MMario's just about right. If you listen to the tracks by the Union Boys, recorded by Asch and organized by Alan Lomax, you'll come across one kind of Burl Ives. Unlike Josh White, who may well have compromised his music but not his political beliefs, Burl Ives compromised both. He never acknowledged Alan Lomax's help in his career, perhaps because the latter was the wrong side of the political fence. His Decca records are blandly but pleasantly performed folk songs. His "Little Biddy Tear" etc unspeakable. Fine actor. He betrayed his former colleagues before HUAC and someone (can anyone recall who?) described him as "the only man who can sing folk songs crawling on his belly" Dr John