Sunday, December 27, 2009

12/27/09 Playlist

1. Elizabeth Cotten: New Year's Eve (When I'm Gone), Folkways LP, 1979

2. Adrienne Young & Tim O'Brien: (Why Can't Every Day Be) Just Like Christmas (single), Addie Belle www.adrienneyoung.com
3. Albert and Gage: Christmas Everyday (One More Christmas), Moon House www.albertandgage.com
4. Tamarack: Christmas All Year (Blankets of Snow), SGB Productions
I read William Dean Howells's "Christmas Every Day" (published by Pocket Books, 1996)

Did you spend time with your family over the holidays?
5. Beth Nielsen Chapman: Years (Greatest Hits), Reprise
6. Lou and Peter Berryman: Big Dead Bird (House Concert), Cornbelt http://louandpeter.com
7. Loudon Wainwright III: Christmas Morning (Bah Humbug), Greentrax www.greentrax.com
8. Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison: Oklahoma Christmas (Happy Holidays), self www.kellywillis.com 9. Dar Williams: The Christians and the Pagans (The Christians and The Pagans -- EP), Razor & Tie
10. Tim O'Brien: Bah Humbug (Christmas on The Mountain), Universal South

Post-Christmas:
11. Ilene Weiss: Tree (Weiss Christmas), Gadfly www.gadflyrecords.com
12. Michael Dunkley & Suzanne Ives: Take the Tree Out to The Curb (A Holiday Feast Vol. VII), Hungry for Music www.hungryformusic.com
13. Misty River: Don't Take Down the Mistletoe (Mid Winter), self www.mistyriverband.com

New Year's Eve:
14. Geoff Bartley: Blue Moon on New Year's Eve (Put the Big Stone Down), Magic Crow www.geoffbartley.com
15. Bruce Pratt: First Night (Living above The Ground), West River Cassette 1994
16. Eliza Gilkyson: Riverside (Lost and Found), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
17. Gretchen Peters: New Year's Eve 1999 (download), self www.gretchenpeters.com

18. Bob Zentz: The End of Another Year (download), self www.bobzentz.com
19. Nowell Sing We Clear: An Orkney New Year's Carol (The Best of Sing We Clear), Front Hall 20. Jay Ansill with John Gorka: Song for New Year's Eve (A Lost World), BCN www.jayansill.com
21. Wil Maring: Things Will Be Better Next Year (An Ocean from Home), Bear Family
22. Slaid Cleaves: One Good Year (Broke Down), Philo www.rounder.com
23. Ian Robb: Song for The New Year (Rose & Crown), Folk-Legacy
24. Loreena McKennitt: The Old Ways (A Christmas Radio Sampler 1999), Quinlan Road www.quinlanroad.com
25. Sean Tyrrell: The Rising of The Moon (The Orchard), Longwalk Music

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Adam Rafferty's "A Christmas Guitar Celebration," self www.adamrafferty.com

Resolutions: I read Nadine Stair's "If I Had My Life to Live Over...."
26. Mary Chapin Carpenter: Late for Your Life (Time * Sex * Love), Columbia
27. Out Behind the Barn: New Year's Resolution (A Holiday Feast), Hungry for Music www.hungryformusic.com
28. Kitty Donohoe: Do What You Love (This Road Tonight), Roheen www.kittydonohoe.com
29. Colum Sands: One of These Days (All My Winding Journeys), Spring
30. Christine Lavin: The Moment Slipped Away (Beau Woes and Other Problems of Modern Life), Philo LP
31. Claire Lynch: Who Knows What Tomorrow Will Bring (Silver and Gold), Rounder www.rounder.com
32. Michael Smith: Last Day of Pompeii (Michael Smith Love Stories), Flying Fish

33. Carla Sciaky: There Are Many Roads (Awakening), Green Linnet
34. James Taylor: That Lonesome Road (Live), Columbia
35. Eliza Gilkyson: Mama's Little Baby (Misfits), Realiza www.elizagilkyson.com

I read a Quaker Benediction:
36. Dixie Chicks: I Hope (Taking the Long Way), Open Wide/Columbia
37. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Sunday, December 20, 2009

12/20/09 Playlist

1. Jay Ungar, Molly Mason et al: The Solstice Set (The Pleasures of Winter), Fiddle & Dance www.jayandmolly.com
2. Heritage: Newgrange (A Christmas Heritage), Six Degrees
3. Herdman / Hills / Mangsen: At The Turning of The Year (At the Turning of The Year), Hand and Heart Music www.compassrosemusic.com
4. Mary Chapin Carpenter: The Longest Night of The Year (Come Darkness, Come Light), Zoe Rounder www.rounder.com
5. Cris Williamson: Winter Hearts (Winter Hearts), Wolf Moon www.criswilliamson.com
6. Herdman / Hills / Mangsen: Voices of Winter / Red & Green (Voices of Winter), Gadfly www.gadflyrecords.com

For Jean Ritchie:
7. Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum: Wintergrace (Winter's Grace), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com

8. Christmas Revels Chorus: The Kentucky Wassail Carol (Wassail! Wassail!), Revels LP 1982
9. Jean Ritchie: The Christmas Tree (Wassail! Wassail!)
10. Ensemble: Chicken Foot (Wassail! Wassail!)
11. Jean Ritchie: Mountain Christmas Carolling (Wassail! Wassail!)
12. Chorus: Wondrous Love (Wassail! Wassail!)
I read "The Year of The Perfect Christmas Tree," written by Gloria Houston and published by Dial, 1988

Non-standard tellings of the Christmas story:
13. Richard Shindell: Before You Go (Wonderland), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com 14. Tommy Sands: The Bushes of Jerusalem (To Shorten the Winter), Green Linnet
15. The Chieftains / Jackson Browne: The Rebel Jesus (The Bells of Dublin), RCA Victor / BMG Classics
16. Hugh Blumenfeld: Longhaired Radical Socialist Jew (Rocket Science), Prime CD www.hughblumenfeld.com
17. Tish Hinojosa: Building #9 (From Texas for A Christmas Night), Texas Music Group www.txmusicgroup.com
18. Chris MacLean: The Promise of Peace (Feet Be Still), self www.chrismaclean.com
19. Collin Raye: What If Jesus Came Back Like That (I Think about You), Epic / Sony

"The holidays are here and we're still at war:"
20. John Gorka: Temporary Road (Temporary Road), High Street
21. Brett Dennen: The Holidays Are Here and We're Still at War (single), Dualtone
22. Roy Zimmerman: I Won't Be Home for Christmas (Peacenick), Metaphor www.royzimmerman.com
23. Jefferson Pepper: Christmas in Fallujah (Christmas in Fallujah), American Fallout www.americanfallout.com
24. Cris Williamson: Also, Abraham (Winter Hearts), Wolf Moon www.criswilliamson.com
25. Arlon Bennett: The Christmas Tree on Salem Street (Hudson Harding Sampler Volume 2), self www.hudsonharding.com
26. Jeff Talmadge: A Soldier's Christmas (EP), Bozart www.jefftalmadge.com
27. George Enslee: Christmas Truce of 1914 (download)

A little silly stuff:
28. Lou and Peter Berryman: Christmas Letter (Some Days), Cornbelt http://louandpeter.com 29. Carla Ulbrich: Let It Go (Live from Outer Space), Romantic Devil www.carlau.com
30. Roy Zimmerman: Give It All Back (download), Metaphor www.royzimmerman.com
31. Salamander Crossing: Dona Nobis Pacem (Homegrown Holidays), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
32. Nancy White: Tellin' The Christmas Lies (download), self www.myspace.com/nancywhitemusic
I read "The Lump of Coal" by Lemony Snicket, published by Harper Collins.

33. Merle Haggard: If We Make It Through December (A Christmas Present), Curb Records
34. The New St. George: Time to Remember the Poor (A Holiday Feast), Hungry for Music
35. Anais Mitchell: Song of The Magi (Born into The Whisper), Waterbug anthology www.waterbug.com

Maya Angelou read "Amazing Peace," a recording included in the book-version of the poem, published by Schwartz & Wade
36. Elvis Costello: What's So Funny ('bout Peace Love and Understanding), download
37. Maria Dunn: God Bless Us Everyone (Let It Snow!), GoGetm www.gogetm.ca
38. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Phyllis Boyens Has Died

This from Ken Irwin of Rounder Records:

Phyllis Boyens Liptak passed away on Wednesday December 9th. The daughter of old-time singer and songwriter Nimrod Workman, Phyllis Boyens was a soulful mountain singer who recorded her only solo album, "I Really Care," for Rounder in 1983.

Half the album was country, the other half bluegrass backed up by the Johnson Mountain Boys. The following year she recorded a number of songs as part of the album "They'll Never Keep Her Down," a compilation of songs by women about coal mining. On this album, she was backed up by the short lived bluegrass band The Dreadful Snakes which included Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas.

In 1980, she played Loretta Lynn's mother in the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter" and in 1984 she appeared in the TV movie, "The Doll Maker."

