Burl Ives (1909–1995) was an American musician, actor, and author with a career that spanned more than six decades. He began as an itinerant singer and guitarist, eventually becoming a major star of CBS Radio. Ives was a film actor in the 1940s and 1950s, and in the 1960s had hits in country music. His voice-over work in Christmas specials contributed to his association with the Christmas season.
Albums Okeh Presents the Wayfaring Stranger (1941, Okeh K-3, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm) The Wayfaring Stranger (1944, Asch 345, 3 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm, reissued in 1947 as Stinson 345 [same catalog number], 10 inch, 78 rpm) The Wayfaring Stranger (1944, Columbia C-103, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm) BBC Presents The Martins and the Coys (1944, BBC World, 6 records, 12 inch, 78 rpm) Lonesome Train: A Musical Legend (1944, Decca A-375, 3 records, 12 inch, 78 rpm, reissued in 1950 as Decca DL 5054, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Sing Out, Sweet Land! (1945, Decca A-404, 6 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm) A Collection of Ballads and Folk Songs (1945, Decca A-407, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm, reissued in 1950 as A Collection of Ballads and Folk Songs, Volume 1, Decca DL 5080, 10 inch 33 rpm) Ballads and Folk Songs, Volume 2 (1946, Decca A-431, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm, reissued in 1949 as Decca DL 5013, 10 inch, 33 rpm) A Collection of Ballads, Folk and Country Songs, Volume 3 (1949, Decca A-711, 3 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm, reissued in 1950 as Decca DL 5093, 10 inch, 33 rpm) The Wayfaring Stranger (1949, Stinson SLP 1, 10 inch, 78 rpm, reissued circa 1954 as Blue Tail Fly and Other Favorites, Stinson SL 1 [same catalog number], 12 inch, 33 rpm) Animal Fair: Songs for Children (1949, Columbia MJV 59, 2 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm) Mother Goose Songs (1949, Columbia MJV 61, 10 inch, 78 rpm) The Return of the Wayfaring Stranger (1949, C-186, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm, also released as Columbia CL 6058, 10 inch, 33 rpm) The Wayfaring Stranger (1950, Columbia CL 6109, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Hymns Sung by Burl Ives (1950, Columbia C-203, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm; Columbia CL 6115, 10 inch, 33 rpm) More Folksongs (1950, Columbia C-213, 4 records, 10 inch, 78 rpm; Columbia CL 6144, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Burl Ives Sings The Lollipop Tree, The Little Turtle, And The Moon Is The North Wind's Cookie (1950, Columbia MJV 110, 10 inch, 78 rpm) Tubby The Tuba (Victor Jory)/Animal Fair: Songs for Children (1950, Columbia JL 8013, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Sing Out, Sweet Land! (1950, Decca DL 8023, 12 inch, 33 rpm, reissued in 1962 as Decca DL 4304/74304 [simulated stereo]) Historical America in Song (1950, Encyclopædia Britannica Films, 6 albums in 30 records, 12 inch, 78 rpm) Christmas Day in the Morning (1952, Decca DL 5428, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Folk Songs Dramatic And Humorous (1953, Decca DL 5467, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Women: Songs About The Fair Sex (1953, Decca DL 5490, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Coronation Concert (1954, Decca DL 8080, 12 inch, 33 rpm) The Wayfaring Stranger (1955, Columbia CL 628, 12 inch, 33 rpm, reissued in 1964 as Columbia CS 9041 [simulated stereo]) The Wild Side of Life (1955, Decca DL 8107, 12 inch, 33 rpm) Men: Songs For And About Men (1955, Decca DL 8125, 12 inch, 33 rpm) Down to the Sea in Ships (1956, Decca DL 8245, 12 inch, 33 rpm) Women: Folk Songs About The Fair Sex (1956, Decca DL 8245, 12 inch, 33 rpm, with 4 additional songs) Burl Ives Sings In The Quiet Of The Night (1956, Decca DL 8247) Burl Ives Sings... For Fun (1956, Decca DL 8248) Children's Favorites (1956, Columbia CL 2570, 10 inch, 33 rpm) Burl Ives Sings Songs For All Ages (1957, Columbia CL 980) Christmas Eve With Burl Ives (1957, Decca DL 8391) Songs Of Ireland (1958, Decca DL 8444) Captain Burl Ives' Ark (1958, Decca DL 8587) Old Time Varieties (1958, Decca DL 8637) Australian Folk