Although he started out as a secular "hillbilly boogie" singer, recording secular novelty songs Tennessee Ernie Ford devoted the lion's share of his career to religious material, tirelessly recording album after album of spirituals, hymns and Christmas music. Indeed, this discography page exists almost exclusively because of my Country Gospel and Hillbilly Holiday guides... It was just taking up too much space to list all of Ford's albums on those pages! A lot of Ford's goofball charm was lost in the more dour, serious confines of his gospel work... And yet, there had to have been something there, 'cause he sure stuck with it for a long, long time!
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Ultimate Collection" (Razor & Tie, 1997)
The title's probably right on this one -- a better collection of Ford's work may come out some day, but this 2-CD set is pretty much as good as we've any right to expect for now. It doesn't skew too far in any direction -- his early true country material is given its due, along with his subsequent interminable forays into cheesoid pop crooning and syrupy white gospel. But no matter which phase of his career you like best, it must be said this is a remarkably well-balanced, honest portrait of his career. It also has several interesting performances from his days as a TV show host, including some glitzy, bombastic duets with jazz/pop vocals divas Kay Starr, Helen O'Connell and even film comedienne Betty Hutton. A nice balance of styles and eras, which reflects Ford's diverse tastes... Recommended!
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" (Capitol, 1970)
Apparently this is a straight reissue of one of his religious albums from 1970... The vocal backing is by the San Quentin prison choir...
Tennessee Ernie Ford "22 Favorite Hymns" (Ranwood, 1983)
A generous sampling ofreligious material from his Capitol years...
Tennessee Ernie Ford "All-Time Greatest Hymns" (Curb, 1990)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Greatest Hits -- The Original Capitol Recordings" (Curb, 1993)
A budget-line best-of that covers his secular material, and apparently is drawn from the original versions. Includes biggies like "Sixteen Tons," "Mule Train" and "Shotgun Boogie," which is all very well and fine, except that there are only ten tracks on this disc. It's affordable, but kind of skimpy and potentially unsatisfying... You might want to try a more generously programmed collection to really get a flavor of Ford's work...
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Amazing Grace: 40 Treasured Hymns" (Chordant, 1998)
A 2-CD religious set that spans Ford's career from the mid-'Fifties to his later years
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Amazing Grace: 40 Treasured Hymns" (Chordant, 1998)
A 2-CD religious set that spans Ford's career from the mid-'Fifties to his later years
Tennessee Ernie Ford "This Lusty Land" (Capitol, 1956)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Hymns" (Capitol, 1956)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Spirituals" (Capitol, 1957)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Ford Favorites" (Capitol, 1957)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Ol' Rockin' Ern" (Capitol, 1956)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Nearer The Cross" (Capitol, 1958)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Star Carol" (Capitol, 1958)
A Christmas album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Gather 'Round" (Capitol, 1959)
Tennessee Ernie Ford & The Jordanaires "A Friend We Have" (Capitol, 1959)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing A Hymn With Me" (Capitol, 1960)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing A Spiritual With Me" (Capitol, 1960)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons" (Capitol, 1960)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Come To The Fair" (Capitol, 1960)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Civil War Songs Of The North" (Capitol, 1961)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Civil War Songs Of The South" (Capitol, 1961)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "...Looks At Love" (Capitol, 1961)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Hymns At Home" (Capitol, 1961)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Mississippi Showboat (Capitol, 1961)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "I Love To Tell The Story" (Capitol, 1962)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "...Sings From His Favorite Book Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1962)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "We Gather Together" (Capitol, 1963)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford & The Roger Wagner Chorale "The Story Of Christmas" (Capitol, 1963)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Great Gospel Songs" (Capitol, 1964)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The World's Best Loved Hymns" (Capitol, 1964)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Let Me Walk With Thee" (Capitol, 1965)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sing We Now Of Christmas" (Capitol, 1964)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Wonderful Peace" (Capitol, 1966)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "God Lives" (Capitol, 1966)
Religious album. (Surprise!)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Faith Of Our Fathers" (Capitol, 1967)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford & Marilyn Horne "Our Garden Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1968)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Best Of Hymns" (Capitol, 1968)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "O, Come All Ye Faithful" (Capitol, 1968)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Songs I Like To Sing" (Capitol, 1969)
Secular album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Pop Plus Country Plus Folk" (Capitol, 1969)
...Equals...??
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Holy Holy Holy" (Capitol, 1969)
Religious album. (Duh.)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "America The Beautiful" (Capitol, 1970)
A patriotic album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Christmas Album" (Capitol, 1970)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sweet Hour Of Prayer" (Capitol, 1970)
Religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Everything Is Beautiful" (Capitol, 1970)
A secular album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Abide With Me" (Capitol, 1971)
A religious album.
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Christmas" (Capitol, 1971)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "The Folk Album" (Capitol, 1971)
Tennessee Ernie Ford "Mr. Words And Music" (Capitol, 1972)