The folks at "Root Hog or Die" (http://roothogordie.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/r-i-p-phyllis-workman-boyens-liptak/) posted this video of Boyens and Workman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwuvDfc51mM

Sunday, December 13, 2009

12/13/09 Playlist

1. The Klezmatics: Dybbuk Shers (Festival of Light), Six Degrees
2. Heather Masse: Hollywood (Bird Song), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
3. Southpaw Jones: Wheat Threshers (Cruelty), Freshly Picked www.southpawjones.com
4. Heather Styka: The Sun Also Rises (Travel and Teacups), self http://heatherstyka.com

5. John Gorka: Where No Monuments Stand (So Dark You See), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
6. Caroline Herring: Song of The Wandering Aengus (Golden Apples of The Sun), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
7. Steve Earle: Marie (Townes), New West www.newwestrecords.com
8. Anne Hills: Holy Now (Points of View), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com

9. MiraMar Klezmers: Al Hanissim / Adir Hu (A Chanukah Feast), Hungry for Music www.hungryformusic.com
10. Robin Greenstein: Celebrate Chanukah (single download)
11 & 12. The Klezmatics: Happy Joyous Hanuka & The Many and The Few (Woody Guthrie's Happy Joyous Hanukkah), Jewish Music Group
I read "Sixth Night, Sixth Light" from "The Stone Lamp," written by Karen Hesse and published by Hyperion, 2003

13. Jay Ungar & Molly Mason & Friends: Lights of Chanukah (The Pleasures of Winter), Fiddle & Dance www.jayandmolly.com
14. Peter, Paul & Mary: Light One Candle (A Holiday Celebration), Gold Castle LP 1988
15. Emily Kurn: Light the Lamp (Happy Holidays: Volume 2) Hudson Harding Sampler www.hudsonharding.com
16. Shelley Posen: Will Their Children Light the Candles (Menorah: Songs from A Jewish Life), Well Done Music www.shelleyposen.com

17. Hugh Blumenfeld: This Mountain (Mozart's Money), Prime CD www.hughblumenfeld.com
18. Tish Hinojosa: Hanukia (From Texas for a Christmas Night), Texas Music Group www.txmusicgroup.com
19. Leeyla: Haneros Lalallu (Festival of Light 2), Six Degrees
20. Voice of The Turtle: Ocho Kandelikas (Circle of Fire: Songs of the Sephardim, Volume V), Titanic Records
I read "Chanukah on The Prairie," written by Burt E. Schuman and published by UAHC Press

21. Klezcentricity: Ballad of Chanukah (A Chanukah Feast, Vol. II), Hungry for Music www.hungryformusic.com
22. Magpie: Chanukah Chase (Last Month of The Year), Sliced Bread www.magpiemusic.com
23. The Alexandria Kleztet: Eight Days of Peace (A Chanukah Feast Volume II), Hungry for Music

24. Roy Zimmerman: Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dona-Kwaanza (Peacenick), Metaphor www.royzimmerman.com
25 & 26. Christine Lavin & The Mistletones: A Christmas / Kwanzaa / Solstice / Chanukah / Ramadan / Boxing Day Song & The All Purpose Carol (TheRunaway Christmas Tree), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over Edward Gerhard's "Christmas Guitar," Virtue Records

Upcoming concerts:
27. Heather Maloney (PACE, 12/18): Rectangles of Dawn (Cozy Razor's Edge), self www.heathermaloney.com
28. Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams (Infinity Hall, 12/29): Suddenly It's Christmas (single), self www.slambovia.com
29. Judy Collins (Infinity Hall, 12/20): Song for Sarajevo (Come Rejoice!), Wildflower
30. Harvey Reid & Joyce Andersen (Green Rooster, 12/19): Merry Christmas Baby (Christmas Morning), Woodpecker www.woodpecker.com
31. The Electric Trains (open mic St Paul’s 12/16): Ghost Train (The Electric Trains), self http://theelectrictrains.com
32. Atwater-Donnelly (Vanilla Bean 12/19): Two Crows (The Weaver's Bonny), Rabbit Island www.atwater-donnelly.com
33. Fred Eaglesmith (Hungry Frog 12/15; Iron Horse 12/16 & 17): John Deere (Ralph's Last Show), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com

It's the 46th anniversary of the murder of Medgar Evers:
34. Judy Collins: Medgar Evers Lullaby (The Judy Collins Concert), Elektra LP
35. Phil Ochs: Too Many Martyrs (Farewells & Fantasies), Rhino Elektra

36. Ensemble Galilei: Winter Blanket (Notes from Across The Sea: With Love, Ann Mayo Muir), self www.AnnMayoMuir.com or www.timberheadmusic.com
37. Claudia Schmidt & Paul Cebar: Baby, It's Cold Outside (45 single)
38. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhousemusic.com

Saturday, December 12, 2009

YouTube tribute to Utah Phillips

The Utah tribute album "Singing Through the Hard Times" (Righteous Babe Records) has been nominated for a Grammy. Rik put this interview and montage together, starting with Utah talking about white male privilege and being a pacifist, and then moving into photos of many other singers in the struggle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQs8XXIvogk

Sunday, December 6, 2009

12/6//09 Playlist

1. Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem: They All Asked for You (Ranky Tanky), Mayhem Music www.raniarbo.com
2. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family: Go Waggaloo (Go Waggaloo), Smithsonian Folkways www.folkways.si.edu
3. Alastair Moock: Twins Are Twice As Fun (A Cow Says Moock), Moockshake Music www.moockmusic.com
4. Chris Smither: I Don't Know (Time Stands Still), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com

5. Harlem Parlour Music Club: Christmas Time's A-Coming (A Harlem Parlour Christmas), self www.harlemparlourmusicclub.com
6. Sierra: Helpless (Rocks), self www.sierrarocks.com
7. Southpaw Jones: The Cruelty of Teenage Girls (Cruelty), Freshly Picked Music www.southpawjones.com
8. Loreena McKennitt: Beneath A Phrygian Sky (From Istanbul to Athens / A Mediterranean Odyssey), Quinlan Road www.quinlanroad.com

Upcoming concerts:
9. Mark Rust (ECSU 12/7): Hard Times (Home Fires), Catskill Mountain www.markrust.com
10. Priscilla Herdman (Stone Soup 12/12): Ideas Are Like Stars (Into the Stars), Stardreamer www.priscillaherdman.com
11. David Mallett (Iron Horse 12/13): Ten Men (Alright Now), North Road www.davidmallett.com
12. Lui Collins (Milton Hall 12/12): Won't Miss You Darlin' (Leaving Fort Knox), Molly Gamblin www.luicollins.com

13. Jay Linden: One Vessel (Under the Radar), self www.jaylinden.com
14. Avi & Celia: Rollin' & Tumblin' (Let It Rise), self www.aviandcelia.com
15. Leonard Cohen: Diamonds in The Mine (Live at The Isle of Wight 1970), Columbia/Legacy
16. Bettysoo: Never The Pretty Girl (Heat Sin Water Skin), self www.bettysoo.com

Debra Cowan, guest, will appear at the U'n'I Coffeehouse in Springfield with Jeff Davis 12/12:
17. Debra: The Snow Is on The Ground (Fond Desire Farewell), Falling Mountain www.debracowan.com
18. Jeff Davis: Beulah Land (Some Fabulous Yonder), self www.jeffdavisoldmusic.com
19. Debra: Old Oxford Town (live)
20. Debra: Alcohol (Fond Desire Farewell), Falling Mountain
21. Debra: Cruel Was My Father (live)

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Pat Donohue's "Freewayman," Bluesky Records www.patdonohue.com

Concerts:
22. Margot Leverett and The Klezmer Mountain Boys (Branford Folk 12/12): Boreasca (2nd Avenue Square Dance), Traditional Crossroads www.traditionalcrossroads.com
23. Winterbloom (Institute of Musical Arts 12/13): Of the Magi (Winterbloom), self www.winterbloom.com
24. Girl Howdy (P.A.C.E. 12/11): My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You (Girl Howdy at Rhythm & Roots), FestivaLink.net
25. River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs (Maple Tree 12/12): Johnnie Billy Goat (It's Hot in Here), self www.zydecohogs.com

Victor Jara was reburied in Santiago yesterday, after an investigation into his torture and murder.
26. Arlo Guthrie: Victor Jara (Amigo, Warner Bros. / Reprise LP
27 Chuck Brodsky: The Hands of Victor Jara (Letters in The Dirt), Waterbug www.chuckbrodsky.com
28. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Friday, December 4, 2009

Sunday, November 29, 2009

11-29-09 Playlist(s)

Filled in on the 11/29/09 Bluegrass Café for about a half-hour following the broadcast of a game:

1. Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time: I'm A Lie (Took Down and Put Up), Lonesome Day www.lonesomeday.com
2. Rhonda Vincent: Eighth of January (Destination Life), Rounder www.rounder.com
3. Steep Canyon Rangers: The Mountain's Gonna Sing (Deep in The Shade), Rebel www.rebelrecords.com
4. Bearfoot: Single Girl (Doors and Windows), Compass www.compassrecords.com

5. Pine Mountain Railroad: Awful Lonesome Train (Alone with Forever), Steeltown Records
6. Dede Wyland: Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold (Keep the Light On), Patuxent www.pxrec.com
7. Lonesome River Band: Molly (No Turning Back), Rural Rhythm www.ruralrhythm.com
8. Kathy Kallick Band: A Warmer Kind of Blue (Warmer Kind of Blue), Copper Creek www.coppercreekrecords.com

Then I slid right into my own show, The Sunday Night Folk Festival:

1. Al Stewart with Dave Nachmanoff: Palace of Versailles (Uncorked), Wallaby Trails www.alstewart.com
2. Maria Sangiolo: Red Tent (One Autumn Night), Long Night Moon www.mariasangiolo.com
3. Joel Rafael: Sierra Blanca Massacre (The Songs of Woody Guthrie Vol. 1 & 2), Inside Recordings www.insiderecordings.com
4. Bonsoir Catin: Mon Aimable Brune (Vive L'Amour), Valcour

