3
    22. Columbia Workshop 410511 002 Log Of R77.mp3
    23. Columbia Workshop 410518 003 People Yes.mp3
    24. Columbia Workshop 420301 015 When Bough Breaks.mp3
    25. Columbia Workshop 440321 003 Lonesome Train.mp3
    26. Command Performance 460307 214 G.mp3
    27. Forecast 400819 10 Back Where I Come From.mp3
    28. Guest Star 490724 0122 Burl Ives.mp3
    29. Hall of Fame 441008 Orson Welles,Mary Martin, Burle Ives.mp3
    30. Heres To Veterans 000000 0887 Crawdads.mp3
    31. Hollywood Star Time 460310 10 Return Of Frank James.mp3
    32. Martin Lewis 490515 Burl Ives.mp3
    33. Martin Lewis 490612 Burl Ives.mp3
    34. Philco Radio Time 470423 028 Les Paul And Burl Ives.mp3
    35. Philco Radio Time 471022 040 Clifton Webb And Burl Ives.mp3
    36. Philco Radio Time 490302 095 Burl Ives And Dinah Shore.mp3
    37. Radio Hall Of Fame 441008 Orson Welles Mary Martin.mp3
    38. Spike Jones 480507 Burl Ives.mp3
    39. Spotlight Revue 480507 32 Burl Ives.mp3
    40. The Kaiser Traveler 47xxxx Erie Canal.mp3
    41. Theatre Guild On Air 451021 007 Sing Out, Sweet Land Pt1.mp3
    42. War Bond Drive 441123 Liberation.mp3
    43. World of Folk Music 1961 003 The Limeliters.mp3
    44. Your Rhythm Revue 530000 Jimmy Cracked Corn Burl Ives.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    43 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 18 hours, 13 min
    43 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 18 hours, 13 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 43 shows - total playtime 18 hours 13 minutes
    2. AFRS Burl Ives with Paul Whiteman.mp3
    3. Author Meets Critics 481107 Wayfaring Stranger.mp3
    4. Bing Crosby 461120 Burl Ives.mp3
    5. Bing Crosby 470421 Burl Ives.mp3
    6. Bing Crosby 471022 040 Phicol Rt W C Webb B Ives.mp3
    7. Bing Crosby 490302 094 Philco Rt Burl Ivesdshore.mp3
    8. Bing Crosby 510516 Burl Ives.mp3
    9. Bing Crosby 510627 074 Burl Ives And Ken Murray.mp3
    10. Boris Karloffs Treasure Chest 501001 003 Burl Ives.mp3
    11. Bur lIves Show 470124 Peter Grey.mp3
    12. Burl Ives Show 460000 Wyoming Will Be Your New Home.mp3
    13. Burl Ives Show 461215 Wish I Was An Apple On Tree.mp3
    14. Burl Ives Show 461220 Get Along Little Doggies.mp3
    15. Burl Ives Show 471128 Songs Of Seas.mp3
    16. Burl Ives Sings 461219 15 Cowboy Songs.mp3
    17. Burl Ives Sings 461221 17 Ill Go No More Rovin.mp3
    18. Cavalcade Of America 431213 Check Your Heart At Home.mp3
    19. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 19 El Capitan.mp3
    20. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 El Capitan And Corporal.mp3
    21. Columbia Workshop 410302 068 Roadside.mp3
    22. Columbia Workshop 410511 002 Log Of R77.mp3
    23. Columbia Workshop 410518 003 People Yes.mp3
    24. Columbia Workshop 420301 015 When Bough Breaks.mp3
    25. Columbia Workshop 440321 003 Lonesome Train.mp3
    26. Command Performance 460307 214 G.mp3
    27. Forecast 400819 10 Back Where I Come From.mp3
    28. Guest Star 490724 0122 Burl Ives.mp3
    29. Hall of Fame 441008 Orson Welles,Mary Martin, Burle Ives.mp3
    30. Heres To Veterans 000000 0887 Crawdads.mp3
    31. Hollywood Star Time 460310 10 Return Of Frank James.mp3
    32. Martin Lewis 490515 Burl Ives.mp3
    33. Martin Lewis 490612 Burl Ives.mp3
    34. Philco Radio Time 470423 028 Les Paul And Burl Ives.mp3
    35. Philco Radio Time 471022 040 Clifton Webb And Burl Ives.mp3
    36. Philco Radio Time 490302 095 Burl Ives And Dinah Shore.mp3
    37. Radio Hall Of Fame 441008 Orson Welles Mary Martin.mp3
    38. Spike Jones 480507 Burl Ives.mp3
    39. Spotlight Revue 480507 32 Burl Ives.mp3
    40. The Kaiser Traveler 47xxxx Erie Canal.mp3
    41. Theatre Guild On Air 451021 007 Sing Out, Sweet Land Pt1.mp3
    42. War Bond Drive 441123 Liberation.mp3
    43. World of Folk Music 1961 003 The Limeliters.mp3
    44. Your Rhythm Revue 530000 Jimmy Cracked Corn Burl Ives.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    43 recordings on 20 Audio CDs. Total playtime 18 hours, 13 min
    43 recordings on 20 Audio CDs
    total playtime 18 hours, 13 min

