Historical America in Song

Infobox Album
Name = Historical America in Song
Type = studio
Longtype = Album Set
Artist = Burl Ives

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Released = 1950
Recorded =
Genre = Folk
Length =
Label = Encyclopedia Britannica Films
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album =
This album = Historical America in Song
Next album =

:"Note: This article is linked to the discography in the Burl Ives article."

"Historical America in Song", released in 1950 by Encyclopædia Britannica Films, is an album set by folk singer Burl Ives. Each of the six albums consists of five 12-inch vinylite records, for a total of thirty 78 rpm records. ["Library Journal", 15 March 1951, p. 540] Each album has its own cover with a drawing of the Washington Monument on it (see the illustration).

The album set was designed to be used in four types of academic courses: music appreciation, American history, literature, and social studies. Each song was selected and is introduced by Ives. The introductions "establish the songs in mood, time, and place" and "point up the significance of the songs and highlight their most important elements." [Inside front cover, "Songs of the Colonies", Album 1 of "Historical America in Songs", N.p.: Encyclopedia Britannica Films, 1950.]

The following albums make up the set: "Songs of the Colonies", "Songs of the Revolution", "Songs of North and South", "Songs of the Sea", "Songs of the Frontier", and "Songs of Expanding America".

"Songs of the Colonies" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559914: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

Record 1, Side 1 (B.I.301)
# Psalm 3
# Confess Jehovah
# Mother Goose Songs

Record 1, Side 2 (B.I.302)
# Little Mohee
# The Tailor and the Mouse

Record 2, Side 3 (B.I.303)
# Barbara Allen

Record 2, Side 4 (B.I.304)
# Lord Thomas
# Robin He Married

Record 3, Side 5 (B.I.305)
# Lord Randall
# The Bold Soldier

Record 3, Side 6 (B.I.306)
# Edward
# Black Is the Color

Record 4, Side 7 (B.I.307)
# The Squire’s Son
# The Riddle Song

Record 4, Side 8 (B.I.308)
# Foggy, Foggy Dew
# The Fox

Record 5, Side 9 (B.I.309)
# Brennan on the Moor
# Billy Boy

Record 5, Side 10 (B.I.310)
# Queen Jane
# Turtle Dove

"Songs of the Revolution" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559915: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

Record 1, Side 1 (B.I.311)
# The Escape of John Webb
# I Know Where I'm GoingRecord 1, Side 2 (B.I.312)
# My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free
# On Springfield Mountain
# ChesterRecord 2, Side 3 (B.I.313)
# What a Court Hath Old England
# Ballad of the Tea Party
# The Boston Tea TaxRecord 2, Side 4 (B.I.314)
# White Cockade
# Free America
# Johnny Has Gone for a SoldierRecord 3, Side 5 (B.I.315)
# Yankee Doodle
# Riflemen’s Song at BenningtonRecord 3, Side 6 (B.I.316)
# The Battle of the KegsRecord 4, Side 7 (B.I.317)
# Battle of SaratogaRecord 4, Side 8 (B.I.318)
# Cornwallis Country Dance
# Sir Peter ParkerRecord 5, Side 9 (B.I.319)
# Yankee Man O’WarRecord 5, Side 10 (B.I.320)
# Skip to My Lou
# Careless Love
# Wayfaring Stranger

"Songs of North and South" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559916: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

# Ye Parliaments of England
# The Constitution and the Guerriere
# Patriotic Diggers
# Hunters of Kentucky
# The Hornet and the Peacock
# Hey Betty Martin
# Old Dan Tucker
# Blue Tail Fly
# The Abolitionist Hymn
# Nicodemus
# Old Abe Lincoln
# All Quiet along the Potomac Tonight
# John Brown
# Dixie
# Bonnie Blue Flag
# Goober Peas
# The Battle of Bull Run
# Johnny Comes Marching Home
# Lorena
# Keemo-Kimo
# Beautiful Dreamer
# Where You There When They Crucified My Lord?
# Burying Ground
# Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen

"Songs of the Sea" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559917: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

# Golden Vanity
# High Barbaree
# Maid of Amsterdam
# Henry Martin
# Hullabaloo Baley
# Blow the Man Down
# Blow Ye Winds
# Away Rio
# The Whale
# Sacramento
# Crocodile Song
# Early in the Morning
# Boston Come All Ye
# Haul Away Joe
# Venezuela
# Shenandoah
# Erie Canal
# Eddystone Light

"Songs of the Frontier" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559918: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

# Ox-Driving Song
# Sweet Betsy from Pike
# Dreary Black Hills
# Peter Gray
# Sioux Indians
# Joe Bowers
# What Was Your Name in the States
# Buffalo Gals
# Greer County bachelor
# Roving Gambler
# Chisholm Trail
# Old Paint
# Sod Shanty
# Git along Little Dogies
# The Young Man who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn
# I’ve Got No Use for Women
# The Hand-Cart Song
# Brigham Young

"Songs of Expanding America" [Library of Congress Catalogue, LCCN 2001559919: [http://catalog.loc.gov/ link] ]

Track listing

# Streets of Laredo
# Billy the Kid
# John Hardy
# Jesse James
# Drill Ye Tarriers
# Blue Mountain Lake
# Patrick on the Railroad
# The Dying Hogger
# John Henry
# Down in the Valley
# When I Was Single
# Sourwood Mountain
# Cotton-Eyed Joe
# Cowboy’s Dream
# Life Is Like a Mountain Railroad
# Poor Boy
# Old Blue
# Midnight Special
# Big Rock Candy Mountain
# The Boll Weevil
# St. John’s River

Trivia

* The set was selling for $59.50 in 1951 or $10.95 per album. ["Library Journal", 15 March 1951, p. 540]
* Ives's wife Helen was a "production consultant" on the project. [Front cover, "Songs of the Colonies", Album 1 of "Historical America in Songs", N.p.: Encyclopedia Britannica Films, 1950.]

Further reading

* Robert C. Pooley, untitled review of "Songs of the North and South", in"The English Journal", vol. 42, no. 2. (February 1953), pp. 117-118. "The range of material is too wide for the artistry of Burl Ives. He is excellent in the topical, humorous, and folk songs, but he lacks depth and conviction in the spirituals."
* Edwin B. Knowles, untitled review of "Songs of the Sea", in "The English Journal", vol. 42, no. 3 (March 1953), p. 176. "Musically speaking, most of these songs are a joy to listen to. Ives's abilities as a vocalist and guitar player are here up to par.... Here can be felt the haunting sadness and mystery of the sea, the contagious rolling rhythms of group labor, the sailor's dreams of sweethearts and gold, plus a saving touch of simple humor and Munchausen fantasy."

References