Relationships on their way out:
5. Winterbloom: Thanks for The Roses (Winterbloom), self www.winterbloom.com
6. Zoe Mulford: Just Before I Go (Bonfires), Azalea City www.zoemulford.com
The C.C.C.:
7. John McCutcheon: Boys in Green (Untold), Appalseed www.folkmusic.com
8. Charlie Maguire: The C.C.C. (Stepping Stones), Mello-Jamin www.charliemaguire.com

Going to / coming home from Thanksgiving:
9. Pat Donohue: Waiting for A Plane (Radio Blues), Prairie Home Productions www.patdonohue.com
10. Mary Chapin Carpenter: Thanksgiving Song (Come Darkness, Come Light), Zoe Rounder www.rounder.com
11. John McCutcheon: Thanksgiving Day (Autumnsongs), RounderKids www.rounder.com

I had a copy of this CD to give away:
12. Joan Baez: Day After Tomorrow (Day After Tomorrow), Razor & Tie

Stan Rogers would have been 60 today. I played an interview I recorded in February 1980, intercut with songs from his albums including
13. Barrett's Privateers
14. Frontrunner
15. Flowers of Bermuda
16. Harris and The Mare
17. White Collar Holler
18. The Jeannie C.
19. 45 Years

20. Garnet Rogers: Night Drive (Night Drive), Snow Goose Songs www.garnetrogers.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Harvey Reid's "Blues & Branches," Woodpecker Records www.woodpecker.com

Debra will visit next week:
21. Debra Cowan: The Night Owl Homeward Turns (Fond Desire Farewell), Falling Mountain www.debracowan.com

The Almanac Singers:
22 - 24. Deliver the Goods, Billy Boy, Belt-Line Girl (Which Side Are You On? The Best of The Almanac Singers), Rev-Ola www.revola.co.uk

I read a short portion of Sophocles' "Ajax" which surely describes PTSD, albeit in 440 BCE
25. Sally Rogers & Claudia Schmidt: Gentlemen of Distinction (Closing the Distance), Flying Fish
26. John Prine: Sam Stone (Prime Prine -- The Best of John Prine), Atlantic
27. James McMurtry: Can't Make It Here radio edit (Childish Things), Lightning Rod
28. John Wesley: Thanksgiving Day (single -- was given this -- don't know the source)
29 Roy Zimmerman: Thanks for The Support (Thanks for The Support), Metaphor www.royzimmerman.com

30. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Sunday, November 22, 2009

11/22/09 Playlist

1. Harvey Reid: Fool Me Once (Blues & Branches), Woodpecker www.woodpecker.com
2. The Refugees: Unbound (Unbound), Wabuho www.therefugeesmusic.com
3. James McMurtry: Hurricane Party (Live in Europe), Lightning Rod www.jamesmcmurtry.com
4. Red Molly: Wichita (Love and Other Tragedies), self www.redmolly.com

5. Paul Reddick: Climbing up The Hill (Sugar Bird), NorthernBlues [www.northernblues.com]
6. Missy Raines & The New Hip: Ides of March (Inside Out), Compass www.compassrecords.com
7. Cindy Kalmenson: Land of The Free (I'm Not Leaving), Big Gack www.cindykalmenson.com
8. Red Rock Rondo: When the Rooster Crows (Zion Canyon Song Cycle), Steamboat Mountain www.redrockrondo.com

They won some Canadian Music Awards:
9. James Hill & Anne Davison: New York Strum (True Love Don't Weep), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
10. Tony McManus: Donal Og / The Lea Rig (The Maker's Mark), Compass www.compassrecords.com

11. Anne Hills: Alexandra Leaving (Points of View), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com
12. Houston Jones: Pick Up the Snake (Jericho Road), Summerhill www.houstonjones.com
13. Mollie O'Brien: Beware (Always Lift Him Up -- A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed), Proper American www.properamerican.com

Guest: Donna Martin www.donnamartin.com with a bunch of new songs:
14. Conscientious Man
15. One Miracle Less
16. I Cannot Lie Down
17. Making Men from Boys

18. Red Rooster: Leaves in Autumn (Walk), self www.redroostermusic.com
19. Anne & Pete Sibley: Tell Me Darling (Coming Home), self www.anneandpetesibley.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Uncharted Waters's "Uncharted Waters" www.jemmoore.com

It's John Jennings's birthday:
20 & 21. Everybody Loves Me & Night Will Fall (Buddy), Vanguard
22 & 23. The Next in Line & Signal Fires (I Belong to You), Vanguard

Food insecurity / Thanksgiving week / help:
24. Phil Lee: 3 Faces in TheWindow (Songbook Americana), Shanachie
25. Rory McLeod: Hunger Is the Best Sauce (Mouth to Mouth), Talkative www.rorymcleod.com
26. Tom Paxton: Feed the Children (Up & Up), Mountain Railroad www.tompaxton.com

27. Jason Spooner Trio with Dar Williams: Girl from The North Country (download single), self www.Jasonspooner.com
28. Susan Werner: Uncle John (Midwestern Saturday Night), self www.susanwerner.com
29. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Thursday, November 19, 2009

1/19/09 fill-in on The Red House

1.Jim Henry + Brooks Williams: Minor Swing (Ring Some Changes), Signature Sounds http://www.signaturesounds.com/
2. Joel Mabus: Doc'sology (Omnibus), Fossil http://www.joelmabus.com/
3. Doc Watson: Little Sadie (Trouble in Mind), Sugar Hill http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/
4. Liz Meyer & Mark Cosgrove: Cecil (Regions of The Soul), Strictly Country Records
5. Pat Donohue: Stealin' from Chet (Back Roads), Blue Sky http://www.patdonohue.com/
6. Chet Atkins: Guitar Blues / Pickin' The Blues (The Essential Chet Atkins), RCA Nashville / Legacy
7. Chet Atkins & Les Paul: Caravan (Chester & Lester), RCA Nashville / Legacy
8. Eliza Gilkyson: Beauty Way (Hard Times in Babylon), Red House http://www.redhouserecords.com/

9. Hugh Blumenfeld & Jim Mercik: Is This Enough (Rocket Science), Prime CD http://www.hughblumenfeld.com/
10. Garnet Rogers: Night Drive (Night Drive), Snow Goose Songs http://www.garnetrogers.com/
11. Heart: Crazy on You (Dreamboat Annie), Mushroom Records LP

12. Feather Merchants: Dan (MP3 from Jim Chapdelaine)
13. The Mayocks: Your Pretty Smile (MP3 from John Mayock)
14. Feather Merchants: Last Man on Earth (MP3 from Jim Chapdelaine)

15. Gail Wade: Down the Kennebec (Journey), self http://www.gailwade.net/
16. Donna Martin: Paper Boat (Ghost), KSP http://www.donnamartin.com/
17. Nancy Tucker: (Playing with Fire), Collie Flower

18. Patty Larkin: Not Bad for A Broad (Step into the Light), Philo LP
19 & 20. Patty Larkin: Banish Misfortune / Open Hand & Winter Wind (Angels Running), High Street

21. Mark Saunders / Mad Agnes: Hummingbird (Revenant), self http://www.madagnes.com/
22. Harvey Reid: Off to Adventure (Of Wind and Water), Woodpecker http://www.woodpecker.com/
23. Tony Gilkyson: Goodbye Guitar (Goodbye Guitar), self
24. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Nuestra Senora del Rio (Misfits), Realiza http://www.elizagilkyson.com/

25. Roger Williams with Amy Gallatin & Stillwaters: Bb Polka (Phoenix), Happy Appy www.amygallatin.com
26. Mark Erelli: Shadowland (Delivered), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
27. Cindy Kallet: Wolf's Lullaby (Cindy Kallet 2), Folk-Legacy www.cindykallet.com
28. Nina Gerber: It's All Just Talk (Good Music with Good People), Goatscape www.ninagerber.com

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sarah Jarosz at College

The Freshman

By Joan Anderman, Boston Globe, Nov. 15, 2009

“Song Up in Her Head’’ was released in June on Nashville’s Sugar Hill Records, a few weeks after Jarosz’s 18th birthday. Praise poured in, and she was promptly booked on “A Prairie Home Companion.’’

Now, just when most rising stars would be leaping headlong into the beckoning arms of agents and promoters, Jarosz is putting her career on the back burner to study at the New England Conservatory. She admits that enrolling in the school of life was a tempting choice; plenty of musicians do it, and many believe that hitting the road is the only legitimate path for a player.

