When it comes to Burl Ives, the world has (kind of) got it wrong. Justifiably renowned as a folk troubadour, yuletide and children’s entertainer, what you may not know is that Burl could drink anybody under the table, possessed a sharp social conscience and a temper like a trooper. Hounded by Senator Joseph McCarthy and his House Un-American Activities Committee, Ives ended up in (of all places) Nashville. Once you hear this disc it all just might make sense. Craven materialism, alcoholism, polygamy, murder, pornography, psychedelic communes (and more) are all here examined on this 31 track CD with a jocular tone and a twinkle in Burl’s cheeky eye. Amassed from his prodigious 1960s and early 1970s Decca/MCA Nashville recordings, forgotten 45s, overlooked album cuts and previously unreleased tracks, is a vivid portrait of an almost unknown Ives. Deluxe collector’s edition remastered from the original tapes with exclusive liner notes and rare photos.