The Wayfaring Stranger cover

The Wayfaring Stranger

Burl Ives · 1955

59 min · 29 tracks · folk music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

48 /100
Foothills
Higher than 19% of albums we've rated

Traditional folk arrangements highlight storytelling but may not stand out in a broader context.

What we noticed

  • The album features traditional folk songs, each arranged for solo voice and acoustic guitar, emphasizing storytelling.
  • Tracks vary in tempo, with some like 'The Foggy Foggy Dew' being more upbeat while others like 'Black Is The Color' are slower and more reflective.
  • The final track, 'Henry Martyn (Pirate Ballad)', concludes the album with a narrative-driven performance that contrasts with the preceding songs.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 2/10

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.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Leather-Winged Bat 1:18
  • 2 Cotton-Eyed Joe 0:48
  • 3 Sweet Betsy From Pike 1:40
  • 4 On Top of Old Smoky 1:36
  • 5 I Know Where I'm Going 1:28
  • 6 I Know My Love 1:40
  • 7 Cowboy's Lament 2:38
  • 8 Wee Cooper O'Fife 1:29
  • 9 Riddle Song 1:30
  • 10 Tam Pierce (Old Engliser) 2:15
  • 11 Peter Gray 2:31
  • 12 Darlin' Cory 3:14
  • 13 John Hardy 2:30
  • 14 Colorado Trail 0:45
  • 15 Roving Gambler 1:43
  • 16 Bonnie Wee Lassie 2:07
  • 17 The Divil and the Farmer 2:07
  • 18 On Springfield Mountain 2:28
  • 19 Little Mohee 3:02
  • 20 Troubador Song 2:18
  • 21 Robin, He Married 1:22
  • 22 Lavender Cowboy 1:17
  • 23 Green Broom 2:52
  • 24 High Barbaree 3:16
  • 25 I've Got No Use for Women 3:06
  • 26 Old Paint 2:12
  • 27 Baby Did You Hear 1:51
  • 28 Pueblo Gal 1:15
  • 29 Pretty Polly 3:12

What to play next

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Reference: MusicBrainz