The rest is at http://tinyurl.com/yjnujlr

Sunday, November 15, 2009

11/15/09 Playlist

Playlist for The Sunday Night Folk Festival, Nov. 15, 2009

1. Sagapol: Eravamo Bene (Episode Trois), Anubis www.sagapool.com
2. Buffy Sainte-Marie: No No Keshagesh (Running for The Drum), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com
3. Danny Schmidt: Serpentine Circle of Money (And The Forest Rose Up to Sing), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
4. The Sacred Shakers: Jordan Is A Hard Road to Travel (The Sacred Shakers), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com

5. Elizabeth Nicholson & Stringed Migration: Romanian Hora / Galway Bay (Fly Not Yet), Waterbug www.stringedmigration.com
6. Drew Nelson: Stranger (Dusty Road to Beulah Land), Waterbug www.drewnelson.net
7. Lissa Schneckenburger: Little Musgrove and Lady Barnswell (Song). Footprint www.lissafiddle.com
8. Pieta Brown: Lovin' You Still (Shimmer), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

9. Pete Seeger: Healing River (Live in '65), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com
10. Carley Wolf: Gypsy Soul Blues (Set Sail), self www.carleywolf.com
11. Jory Nash: Our Time Again (New Blue Day), Thin Man www.jorynash.com
12. The Sweater Set: Stick Around (Surprise Visit), self www.thesweaterset.com

13 & 14. Margot Leverett and The Klezmer Mountain Boys (Branford Folk 12/12): Little Moses (Hazel Dickens, vocal) & Boreasca (2nd Avenue Square Dance), Traditional Crossroads www.traditionalcrossroads.com
15 & 16. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg: Bridget & Yula (Saints & Tzadiks), World Village www.worldvillagemusic.com

Upcoming concerts by:
17. Richard Shindell: Gethsemani Goodbye (Not Far Now), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
18. Lucy Kaplansky: Life Threads (single), self www.lucykaplansky.com
19. Feufollet: Femme L'a Dit (Cow Island Hop), Valcour www.feufollet.net
20. Gail Wade: Will You Remember Me (Journey), self www.gailwade.net

21. David Mallett: Ten Men (Alright Now), North Road www.davidmallett.com
22. Amy Speace: The Weight of The World (The Killer in Me), Wildflower www.amyspeace.com 23. Mike and Ruthy: The Doctor's Door (Waltz of the Chickadee), Humble Abode www.mikeandruthy.com
24. Sarazin Blake: Mid-Term Elections, 2006 Nov (The Air Your Lungs Forced Out), Same Room www.sarazinblake.com

Finally, I can play:
25. Joni Mitchell: Urge for Going (Hits), Reprise

Today's the 40th anniversary of an anti-Vietnam War demonstration in Washington DC, where hundreds of thousands marched:
26. Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert: The Great Peace March (Singing with You), Redwood LP

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Olver Schroer's "Hymns and Hers," Borealis www.borealisrecords.com

CD Giveaways:
27. Todd Snider: Corpus Christi Bay (The Excitement Plan), Yep Roc www.yeproc.com
28 & 29. Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women: Nana and Jimi & Don't Make Promises (Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women), Yep Roc www.yeproc.com

In a concert 12/4 with Fred Wilhelm:
30. Lori McKenna: I Know You (Unglamorous), Warner Bros.
31. Mark Erelli: Volunteer (Delivered), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
32. Catie Curtis: Don't Want to Know No Evil (Hello, Stranger), Compass www.catiecurtis.com

Maya Lin's black granite wall was dedicated 11/15/82:
33. Iris DeMent: There's A Wall in Washington (The Way I Should), Warner Bros.
34. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Robert Earl Keen in The New Yorker

GUITAR WHISPERING

“You know what I said about some guitars just having songs in them?” he said. “This is one of them.” Keen’s fingers moved over the strings, but the rest of him seemed to float toward the ceiling.

The rest is at http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2009/11/16/091116ta_talk_seabrook

Sunday, November 8, 2009

11/8/09 Playlist

1. Gretchen Peters with Tom Russell: Prairie in The Sky (One to The Heart, One to The Head), Scarlet Letter www.gretchenpeters.com
2. Joel Mabus: Poison in The Glass (No Worries Now...), Fossil www.joelmabus.com
3. Dolly Parton: My Tennessee Mountain Home (Dolly sampler), RCA Nashville / Legacy
4. James Keelaghan: McConnville's (House of Cards), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com

5. Vicky Emerson: Into the Woods (Long Ride), self www.vickyemerson.com
6. Lennie Gallant: Tonight I Drive You Home (If We Had A Fire), Fontana www.lenniegallant.com
7. Anne Hills: The Moon's Song (Points of View), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com
8. Paul Benoit: Bluebird (Bluebird), self www.paulbenoitmusic.com

It's a time of illness, what with various kinds of flu around. I'm lucky enough not to get sick very often, but when I do I always remember being a sick little kid, home from school, spending the day in my mother's bed listening to the radio, sipping tablespoons-full of flat ginger ale.

9. Greg Brown: Say A Little Prayer (Red House 25: A Silver Anniversary Retrospective), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
10. Dave Moore: Mama Had A Sick Child (Jukejoints & Cantinas), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
11. Sally Rogers: Some Little Bug Is Gonna Find You Someday (Love Will Guide Us), Flying Fish LP
12. Bernard Carney & Peter Grayling: Bronchiodilated Blues (No Time Like the Future), Tempo (Australian)
13. Herdman / Hills / Mangsen: The Druggist (At the Turning of The Year), Hand & Heart Music www.priscillaherdman.com
14. Austin Lounge Lizards: The Drugs I Need (The Drugs I Need), Blue Corn Music www.austinloungelizards.com
15. Aztec Two-Step: Better These Days (Days of Horses), Red Engine www.aztectwostep.com

Roy and The Lizards make even the somber subject of health-care reform funny, in a macabre sort of way. Maybe they've been reading the "health reform" legislation.
16. Austin Lounge Lizards: Go Ahead and Die (The Drugs I Need), Blue Corn Music www.austinloungelizards.com
17. Roy Zimmerman: Dear Number 1036924053887 (Thanks for The Support), Metaphor www.royzimmerman.com

Some true stories and more:
18. Sparky & Rhonda Rucker: Hard As Stone (One Earth), Tremont www.sparkyandrhonda.com
19. Garnet Rogers: Election Night -- North Dakota (At A High Window), Snow Goose www.garnetrogers.com
20. Ian Robb: They're Taking It Away (From Different Angels), Fallen Angle
21. Ben Bullington: Twangy Guitars (White Sulphur Springs), self www.benbullington.com

Giveaway:
22. Dolly Parton with Porter Wagoner: The Last Thing on My Mind (Dolly sampler), RCA Nashville / Legacy

23. The Avett Brothers: Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise (I and Love and You), American www.theavettbrothers.com
24. Corinne West: Whisky Poet (The Promise), Make Records www.corinnewest.com
25. Rancho Deluxe: Maintenance Man (True Freedom), self www.ranchodeluxe.org
26. Debra Cowan: The Rainbow (Fond Desire Farewell), Falling Mountain www.debracowan.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar, over selections from Oliver Schroer's "Camino" www.borealisrecords.com

27 & 28. WPA (Iron Horse 11/15): Cry for You & Remember Well (Works Progress Administration), self www.wpamusic.com
29. Neko Case: Polar Nettles (Middle Cyclone), Anti- www.nekocase.com

30. Vanessa Peters & Ice Cream on Mondays: First Lesson (Sweetheart, Keep Your Chin Up), Little Sandwich
31. Sparky and Rhonda Rucker: My Blues (One Earth), Tremont www.sparkyandrhonda.com
It's Bonnie's birthday:
32. Bonnie Raitt: Write me A Few of Your Lines / Kokomo Blues (Takin My Time), Warner Bros
33. Bonnie Raitt: Love Me Like A Man (Give It Up), Warner Bros
34. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

WGBH drops folk and blues programs

Their explanation on their website:

http://www.wgbh.org/listen/goodbyefolkandblues.cfm

Sunday, November 1, 2009

11/1/09 Playlist

1. Jeff Black: Standing Still (Mining for Gold), private / Warner www.jeffblack.com
2. Blame Sally: Vera Chiesa (Night of 1000 Stars), self www.blamesally.com
3. Sarazin Blake: India or Spain (The Air Your Lungs Forced Out), Art of The Underground www.sarazinblake.com
4. Avi & Celia: Cold Cold Ground (Let It Rise), self www.aviandcelia.com

5. Charlie King and Karen Brandow: You Can't Buy Me (Higher Ground), Vaguely Reminiscent Sounds www.charlieking.org
6. Emily Kurn: I'm Just Like You (I'm Just Like You), self www.emilykurnmusic.com
7. EnochKent: Some Hae Meat (One More Round), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
8. Cori Brewster: Across the Great Divide (Buffalo St.), Shadow Lake www.coribrewster.com

No more daylight savings time -- our own wrinkle in time:
9. Bob Zentz: Wrinkle in Time (Beaucatcher Farewell), Folk-Legacy LP
10. Bob Zentz: It's About Time (It's About Time), self www.bobzentz.com
11. Bob Zentz: Time, Friend, Time (Mirrors and Changes), Folk-Legacy LP

Girsa in concert at The Wilde Auditorium 11/7:
12 & 13. Girsa: I Live Not Where I Love & Paddy Ryan's Dream/Blue Britches (Traditional Irish Music), RiverRollick www.girsamusic.com

14. Ric J. Edmiston: Holy Man (Good Grief), Bongseye www.bongseyemusic.com
15. Dolly Parton & many friends: Romeo (Dolly Sampler), RCA Nashville / Legacy www.legacyrecordings.com
16. Michael Jerling: How Can People Live Like That (Music Here Tonight), Fool's Hill www.michaeljerling.com
17. The Four Bitchin' Babes: Chocolate (Diva Nation), Hem and Haw www.fourbitchinbabes.com

It's their birth anniversary or birthday:
18. Sippie Wallace with Bonnie Raitt: Women Be Wise (Sippie), Atlantic LP, 1982
19. Lyle Lovett: Texas Trilogy, Daybreak (Step Inside This House), Curb/MCA
20. Gordon Lightfoot: Ode to Big Blue (Songbook), Warner / Rhino
21. Sippie: Up the Country Blues (Sippie)
22. Lyle: Texas Trilogy, Train Ride (Step Inside This House)
23. Gordon: Early Morning Rain (Songbook)
24. Sippie: You Got to Know How (Sippie)

