“The Wayfaring Stranger” Album Review

Album: The Wayfaring Stranger

Artist: Burl Ives

Year: 1944

Genre: English Folk

Grade: B+

Long before he was the Snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Burl Ives was an itinerant folk musician who wandered the United States during the Great Depression. With a warm, welcoming voice, it was only a matter of time before he found success. His 1944 release The Wayfaring Stranger is an early document of his non-holiday musical talents.

Nevertheless, The Wayfaring Stranger might not be the best predictor of what Ives was all about. The collection is heavily influenced by olde English folk ballads — slow, haunting, barren. Even still, Ives’ friendly singing brings these tunes to life, and it’s no surprise that the evocative title track became one of his signature songs.

Stranger’s influences predate turn-of-the-20^th-century Appalachian styles for the type of early music you’d probably find in Scotland circa 1750. All Ives needs to do is trade his guitar for a lute, and we’d be transported back to the 18^th century.

The nice thing about traditional music is that it never really goes out of style. A good melody is a good melody, plain and simple. But for an even catchier melody, I’d suggest “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.”

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