It's Just My Funny Way of Laughin'
Burl Ives · 1962
27 min · 12 tracks · folk music
A vibrant blend of folk and pop, infused with playful storytelling and Ives' signature warm baritone.
Top tracks — play these first
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Funny Way Of Laughin' Start here — As the title track, it encapsulates Ives' playful lyrical style and catchy melody, becoming one of his most recognizable songs.
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I Ain't Comin' Home Tonight — This track stands out for its storytelling, blending humor with melancholy as it portrays a character's defiance and whimsical resolve.
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Call Me Mr. In-Between — The song showcases Ives' narrative strength, presenting an engaging character study wrapped in a catchy chorus that reflects his folk roots.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid folk compositions with a storytelling approach but lacks standout moments that elevate it.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, primarily guitar and banjo, throughout its twelve tracks.
- Each song typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with Ives's deep baritone voice delivering the lyrics in a storytelling manner.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response elements, particularly in the choruses, creating an engaging dynamic.
- The pacing varies slightly, but most songs maintain a moderate tempo that aligns with traditional folk music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short bursts of playful energy
- lighthearted storytelling with charm
- quick, catchy tunes for fun
- easy listening for social gatherings
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy immersive albums
- seek deep emotional narratives
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album helped solidify Burl Ives' popularity in the early 1960s.
- Career context
- Released in 1962, It's Just My Funny Way of Laughin' marked Burl Ives' transition from a prominent folk singer to a mainstream pop artist. This album followed his Oscar-winning role in the film 'The Big Country', solidifying his crossover appeal and bringing his music to a broader audience during the early 1960s.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Pete Seeger· Woody Guthrie· The Weavers
Tracklist
- 1 Funny Way Of Laughin' Start here 2:43
- 2 Sixteen Fathoms Down 2:17
- 3 Brooklyn Bridge 2:25
- 4 Ninety-Nine 2:13
- 5 Thumbin' Johnny Brown
- 6 I Ain't Comin' Home Tonight 2:26
- 7 What You Gonna Do, Leroy? 2:35
- 8 In Foggy Old London 2:05
- 9 That's All I Can Remember 3:00
- 10 Mother Wouldn't Do That 2:27
- 11 Poor Little Jimmie 2:18
- 12 Call Me Mr. In-Between 2:41
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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