Loreena McKennitt about Samhain and All Souls Night:
25. Samain Night (Parallel Dreams), Quinlan Road www.quinlanroad.com
26. All Souls Night (The Visit), Quinlan Road www.quinlanroad.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Randy Collins's "Elevate," Selfless Records www.randycollinsmusic.com

27 & 28. Anne Hills: A Plain Song & Gardens (Points of View), Appleseed www.appleseedmusiccom

29. James Hill & Anne Davison: Ode to A Frozen Boot (True Love Don't Weep), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
30. Miss Tess: Train Ride to Caroline (Darling, Oh Darling), self [www.misstessmusic.com]
31. Bop Ensemble: Flash Around the Globe (Between Trains), Cordova Bay \www.myspace.com/bopensemble
32. Hank Williams Jr.: Red, White & Pink-Slip Blues (127 Rose Avenue), Curb / Hank www.curb.com
33. Jakob's Hollow: The Yuppie Song (The Legend of Bobby the Kid), self [www.jakobshollow.com]
34. Bread & Bones: I Was Not Born Here (I Know Stories), Riptone www.breadandbones.com
35. David Kleiner: Nine Afghan Children (The News That's Fit to Sing), self
36. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Playlist, 10/25/09

1. Abigail Washburn & Sparrow Quartet: Great Big Wall in China (Abigail Washburn & Sparrow Quartet), Nettwerk www.nettwerk.com
2. Jeff Talmadge: Forty Days of Rain (Ein Abend unter Freunden), Bozart www.jefftalmadge.com
3. Vienna Teng: In Another Life (Inland Territory), Rounder / Zoe www.rounder.com
4. The Victor Mourning: Fire Fire (Fire Fire Demos), Backwoods Modern www.thevictormourning.com

5. Amanda Shires: Mineral Wells (West Cross Timbers), self www.myspace.com/amandashiresrunning
6. Jim Photoglo: Jesus Saves (Is It Me?), Grifftone www.grifftone.com
7. Molly Mason / Ruthy Ungar (?): The Unbroken Thread (sampler from Pleasures), Fiddle & Dance
8. Ben Sands: Fair Exchange (Better Already), Spring www.bensands.com

I don’t usually play this many unrelated songs in a row, but Gideon Freudmann, visiting his hometown, came by with his cello (and his mom!), and I needed to set up for his visit:
9. Lucy Wainwright Roche: Snare Drum (8 More), self www.myspace.com/lwrlwr
10. The Watersons: T Stands for Thomas (For Pence and Spicy Ale), Topic www.topicrecords.co.uk
11. Chris Smither: Surprise Surprise (Time Stands Still), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
12. Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion: Never Far from My Heart (Folksong), RTE 8 www.sarahleeandjohnny.com
13. Michael Smith: Vampire (Love Letter on A Fish), Tales from The Tavern www.talesfromthetavern.com
14. Dana and Susan Robinson: Griselda's Waltz (Big Mystery), Threshold www.robinsongs.com

15. Red Hen: Annabelle Lee (Crossing), self www.redhen.net
16. Putnam Smith: Goldrush (Goldrush), Itchy Sabot www.putnamsmith.com

Guest: Gideon Freudmann www.cellobop.com -- all live in studio
17. improvisation
18. Denmark
19. Euphoria
20. Coconut Grove
21. Plagiarissimo

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from The Lost Acres String Band's "The Lost Acres String Band," self-released www.gswift.com/LASB.htm

The arguments over the death penalty are still in the news:
22. Nanci Griffith: Not Innocent Enough (The Loving Kind), Rounder www.rounder.com
23. Tom Paxton & Anne Hills: Under American Skies (Under American Skies), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com

On 10/20/09, the U.S. Senate voted not to fund any more construction of the wall along the U.S./Mexico border:
24. Tom Russell: Who's Gonna Build Your Wall (EP-Who's Gonna Build Your Wall), Hightone www.hightone.com
25. (Pete Seeger &) Arlo Guthrie: Deportee (Together in Concert), Rising Son www.risingsonrecords.com
26. Joel Rafael: Sierra Blanca Massacre (Woodyboye), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com

Lightening up:
27. Zoe Mulford: Just Before I Go (Bonfires), Azalea City www.zoemulford.com
28. Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem: If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out (Ranky Tanky), self www.raniarbo.com
29. Martin Simpson: One Day (Tru Stories), Compass www.compassrecords.com
30. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Brief review of Leonard Cohen in NYC last week

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/10/24/leonard-cohen-concert-madison-square-garden/

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Pandora Music Service -- We're Sooooo Predictable!

The Song Decoders

Some elements that these musicologists (who, really, are musicians with day jobs) codify are technical, like beats per minute, or the presence of parallel octaves or block chords. Someone taking apart Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” documents the prevalence of harmony, chordal patterning, swung 16ths and the like. But their analysis goes beyond such objectively observable metrics. To what extent, on a scale of 1 to 5, does melody dominate the composition of “Hey Jude”? How “joyful” are the lyrics? How much does the music reflect a gospel influence? And how “busy” is Stan Getz’s solo in his recording of “These Foolish Things”? How emotional? How “motion-inducing”? On the continuum of accessible to avant-garde, where does this particular Getz recording fall?

There are more questions for every voice, every instrument, every intrinsic element of the music. And there are always answers, specific numerical ones. It can take 20 minutes to amass the data for a single tune. This has been done for more than 700,000 songs, by 80,000 artists. “The Music Genome Project,” as this undertaking is called, is the back end of Pandora.

The rest is at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/18/magazine/18Pandora-t.html?hpw

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Tom Russell on young songwriters

What do you think is the biggest misconception or mistake of young songwriters?

(Laughs.) I could go on and on. At South By Southwest, I wasn't there, but Little Steven got up and made this speech. People asked me if I wrote it for him. He said: You people come from all over the world, and you're all trying to network your way to fame. None of you young songwriters are doing your homework. You're not learning other people's songs, staying home and learning the craft. You're not playing bars for 10 or 15 years, paying your dues. And that's true. When Dylan came to New York, and he's the supreme example, none of these people will top that catalogue, he knew a thousand songs. He could steal from Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie, and he could play blues. He came through that scene very fast because of the homework he'd done. You could say genius, but he did a lot of hard work. We've made it very hard for young songwriters, with these stupid bullshit conferences, South By Southwest, Folk Alliance, Songwriter Magazine. There's this idea that there are gimmicks, tools, networking that can help you. But they haven't helped anybody. They've limited people. The Beatles had four tracks and a guitar. All this science, this introspective look at songwriting, it's put hobbles on songwriters. It was a heavy scene that Dylan and Cohen went through. Fred Neil, Tim Hardin, those guys, were in the Navy and Marines, and had been exposed to hard drugs. By the time they hit the scene they were adults, they had character. You don't run into that type of kid anymore.

The complete article: http://tinyurl.com/yg9qxd7

10/18/09 Playlist

Two sets of NEW stuff:
1. Sons of The Never Wrong: Pass It On (On A Good Day ... I Am), Waterbug www.sons.com
2. Charlie Maguire: I've Come Back My River (Good Eye Blind), MelloJamin www.charliemaguire.com
3. Sagapool: Opsaga (Episode Trois), Disques Anubis www.sagapool.com
4. Shotgun Party: Y Yo (Mean Old Way), self http://www.myspace.com/shotgunfiesta

5. James Keelaghan: Circle of Stone (House of Cards), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com
6. Liz Longley: Almost Over You (Somewhere in The Middle), Luckelizz www.lizlongley.com
7. Jon Brooks: God Pt. IV (Moth Nor Rust), self www.jonbrooks.ca
8. Laura Love & Orville Johnson: Cotton Eyed Joe / Ruby Are You Mad at Your Man (The Sweeter the Juice), Octoroon Biography www.lauralove.net or www.orvillejohnson.com

It's Anne Hills's birthday www.annehills.com:
9. Here Comes That Rainbow Again (Woman of A Calm Heart), Flying Fish
10. with Cindy Mangsen: Never Grow Old (Never Grow Old), Flying Fish
11. with Jay Ansill: One Hard Look (A Lost World), BCN www.jayansill.com
12. Brown Leaves (Beauty Attends -- The Heartsongs of Opal Whiteley), Collective Works

From the new kids' CD by Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem (concert at Crowell Concert Hall 10/24):
13 & 14. They All Asked for You & Tennessee Wig Walk (Ranky Tanky), self www.raniarbo.com

Other concerts:
15. Sparky & Rhonda Rucker: Hard As Stone (One Earth), Tremont www.sparkyandrhonda.com
16. Ellis Paul: Rose Tattoo (The Day after Everything Changed), Black Wolf www.ellispaul.com
17. Diana Jones: Something Crossed Over (Better Times Will Come), Proper American www.dianajonesmusic.com
18. Cedric Watson: La Vielle Chanson de Mardi Gras (Cedric Watson), Valcour www.valcourrecords.com

NEW and newish:
19. Denice Franke: Brand New Sky (Gulf Coast Blue), Certain Records www.denicefranke.com
20. John Thibodeau: Gone to Charleston (Passin' Through), Ruination
21. Christine Lavin: GoodThing She Can't Read My Mind -- A Dude's Eye View (Cold Pizza for Breakfast), Yellow Tail www.christinelavin.com
22. Pierce Pettis: Farewell (That Kind of Love), Compass www.compassrecords.com

