Burl Ives - A Little Bitty Tear

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With his grandfatherly image, Burl Ives parlayed his talent as a folksinger into a wide-ranging career as a radio personality and stage and screen actor. After spending his early 20s traveling the country as an itinerant singer, Ives moved to New York City in 1937. By the end of 1938, he had made his Broadway debut, and he also sang folk songs in Greenwich Village clubs. In 1940, Ives began to appear regularly on radio, including his own show, The Wayfarin' Stranger, on CBS. Ives made his first records for Stinson, a small folk label, then was signed to Decca, a major label. He made his movie debut in Smoky in 1946. In 1948, his first book, Wayfaring Stranger, was published. In 1949, he had his first chart hit with "Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)." The same year, he moved to Columbia Records. With the advent of the long-playing record, Ives suddenly had a flurry of LP releases from his three labels: The Wayfaring Stranger on Stinson; three volumes of Ballads & Folk Songs, Women: Folk Songs About the Fair Sex, Folk Songs Dramatic and Humorous, and Christmas Day in the Morning on Decca; and Wayfaring Stranger, Return of the Wayfaring Stranger, More Folk Songs, American Hymns, The Animal Fair and Mother Goose Songs on Columbia. He also recorded a series of albums for Encyclopedia Brittanica Films under the overall title Historical America in Song. In 1951, he hit the Top Ten with "On Top of Old Smoky." In 1952, he returned to Decca. While continuing to publish books and to act on Broadway and in the movies, Ives made a series of albums that included Coronation Concert, The Wild Side of Life, Men, Down to the Sea in Ships, In the Quiet of the Night, Burl Ives Sings for Fun, Songs of Ireland, Old Time Varieties, Captain Burl Ives' Ark, Australian Folk Songs, and Cheers, all released in the second half of the 1950s. In 1961, Ives oriented himself toward country music, resulting in the hit "A Little Bitty Tear," which made the Top Ten in both the pop and country charts. The single was contained on The Versatile Burl Ives. "Funny Way of Laughin'" was another pop and country Top Ten in 1962; it appeared on It's Just My Funny Way of Laughin' and won Ives a Grammy Award for Best Country Western Recording. He turned his attention primarily to movie work from 1963 on, especially with the Walt Disney studio. But he charted with Pearly Shells in 1964 and made a children's album, Chim Chim Cheree and Other Children's Choices, for Disney Buena Vista Records. At the end of the '60s, Ives returned to Columbia Records for The Times They Are A-Changin' and Softly and Tenderly. He gave up popular recording, but returned in 1973 with the country album Payin' My Dues Again. He also continued to record children's music and also released several religious albums on Word Records. Turning 70 in 1979, he became less active and finally retired to Washington State. In the '90s, Decca and the German Bear Family label reissued many of his recordings.

~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• folk
• pop

[mprmn340]

Good question. I can't say I know, but I would be interested to know if anyone else sang in the same narrow range Burl Ives did, and did it as well. (Please no one say Willy Nelson...I really do mean someone who can sing)

[John1948TwoC]

@mprmn340 I think Kris Kristofferson had an even narrower range but I would never classify him as a good singer. He was a great song writer and could do some songs well enough for the music and his emotion to carry the day. I often enjoy listening to Kris.

[mprmn340]

Burl Ives was truly unique. He may have had only a 2 octave singing voice but what he lacked in range he more than made up with being able to sing every word like he meant it, and did so beautiflly. He also had an incredible ability to break into a song with an ease I've never seen others do.

[John1948TwoC]

@mprmn340 What is an average range? How many octaves?

[ButterflyLuv27]

My dad has played this song on the guitar since I was a toddler.....I love it, and it reminds me of him ;)

[Strygfyr]

The best song i ever listen to.. Love it, its just so good melody and text.

[impressiveimpression]

Another song written by Hank Cochran... Burl recorded a couple of Hank's tunes

[shmuli9]

@mprmn340 Mick Jagger.

[futurexways1]

@saxybarney

Meiner Meinung nach : " Nur eine kleine Träne von dir " ( 1962) Die Tramps oder Die Nordwinds oder Ronny....!

[saxybarney]

Love this song! Can anyone help me to find the German cover version for this? Bin mit diesem Lied in Deutschland aufgewachsen, kann es nict finden! Kann sich jemand erinnern, wer den Deutschen titel gesungen hat. Es fing an 2 NUR EINE KLEINE TRAENE VON DIR, SAGT MIR BITTE BLEIB HIER, WAS DU VERSCHWIEGEN HAST DAS SAGT SIE MIR, NUR EINE KLEINE TRAENE VON DIR" so aehnlich!!! The Buls Ives song is beautiful, so sincere !!!!!

[ali40m1]

This morning I was reflecting how we humans are so like each other. I'm from a different ancient culture that goes back 7000 years.We love, love stories, lamenting songs about sorrow of separation, elation of union, difficulties to consummate our love. This song is so beautiful. Comes from the heart and touches you. We are trying to keep a brave front and even act as clown to show levity even though our heart is broken. But try as we might, those little bitty tears let us down and overwhelms us

[MsGabork]

this is a very good piece of music sung by a truly good person-Burl Ives. A very fine actor as well. I think anybody thinking on running out the door on your other half should listen to this tune very carefully. No matter how tough we think we are, this hits it on the nailhead.

[donnelone]

Cheers mate. Great song!

[1f5sda]

Very nice!

[DAFUNK213]

This was my grandfathers favorite song.RIP Ned.

[Magryd3344]

Hi John, thanks for this one! I lost the one on one of my oldies playlist. Hope all is well with you. Have a Great Sunday!

Maggan