    Burl Ives Disc A001

    1. AFRS Burl Ives with Paul Whiteman
    2. The Kaiser Traveler 47xxxx Erie Canal
    3. World of Folk Music 1961 003 The Limeliters
    4. Heres To Veterans 000000 0887 Crawdads

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A002

    1. Forecast 400819 10 Back Where I Come From
    2. Columbia Workshop 410302 068 Roadside

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A003

    1. Columbia Workshop 410511 002 Log Of R77
    2. Columbia Workshop 410518 003 People Yes

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    Burl Ives Disc A004

    1. Columbia Workshop 420301 015 When Bough Breaks
    2. Cavalcade Of America 431213 Check Your Heart At Home

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    Burl Ives Disc A005

    1. Columbia Workshop 440321 003 Lonesome Train
    2. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 19 El Capitan

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    Burl Ives Disc A006

    1. Columbia Presents Corwin 440725 El Capitan And Corporal

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    Burl Ives Disc A007

    1. Hall of Fame 441008 Orson Welles,Mary Martin, Burle Ives

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    Burl Ives Disc A008

    1. Radio Hall Of Fame 441008 Orson Welles Mary Martin
    2. War Bond Drive 441123 Liberation

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    Burl Ives Disc A009

    1. Theatre Guild On Air 451021 007 Sing Out, Sweet Land Pt1
    2. Burl Ives Show 460000 Wyoming Will Be Your New Home

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A010

    1. Command Performance 460307 214 G
    2. Hollywood Star Time 460310 10 Return Of Frank James

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A011

    1. Bing Crosby 461120 Burl Ives
    2. Burl Ives Show 461215 Wish I Was An Apple On Tree
    3. Burl Ives Sings 461219 15 Cowboy Songs
    4. Burl Ives Show 461220 Get Along Little Doggies

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A012

    1. Burl Ives Sings 461221 17 Ill Go No More Rovin
    2. Bur lIves Show 470124 Peter Grey
    3. Bing Crosby 470421 Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A013

    1. Philco Radio Time 470423 028 Les Paul And Burl Ives
    2. Bing Crosby 471022 040 Phicol Rt W C Webb B Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A014

    1. Philco Radio Time 471022 040 Clifton Webb And Burl Ives
    2. Burl Ives Show 471128 Songs Of Seas

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A015

    1. Spike Jones 480507 Burl Ives
    2. Spotlight Revue 480507 32 Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A016

    1. Author Meets Critics 481107 Wayfaring Stranger
    2. Bing Crosby 490302 094 Philco Rt Burl Ivesdshore

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A017

    1. Philco Radio Time 490302 095 Burl Ives And Dinah Shore
    2. Martin Lewis 490515 Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A018

    1. Martin Lewis 490612 Burl Ives
    2. Guest Star 490724 0122 Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A019

    1. Boris Karloffs Treasure Chest 501001 003 Burl Ives
    2. Bing Crosby 510516 Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Burl Ives Disc A020

    1. Bing Crosby 510627 074 Burl Ives And Ken Murray
    2. Your Rhythm Revue 530000 Jimmy Cracked Corn Burl Ives

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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