More from Anne Hills:
23. Lover's Knot (Angle of The Light), Flying Fish (video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw4yGF3rtnQ)
24. Little Orphant Annie (Ef You Don't Watch Out -- The Poems of James Whitcomb Riley), Collective Works
25. My Daughter and Vincent Van Gogh (download single)
26. with Priscilla Herdman & Cindy Mangsen: Forget-Me-Not (At the Turning of The Year), Hand and Heart Music

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from The Lost Acres String Band and their CD "The Lost Acres String Band," self www.gswift.com/LASB.htm

Autumn:
27. Gordon Bok & Cindy Kallet: October Song (Neighbors), Timberhead www.gordonbok.com or www.cindykallet.com
28. Eva Cassidy: Autumn Leaves (Live at Blues Alley), self www.blixstreet.com
29. The Short Sisters: Autumn (A Planet Dancing Slow), Black Socks Press

More from Anne and friends www.annehills.com:
30. Blur in The Photograph (Bittersweet Street), Redwing
31. with Tom Paxton: Birmingham Sunday (Under American Skies), Appleseed
32. Fourtold (Anne, Michael Smith, Steve Gillette, Cindy Mangsen): Ballad of Springhill (Fourtold), Appleseed
33. with Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson: While You Sleep (Best of Friends), Appleseed

34. John Gorka: Live by The Sword (So Dark You See), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
35. Laura Love and Orville Johnson: Passin' (The Sweeter the Juice), Octoroon Biography www.lauralove.com
36. Jim Post: Boozoo Man (Reach Out Together), self www.jimpost.com
37. Caroline Aiken: Forty Thousand Headmen (Unshaken), self www.carolineaiken.com
38. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

Wall St. Journal Review of Ralph Stanley's Book

Picking Through the Past -- A bluegrass master recalls his hardscrabble upbringing and a life in music

By DAVE SHIFLETT

Ralph Stanley, the hillbilly (his term) musician best known for his 2002 Grammy-winning rendition of "O Death" in the Coen brothers movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?," may be 82 years old and play songs nearly as ancient as the southwest Virginia hills where he was born (and still lives). But after all these years his tongue is still sharp, as he shows in "Man of Constant Sorrow," a memoir that may send some cowboy hats spinning along Nashville's Music Row. Dr. Stanley, as he likes to be known—the doctorate is honorary, from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.—dispenses a few lashes along with his rollicking account of 60 years as a banjo-picking bluegrass performer, though none will do lasting harm.
Man of Constant Sorrow

Born in Dickenson County, Va., on Feb. 25, 1927, Dr. Stanley came up hard. He describes a Christmas when all he got was an orange and a handful of rock candy. In 1939, his father bolted for a younger woman and "never even said goodbye."

The rest is at
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703746604574461070232974790.html

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Ralph Stanley in The New York Times

Old-Timer, Still Telling Mountain Tales

Ralph Stanley is one of the last, and surely the purest, of the traditional country musicians. He’s such a stickler that he has no use for the dobro, let alone electrified instruments, and he’s not overly fond of the term bluegrass. He prefers to call what he performs “that old-time mountain music.” He plays the five-string banjo in the claw-hammer style he learned from his mother — or he used to, until arthritis caught up with him — and he sings in a raw, keening Appalachian tenor.

The songs tend to be about hard times, unfaithful lovers, deceased children, lonely graves. One of his most famous, “O Death,” is a pleading dialogue with the Grim Reaper himself. It used to be said that when you heard a Ralph Stanley tune, you either wanted to get drunk or go to church and get saved.

Mr. Stanley is 82 and, except for a dry spell in the early 1950s when he worked as a spot welder in Detroit, he has been performing steadily since he was a teenager. He still plays more than 100 dates a year, though he travels now in a customized bus rather than in an old Chevy, the band crammed in the back seat and the bass strapped to the roof. He has even been to Japan several times, where fans learn his songs by rote.

The rest is at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/books/14stanley.html?_r=1&hp

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Praise for Steve Martin at The Ryman

Steve Martin Dispels All Doubts About His Banjo Skills

Earl Scruggs, John McEuen and Steep Canyon Rangers Add to a Night of Great Music

Calvin Gilbert, CMT News, October 12, 2009

In case you were wondering, Steve Martin really is a hell of a banjo player. He more than proved that Sunday night (Oct. 11) during a concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Between songs, Martin delivered a generous helping of the humor he's famous for, but music is at the forefront of the current tour showcasing material from his album, The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo.

Judging by his self-deprecating comments onstage, Martin obviously understands that some people may be skeptical of his desire to play bluegrass music. And who could blame them? Not to name names, but there's a fairly lengthy list of movie stars who proclaim they would have been singers and musicians if only they hadn't been sidetracked by Hollywood's fame and fortune. They want to be taken seriously, but the unfortunate reality is that most of them record albums that leave you wondering if they ever had any serious musical chops to begin with. Martin's musical abilities were never really in question, though.

The rest is at
http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1623654/steve-martin-dispels-all-doubts-about-his-banjo-skills.jhtml

Monday, October 12, 2009

10/11/09 Playlist

The first two sets are a rough reconstruction – I lost the original playlist to a computer glitch (a shock, I know).

1.Rosanne Cash: I'm Movin' On (The List), Manhattan http://www.rosannecash.com/
2. The Barefoot Boys: Storm King (Sweetwater Passage), self www.richbala.com/BarefootBoys.htm
3. Betty Soo: Never the Pretty Girl (Heat Sin Water Skin), self http://www.bettysoo.com/
4. Blue Mule: Working Man Blues (Scratchy), Flat Five http://www.bluemulemusic.com/

5. Stephanie Bettman: I Love Ya Honey (Get Close to Me), self http://www.stephaniebettman.com/
6. Craig Bickhardt: This Old House (Brother to The Wind), Stone Barn http://www.craigbickhardt.com/ 7. Caren Armstrong: All the Help (Everything), Wildplum http://www.carenarmstrong.com/
8. I can’t remember

All from "Still Moving Mountains: The Journey Home," Aurora Lights http://www.auroralights.com/
9. Kathy Mattea: Blue Diamond Mines
10. Debra Cowan: Who Brought the Flood?
11. Interview with Debbie Jarrell / Jen Osha: Shumate Dam
12. Mike Morningstar: Buffalo Creek

It's Columbus Day weekend: I read an AP article about the changing educational emphasis about Columbus --
13. Sally Rogers: 1492 (What Can One Little Person Do), Thrushwood http://www.sallyrogers.com/

Interview with Sarah Lee Guthrie, recorded Saturday before the Guthrie family’s second concert on the UConn campus:
15. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family: Go Waggaloo (Go Waggaloo), Smithsonian Folkways http://www.folkways.si.edu/
16. Sarah Lee et al: Don't I Fit in My Daddy's Shoes? (Go Waggaloo)
17. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion: Folksong (Folksong), RTE 8 http://www.sarahleeandjohnny.com/
18. Sarah Lee et al: If Mama Had Four Hands (Go Waggaloo)
19. Sarah Lee et al: Take Me to Show-and-Tell (Go Waggaloo)

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from "The Melody of Rhythm" (Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer), E1 Records

It's Hugh Blumenfeld's birthday http://www.hughblumenfeld.com/
20. All the Wood of Lebanon (The Strong in Spirit), Prime CD
21. Bring Stones (Barehanded), Prime CD
22. Raphael (Mozart's Money), Prime CD
23. On the Night before The Bombs Came Down (Mr. Jekyll & Dr. Hyde), self
24. The Snail (Rocket Science), Prime CD

At The Buttonwood Tree on 10/16:
25. Rupert Wates: You'll See Me Again (Dear Life), Bite Music http://www.rupertwates.com/

It's also Annie Gallup's birthday -- both songs from "Steady Steady Yes," Prime CD
26. Three Photographs
27. Stone Angel

28. John Gorka: Where No Monuments Stand (So Dark You See), Red House http://www.redhouserecords.com/
29. Christine Lavin: Good Thing SHE Can't Read My Mind (Cold Pizza for Breakfast), Yellow Tail http://www.yellowtailrecords.com/
30. Cliff Eberhardt: Back of My Mind (500 Miles: The Blue Rock Sessions), Red House http://www.redhouserecords.com/
31. Maura O'Connell with Darrell Scott & The Settles: Shipbuilding (Naked -- with Friends), Sugar Hill
32. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House http://www.redhouserecords.com/

Sunday, October 4, 2009

10/4/09 Playlist

1. Jim Post: Beautiful City (Reach out Together), self www.jimpost.com
2. Robyn Landis: Dry Rain, Calm Wind (Many Moons), Brave Hearts Music www.robynlandis.com
3. Jaime Michaels: Red Western Flyer (Crooked), Frumdahart www.jaimemichaels.com
4. Annie & Rod Capps: Sheriff's Daughter (My Blue Garden), Yellow Room www.annieandrodcapps.com

5. Joe Jencks: Bracero (Links in A Chain), Turtle Bear www.joejancks.com
6. Mindy Smith: Disappointed (Stupid Love), Vanguard www.mindysmith.com
7. Ben Sands: Fair Exchange (Better Already), Spring www.bensands.com
8. Avi & Celia: Rollin' & Tumblin' (Let It Rise), self www.aviandcelia.com