Songs (1958, Decca DL 8749) A Lincoln Treasury (contains Lonesome Train: A Musical Legend) (1959, Decca DL 9065) Cheers (1959, Decca DL 8886/78886) Burl Ives Sings Little White Duck and Other Children's Favorites (1959, Harmony HL 9507, reissued circa 1963 as Harmony HS 14507 [simulated stereo], reissued again in 1974 as Columbia C 33183 [simulated stereo]) Ballads (1959, United Artists UAL 3030/UAS 6030) Return Of The Wayfaring Stranger (1960, Columbia CL 1459 and Hallmark HM 514, 12 inch, 33/13 rpm) Burl Ives Sings Irving Berlin (1960, United Artists UAL 3117/UAS 6117) Manhattan Troubadour (1961, United Artists Records UAL 3145/UAS 6145, reissued with two fewer songs as Burl Ives Favorites, 1970, Sunset SUS 5280) The Best Of Burl Ives (1961, Decca DX 167/DXS 7167 [simulated stereo], 2 records, reissued in 1973 as MCA 4034 [simulated stereo], 2 records) The Versatile Burl Ives! (1961, Decca DL 4152/74152) Songs Of The West (1961, Decca DL 4179/74179, reissued as MCA 196) It's Just My Funny Way Of Laughin' (1962, Decca DL 4279/74279) Burl Country Style (1962, Decca DL 4361/74361) Spotlight On Burl Ives And The Folk Singers Three (1962, Design DLP/SDLP 156) Sunshine In My Soul (1962, Decca DL 4329/74329) Songs I Sang In Sunday School (1963, Word W-3229-LP/ WST-8130-LP) Burl Ives (1963, Camay CA 3005) Burl Ives and the Korean Orphan Choir Sing of Faith and Joy (1963, Word W-3259-LP/WST-8140-LP) Singin' Easy (1963, Decca DL 4433/74433) The Best Of Burl's For Boys And Girls (1963, Decca DL 4390/74390 [simulated stereo], reissued in 1980 as MCA 98 [simulated stereo]) Walt Disney Presents Summer Magic (1963, Buena Vista BV 3309/STER 4025) Burl Ives Presents America's Musical Heritage (1963, Longines Symphonette Society LW 194-LW 199, 6 records) Walt Disney Presents Burl Ives' Animal Folk (1963, Disneyland ST 3920) Walt Disney Presents Burl Ives' Folk Lullabies (1964, Disneyland ST 3924) Scouting Along with Burl Ives (1964, Columbia CSP 347) True Love (1964, Decca DL 4533/74533) Burl Ives Sings Pearly Shells and Other Favorites (1964, Decca DL 4578/74578, reissued as MCA 102) Chim Chim Cher-ee And Other Children's Choices (1964, Disneyland ST 3927) Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964, Decca DL 34327/4815/74815) My Gal Sal And Other Favorites (1965, Decca DL 4606/74606) On The Beach At Waikiki (1965, Decca DL 4668/74668) Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (1965, Decca DL 4689/74689, reissued as MCA 237) Shall We Gather At The River? (1965, Word W-3339-LP/WST-8339-LP) The Lollipop Tree (1965, Harmony HL 9551/HS 14551) The Daydreamer (1966, Columbia OL 6540/OS 2940) Burl's Choice (1966, Decca DL 4734/74734) Something Special (1966, Decca DL 4789/74789) I Do Believe (1967, Word W-3391-LP/WST-8391-LP) Burl Ives Sings (1967, Coronet CXS 271) Greatest Hits (1967, Decca DL 4850/74850) Burl's Broadway (1967, Decca DL 4876/74876) The Big Country Hits (1968, Decca DL 4972/74972) Sweet, Sad And Salty (1968, Decca DL 5028/75028) The Times They Are A-Changin' (1968, Columbia CS 9675) Christmas Album (1968, Columbia CS 9728) Burl Ives Sings Softly And Tenderly Hymns & Spirituals (1969, Columbia CS 9925) Got The World By The Tail (1969, Harmony HS 11275) Burl Ives Folk Songs And Stories (1969, Columbia CR 21526) Time (1970, Bell 6055, reissued as The Talented Man, 1978, Bulldog 1027) How Great Thou Art (1971, Word WST-8537-LP) A Day At The Zoo With Burl Ives (1972 Disneyland Records 1347) Christmas at the White House (1972, Caedmon TC 1415) Payin' My Dues Again (1973, MCA 318) Song Book (1973, MCA Coral CB 20029) Little Red Caboose And Other Children's Hits (1974, Disneyland 1359) The Best Of Burl Ives, Vol. 2 (1975, MCA 4089, 2 records) Hugo The Hippo (1976, United Artists LA-637-G) Christmas by the Bay (1977, United States Navy Band) We Americans: A Musical Journey With Burl Ives (1978, National Geographic Society NGS 07806) Live In Europe (1979, Polydor 2382094) The Special Magic Of Burl Ives (1981, MCA MSM 35043) Burl Ives Twelve Days Of Christmas (1967), Pickwick Records SPC 1018) Best of Burl Ives: 20th Century Masters/The Christmas Collection (September 23, 2003)
