I Remember Red: My Tribute to Red Foley

Red Foley was Pat Boone’s father-in-law, and the pop singer had been married to his daughter 30 years (and Foley had been dead 15) when he cut this collection of his favorite Foley songs on April 14 and 15, 1983. Ten years later, on May 19, 1993, overdubs were added. Thus, this album, released on a budget label, has been a long time coming. Boone is more interested in Foley’s religious material than his secular songs, though big hits like “Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy” and “Tennessee Saturday Night” are included, sounding somewhat out of place among the more solemn stuff. Despite the family connection and his own religious convictions, Boone has no particular affinity for the material, which he sings with his usual game engagement, but without much feeling. With the Jordanaires chiming in and a song list that includes “Old Shep” and “There Will Be Peace In The Valley,” you can’t help comparing this to Elvis Presley, and ironically, even on what ought to be his own ground, Boone is beaten by Presley again, just as he was on the rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s.