Autumn already:
9. Herdman / Hills / Mangsen: Goodbye to the Roses (At the Turning of The Year), Hand & Heart Music www.priscillaherdman.com
10. Steve Gillette & Cindy Mangsen: When the First Leaves Fall (A Sense of Place), Redwing www.redwingmusic.com
11. Paul & Win Grace and Family: Autumn Harvest (Dance Upon the Earth), self www.gracefamilymusic.com
12. Charlie Maguire: Fall Is Here (Harbour Lights: The Second Voyage), Mello-Jamin Music http://www.charliemaguire.com/

13. Dar Williams: the End of The Summer (End of The Summer), Razor & Tie
14. John McCutcheon: Colors (Autumnsongs), Rounder Kids
15. Jeremy Kittel: Summer's End / Elly's Autumn (Roaming), self www.jeremykittel.com

Guest: Stan Sullivan (at Roaring Brook w/ Mustard's Retreat, 10/10)
16. Stan Sullivan: Summer Mistress (live in studio)
17. Mustard's Retreat: Shenandoah (A Resolution of Something), self www.mustardsretreat.com 18. Stan Sullivan: instrumental medley (live in studio)
19. Mustard's Retreat: [I neglected to write down the name of the song]
20. Stan Sullivan: Just A Little Blue (live in studio)

21. Arlo Guthrie with The Dillards: Do Re Mi (32 cents Postage Due), Rising Son www.risingsonrecords.com
22. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion: When the Lilacs Are In Bloom (Folksong), RTE 8 Records www.sarahleeandjohnny.com

23. Pride of New York: The Stage / medley (Pride of New York), Compass www.compassrecords.com
24. Battlefield Band: Plain Gold Ring (Zama Zama), Temple www.battlefieldband.co.uk

Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from "Pride of New York," Compass

I read George Monbiot's "A Millionaire with A Super Yacht Is a Larger Strain on Resources Than Hundreds of Peasant Families" http://www.alternet.org/story/142967/
25. Battlefield Band: Robber Barons (Zama Zama), Temple www.battlefieldband.co.uk
26. Carol Denney: The Rich Will Never Be Poor (The Rich Will Never Be Poor), self www.caroldenney.com
27. Peggy Seeger: Legal Illegal (Enough Is Enough), self www.peggyseeger.com
28. Chuck McCabe: A Prayer for The Living (Bad Gravity Day), Woodshed www.chuckmccabe.com

29. Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion: When the lilacs Are in Bloom (Folksong), RTE 8 www.sarahleeandjohnny.com
30. Arlo Guthrie: If Ever I should See the Mountain (Tales of '69), Rising Son www.risingsonrecords.com

31. Susan Werner: The Night We Won the War (single), download www.susanwerner.com]
32. Cliff Eberhardt: When the Leaves Begin to Fall (500 Miles), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
33. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House

Friday, September 25, 2009

Americana Music Awards in the Wall St. Journal

Honest, Unfettered Americana
Jim Fusilli, 9/23/09

Though the Americana Music Association celebrated its 10th anniversary here last week, few proponents of Americana music know how to describe it.

"I have no idea," said Rosanne Cash when I asked.

"I still don't know to this day," replied Buddy Miller, who was nominated for four AMA awards, won three and ran the house band at last week's awards ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium.

"If you look up the definition of the word 'Americana,' there isn't any," said Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson from the Ryman stage.

Earlier in the day, WSM disc jockey Eddie Stubbs reminded an audience at the convention center here that it was Hank Williams's birthday and, in a voice as soothing as an old sweater, added: "If he emerged today, country music would ignore him and Americana would embrace him."

More at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052970204518504574421372974268140.h
tml#mod=todays_us_opinion

Two articles about Leonard Cohen

An in-concert collapse in Madrid:

http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=213&articleId=32420


Performing in Israel despite boycott:

http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=213&articleId=32476

Buddy Miller, John Fogerty receive Americana awards

September 18, 2009NASHVILLE, TN (AP)

Buddy Miller won four awards and veteran John Fogerty received a special honor Thursday night at the eighth annual Americana Music Association Honors and Awards Show.

Miller, a singer-songwriter, won artist of the year; album of the year for "Written in Chalk" with wife Julie Miller; duo/group of the year with his wife; and song of the year for "Chalk" performed with Patty Griffin.

Fogerty, formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival, was honored with a lifetime achievement award for songwriting.

During a four-decade career, he has written such hits as "Proud Mary," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," "Fortunate Son," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Bad Moon Rising" and others.

The rest is at
http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=213&articleId=32410

Monday, September 21, 2009

Keep an ear out for these youngsters

Arkansas Folk-DJ Mike Flynn reports:

"I just got back from the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield Kansas...which is not news of interest...but something didhappen there that was fun.

"A young man from North Carolina entered the old time fiddlecontest and won. He entered the mandolin contest and won.He also entered the flat-pick guitar contest and won that as well. That's never happened before at Winfield.

"His name is Bryan Dowell from NC. He's 18 years old andhe's a polite gentleman...who plays great guitar.

"The other fun thing was...the 2nd place flat-pick winner wasBrandon Davis from VA...and 3rd place was won by EricHarden from NC...and these three young men play in a bandtogether.

"The crowd loved listening to the three young men play together on stage one."

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Mary Travers Has Died

Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary dead at 72
By Jay Lindsay, Associated Press Writer September 16, 2009

BOSTON --Mary Travers, who as one-third of the hugely popular 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary helped popularize such tunes as "Puff (The Magic Dragon)" and "If I Had a Hammer," died in a Connecticut hospital Wednesday after battling leukemia for several years. She was 72.
The band's publicist, Heather Lylis, said Travers died at Danbury Hospital.

....Mary Allin Travers was born on Nov. 9, 1936 in Louisville, Ky., the daughter of journalists who moved the family to Manhattan's bohemian Greenwich Village. She quickly became enamored with folk performers like the Weavers, and was soon performing with Pete Seeger, a founding member of the Weavers who lived in the same building as the Travers family.

With a group called the Song Swappers, Travers backed Seeger on one album and two shows at Carnegie Hall. She also appeared (as one of a group of folk singers) in a short-lived 1958 Broadway show called "The Next President," starring comedian Mort Sahl.

The rest is at
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/09/16/mary_travers_of_peter_paul_and_mary_dead_at_72/

Sam Hinton obit and appreciation

Folksinger, songwriter, marine biologist, author, calligrapher and cartoonist Sam Hinton died in California on Thursday Sept 10 at 92.

L.A.Times obituary at
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-sam-hinton15-2009sep15,0,6650349.story

NPR's appreciation at
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112825242

Sunday, September 13, 2009

9/13/09 Playlist

1. Matraca Berg / Gretchen Peters / Suzy Bogguss: Hammer and Nail (Sewanee Sessions), EP self http://myspace.com/winewomen
2. Berggren / Kirk / Shaw: Hezzie Daley's (North River - North Woods), Sleeping Giant www.berggrenfolk.com
3. The Boat Band: Bright Morning Star (Take Me over The Tide), Harbourtown www.harbourtownrecords.com
4. Levon Helm: Growin' Trade (Electric Dirt), Vanguard www.levonhelm.com

5. Angel Band: I'll Sing This Song for You (With Roots & Wings), Appleseed www.angelband.net
6. Greg Brown: Sampson (Dream City), Red House www.redhouserecords.com
7. May Erlewine: Talkin' (Love Labor), Earthwork www.earthworkmusic.com
8. Donna Hebert: La Grondeuse / La Grande Gigue Simple (In Full Bloom), self www.fiddlingdemystified.com

In the area soon:
9. Tony Bird: Zambezi-Zimbabwe (Sorry Africa), Philo www.mangotime.net
10. Battlefield Band: The Emigrant (The Road of Tears), Temple www.templerecords.co.uk
11. Balfa Toujours: Freight Train Blues (La Pointe), Rounder www.rounder.com

Birthday boy and girl:
12 & 13. Faith Petric: Amelia Earhardt’s Last Flight & The Joy in Living (Faith’s Favorites), Center Records
14 & 15. Joel Mabus: You Voted Red & How Can I Keep from Singing (No Worries Now), Fossil www.joelmabus.com

9/11
16. Hugh Blumenfeld: Hole in The Sky (Mr. Jekyll & Dr. Hyde), self www.hughblumenfeld.com 17. Kat Eggleston: One (Speak), Paperboat www.kateggleston.com
18. David Kleiner: Jack Hardy's Brother (The News That's Fit to Sing), self www.davidkleiner.net
19. Kitty Donohoe: There Are No Words (Northern Border), Roheen www.kittydonohoe.com
20. Ken Waldman: September 11, 2001 (single), self www.kenwaldman.com

21. Robin Greenstein: Hole in The Ground (single), Windy www.robingreenstein.com
22. Tom Paxton: The Bravest (single), self www.tompaxton.com
23. Deborah Liv Johnson: This Final Ride (The Good and Bad of It), Mojave Sun www.deborahlivjohnson.com
24. Mary Chapin Carpenter: Grand Central Station (Between Here and Gone), Columbia
25. Bruce Springsteen: You're Missing (The Rising), Columbia

26. John McCutcheon: Our Flag Was Still There (single download)
27. Mark Erelli: The Only Way (The Only One), Signature Sounds EP www.markerelli.com
28. Jack Kid: So Many Angels 911 (Blackjacks), self www.jackkid.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from "Sowing" by Wild Oats (self)

Tribune article -- Study:Toxic dioxin in S. Vietnam still pollutes
29. Kate Wolf: Agent Orange (Give Yourself to Love), Kaleidoscope LP

30. Chris Smither: Surprise, Surprise (Time Stands Still), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
31. The Resophonics: Truth to Tell (Last Long Winter), self www.resophonics.com
32. Balfa Toujours: Les Tracas de Todd Balfa (La Pointe), Rounder www.rounder.com
33 & 34. Woody Guthrie: Harriet Tubman's Ballas parts 1 & 2 (My Dusty Road), Rounder www.rounder.com
35. Bell & Evans: Rocks and Water (Let's Do Something....), Native and Fine www.nativeandfinerecords.com
36. Tom Chapin: We Will Adjust (Let the Bad Times Roll), Sundance www.tomchapin.com
37. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Last Festival update for the season...

unless something new comes along!