Hit singles Year Single Chart positions US USAC US Country AU CAN CHUMRPM UK 1948 "Blue Tail Fly" (With The Andrews Sisters And Vic Schoen's Orchestra) 24 — — — — — 1949 "Lavender's Blue (Dilly Dilly)" (With Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers) 16 — 13 1 — — "Riders In The Sky (A Cowboy Legend)" 21 — — — — — 1951 "On Top Of Old Smoky" (With Percy Faith And His Orchestra) 10 — — — — — "The Little White Duck" — — — 15 — — 1952 "The Wild Side of Life" (With Grady Martin And The Slewfoot Five) 30 — 6 — — — 1954 "The Parting Song" — — — 17 — — "True Love Goes On And On" (With Gordon Jenkins And His Orchestra And Chorus) 23 — — — — — 1957 "Marianne" (With The Trinidaddies) 84 — — — — — 1961 "A Little Bitty Tear" (With The Anita Kerr Singers And Owen Bradley's Orchestra) 9 1 2 3 6 9 1962 "Funny Way of Laughin'" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra) 10 3 9 7 18 29 "Call Me Mr. In-Between" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra) 19 6 3 18 10 — "Mary Ann Regrets" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra And Chorus) 39 13 12 15 6 — 1963 "The Same Old Hurt" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra and Chorus) 91 — — — 17 — "Baby Come Home To Me" 131 — — — — — "I'm The Boss" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra And Chorus) 111 — — 86 — — "This Is All I Ask" 67 — — — — — "It Comes And Goes" 124 — — 94 — — "True Love Goes On And On" (second entry) 66 — — — — — 1964 "Pearly Shells (Popo O Ewa)" (With Owen Bradley's Orchestra) 60 12 — 22 — — 1965 "My Gal Sal" (with Owen Bradley's Orchestra) 122 — — — 18 — "Chim Chim Cher-ee" 120 — — — 6 — 1966 "Evil Off My Mind" — — 47 — — — 1967 "Lonesome 7-7203" — — 72 — — — 1968 "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (with Robert Mersey's Orchestra) 133 35 — 28 — — 1970 "One More Time Billy Brown" — — — — 25 —
Holiday 100 chart entries Since many radio stations in the US adopt a format change to Christmas music each December, many holiday hits have an annual spike in popularity during the last few weeks of the year and are retired once the season is over. In December 2011, Billboard began a Holiday Songs chart with 50 positions that monitors the last five weeks of each year to "rank the top holiday hits of all eras using the same methodology as the Hot 100, blending streaming, airplay, and sales data", and in 2013 the number of positions on the chart was doubled, resulting in the Holiday 100. Two Ives recordings have made appearances on the Holiday 100 and are noted below according to the holiday season in which they charted there.
Title Holiday season peak chart positions Album 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 "A Holly Jolly Christmas" 6 5 5 8 4 7 4 4 3 4 3 4 5 5 12 Have a Holly Jolly Christmas "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 38 — 67 31 41 29 50 48 46 57 49 40 42 49 44
Other singles (selected) "Foggy, Foggy Dew / "Rodger Young" (1945, 10 in., 78 rpm, Decca 23405) "Grandfather Kringle" / "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (1951, 10 in., 78 rpm, Columbia MJV-124) "Great White Bird" / "Brighten The Corner Where You Are" (1953, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 28849) "That's My Heart Strings" / "The Bus Stop Song" (1956, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 30046) "We Loves Ye Jimmy" / "I Never See Maggie Alone" (1959, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 30855) "A Little Bitty Tear" / "Shanghied" (1961, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31330) "Funny Way of Laughin'" / "Mother Wouldn't Do That" (1962, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31371) "Call Me Mr. In-Between" / "What You Gonna Do, Leroy?" (1962, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31405) "Mary Ann Regrets / "How Do You Fall Out Of Love?" (1962, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31433) "The Twelve Days of Christmas" / "Indian Christmas Carol" (1962, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 25585) "I'm The Boss" / "The Moon Is High" (1963, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31504) "True Love Goes On And On" / "I Wonder What's Become Of Sally" (1963, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31571) "On The Front Porch" / "Ugly Bug Ball" (1963, 7 in., 45 rpm, Buena Vista 419) "Four Initials On A Tree" / "This Is Your Day" (1964, 7 in., 45 rpm, Decca 31610)