Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The Korean Orphan Choir, in 1968 renamed the Korean Children's Choir, were ambassadors in the '60s about whom World Vision founder Bob Pierce said, "if the suffering children of the world have a voice, it is that of the Korean Children's Choir." Putting them together with that foIky purveyor of homespun ditties and of time religion Burl Ives probably made a great deal of commercial sense but, not for the first time in the Timeless Classics series, this reissue shows up the musical limitations of '60s evangelicalism. Twee arrangements of hymns, much loved and obscure, show up both Burl's distinct vocal limitations and the choir conductor's state in florid arrangements. If you're a collector of curios you might want "Everything Is Beautiful" demonstrating the Korean kids' inability to pronounce "Beautiful", but really this compilation is another example of how this era of Christian music was often awash with maudlin sentimentality.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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