Al: That is awesome! You can't beat a small town and the folks who still respect where they came from. Thank you for sharing that.
Foggy: I'll respectfully disagree with you on the qualities of AATW's vocals. I like Ray Benson's voice and, more importantly, I like Burl Ives just as well. Most of us, in our 50's, grew up with that man and his music plus narrations of Christmas shows. They resonate just as deeply with me as Vince Guaraldi's wonderful jazz on all of those swell Charlie Brown specials.
Brother, when my folks let me watch "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof" for the first time I was shocked with Ives' performance as Big Daddy: sweating, whiskey soaked and twisted into next week by his own sins, perversions and societal restrictions. To me, he was astonishing and he also proved his amazing chops as an actor.
For what it's worth, I'm pretty active in Boy Scouting as was Burl Ives while I was growing up - ditto Bob Hope and Jimmy Stewart - so I'm prejudiced as hell, Foggy. I love the guy.
Cheers,
Fnord