Enjoying Johnny Horton's vocal style and songs might be a learned taste, but once you develop it, it's a difficult habit to break. This genre of song is almost totally extinct today, but Horton was a master at the historical narrative put to catchy melodies. Who else sang songs about such historical events as the sinking of the Bismarck, Andrew Jackson and the war of 1812 or the Alaskan gold rush? Horton's musical style bridges the gulf of generations: it's easy to see a child loving these songs, or an elderly retired person.
Horton's plaintive wail in his songs is one of his trademarks, notice the way there's a tremor in the way he phrases, "*North* to Alaska," and in Jim Bridger, "Lift your glasses *high!*" Some amazing tenor notes in these two standards. This is a lovely collection of songs which are catchy and fun to listen to. They also bear endless repetition, it's hard to listen to "Battle of New Orleans" and not want to heat it endlessly repeated. Great stuff here.
Not only do I love this man's voice, I love the stories that he tells. I grew up listening to Johnny Horton and was absolutely thrilled to find this cd. Brings back warm fuzzy memories from my childhood.
This CD is fun to listen to and would be enjoyed by anyone that likes classic country music, Johnny Horton especially.
Mom is never happy with the gifts I send to her and she loved this CD. She not only called me to tell me so, she read every song off the CD cover to me so that I would know what she had received.
A stroll down memory lane with the songs on this album. I surprised myself by still knowing all the words