Sept 19: Hartland Hollow Bluegrass, East Hartland CT

(860) 844-8526

Sept 19 & 20: Joe Davies Folk Festival, Middleborough MA
www.soulehomestead.org/jdff.html

Oct 16 - 18: Eisteddfod New York
http://www.eisteddfod-ny.org/

Washington Post article about "writing" a song with Christine Lavin

The Lyrical Miracle

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Things I've always really, really wanted to do before I die:

1. Muscle an inside fastball into the gap in right-center for a stand-up triple, driving in the tying and winning runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning in the seventh game of the World Series. For the Yankees.

2. Write a song.

I have never entirely given up on either goal, but I have to admit that with every passing year, each has become more unlikely.

You'd think the song might be within my grasp, but I have discovered there is an enormous difference between writing the sorts of things I write and writing a song, especially the part involving having deep human feelings that rhyme.

The closest I have come to being a songwriter is knowing one. Christine Lavin, the folk singer, is a good friend of mine. Chris has no problem whatsoever having deep human feelings and turning them into songs,...

The rest is at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090402435.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tribute for Sandy Paton

A Memorial and Musical Tribute to/for Sandy Paton will be held on Saturday, 10 October 2009, at Music Mountain, Falls Village, CT.

The memorial for Sandy begins at 1 pm & will include a memorial, potluck meal, song circle, & possibly a dance. Directions to Music Mountain can be found below. All are welcome.

http://www.musicmountain.org/about/directions.html

Sunday, September 6, 2009

9/6/09 Playlist

1. Ken Waldman: Fire and Water (55 Tunes 5 Poems), self www.kenwaldman.com
2. Missy Raines & The New Hip: Angeline (Inside Out), Compass www.compassrecords.com
3. Cheryl Wheeler: Pointing at The Sun (Pointing at The Sun), self www.diasrecords.com
4. The Pines: Spike Driver Blues (Tremolo), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

5. Neko Case: Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth (Middle Cyclone), Anti- www.anti.com
6. Arlo Guthrie with The Dillards: Tom Joad (Thirty-two Cents Postage Due), Rising Son http://risingsonrecords.com
7. Celeste Krenz: Early (My Mother and Me), High Horse www.highhorserecords.com
8. David Kleiner: Rooting for A Loser (The News That's Fit to Sing), self www.davidkleiner.com

9. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg: My Little Belly (Saints & Tzadiks), World Village www.worldvillagemusic.com
10. Kieran Kane: Way Down Below (Somewhere Beyond the Roses), Compass www.compassrecords.com
11. Jonathan Edwards: Red Light, Green Light (Rollin' Along -- Live in Holland), Strictly Country www.strictlycountryrecords.com
12. Hot Club of Cowtown: The Magic Violin (Wishful Thinking), Thirty Tigers www.hotclubofcowtown.com

Playing in the area this next week:
13. CornBread: Education Blues (Clearing the Tracks), self
14. Tom Rush with Nanci Griffity: Casey Jones (What I Know), Appleseed www.appleseedmusic.com
15. The Bluelights: Down and Out (Rub That Rhythm), self www.bluelightsjugband.com
16. Ellis Paul: The Cotton's Burning (The Day after Everything Changed), Black Wolf www.ellispaul.com
17. Hot Club of Cowtown: Reunion (Wishful Thinking), Thirty Tigers www.hotclubofcowntown.com

In honor of the nonsense about schools / school boards not exposing school kids to the possibly dangerous message from President Obama on Tuesday:
18. Tom Paxton: What Did You Learn in School Today? (Ramblin' Boy), Elektra LP

19. Tom Chapin: Boys in The Choir (Let the Bad Times Roll), Sundance www.tomchapin.com
20. Kat Eggleston: Careless (Speak), Paperboat www.kateggleston.com
21 & 22. Joel Mabus: Poison in The Glass & Extra Poison (No Worries Now...), Fossil www.joelmabus.com
23. Cara Dillon: P Stands for Paddy [Lament for Johnny] (Hill of Thieves), Proper American www.caradillon.com

24. John Thibodeau: Gone to Charleston (Passin' Through), Ruination
25. Diana Jones: Something Crossed Over (Better Times Will Come), Proper American www.dianajonesmusic.com
26. Nathan Rogers: Land of The Living Skies (The Gauntlet), Borealis www.borealisrecords.com

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Ken Waldman's "55 Tunes 5 Poems," self-released www.kenwaldman.com

27. Girlyman: Storms Were Mine (Everything's Easy), self www.girlyman.com
28. Tom Russell: The Most Dangerous Woman in America (Blood and Candle Smoke), Shout Factory www.tomrussell.com
29. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg: Heart's Blood (Saints & Tzadiks), World Village www.worldvillagemusic.com
30. Kieran Kane: Marriage of Convenience (Somewhere beyond The Roses), Compass www.compassrecords.com

It's their birthday:
31 & 32. Buddy Miller: With God on Our Side & This Old World (Universal United House of Prayer), New West www.newwestrecords.com
33 & 34. Peter Mulvey: Shoulderbirds, Bears, Mailman (Letters from A Flying Machine), Signature Sounds www.signaturesounds.com
35. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House www.redhouserecords.com

Friday, September 4, 2009

Topic records – 70 years of giving a voice to the people

Topic is the oldest independent label in Britain, if not the world. Not bad for a Marxist party offshoot that was started in a basement

Alexis Petridis, guardian.co.uk, Sunday 23 August 2009

Tony Engle is not a man much given to hyperbole, which is unusual in a record label boss. In fact, after 36 years in the job, he's still not entirely sure that he should be running a record label at all: he worries that the whole business of recording the kind of music he does runs contrary to its very essence. "The thing about folk music is that it existed prior to microphones," he says. "The singers I really loved, when they were performing in their heyday, records had hardly been invented. The music existed to serve the community. In a way, recording almost undermines certain aspects of the music. It's a strange contradiction that exists within it." He sighs. "But if you love the music and you love records, like me, you're forced to get into this circular contradiction all the time."

Even he is forced to concede that his label, Topic, is unlike any other. It's not just its advanced age, although that's certainly a factor. Topic is currently celebrating its 70th birthday. No one seems entirely sure whether this makes it the oldest independent record label in the world, but it's certainly the oldest indie label in Britain – a fact it is now celebrating with Three Score and Ten, a beautifully packaged book containing seven CDs, biographies of its most famous artists and as many photographs of men in caps playing accordions as a human being will ever need.

Nor is it Topic's bizarre stable of artists, although, again, you would be hard-pushed to find a label with a roster remotely like it. As you might expect, given Topic's venerable age, virtually every major figure in the British folk revival has recorded for them, from Ewan MacColl to Eliza Carthy, by way of Anne Briggs, June Tabor, the Watersons, Martin Simpson and Davy Graham, as well as innumerable traditional singers captured in priceless, aged "field recordings".

More at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/aug/23/topic-records-70th-anniversary

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Peter Yarrow on The Role of Song and Health Care Reform

The Role of Song in Advancing Health Care Reform

Peter Yarrow, Songwriter, founder of Operation Respect, September 2, 2009


A physician-activist, Dr. Rick Lippin, knowing my deeply held belief that songs that touch peoples' hearts can bring them together to advance causes such as social justice and societal equity, posed a question to me about which songs might appropriately be applied to advance the health care reform movement in America. Dr. Lippin, a leader of national, significant, dialogue correctly cited "We Shall Overcome " as the signature song of the Civil Rights Movement. Peter, Paul & Mary and many others sang this song on behalf of that historic effort during the 1960s, a movement that culminated in landmark legislation and a sea change in what Americans came to realize might be accomplished through grassroots activism which, in those days, was inevitably accompanied by song.

The rest is at
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-yarrow/the-role-of-song-in-advan_b_275426.html
(the page has embedded videos as well)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

8-30-09 Playlist

1. Ricky Skaggs: Pickin' in Caroline (Solo -- Songs My Dad Loved), Skaggs Family http://www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com/
2. Atwater-Donnelly: Going to The West (The Weaver's Bonny), Rabbit Island
http://www.atwater-donnelly.com/
3. Chuck Suchy: Faces of Main Street (Unraveling Heart), Little Bluestem http://www.chucksuchy.com/ 4. Runa: Bedlam Boys (Jealousy), self http://www.runamusic.com/

5 - 8 from "Fishing Music II," Snake River http://www.fishingmusic.com/
5. Chris Coole, Arnie Naiman et al: Lost River
6. Mollie O'Brien et al: Church of The Wandering Stream
7. Jeff Newsom: Fishing in The Dark
8. Rob Ickes, Billy Novick et al: Opening Day

9. Dala: Levi Blues (Everyone Is Someone), Campus Music http://www.dalagirls.com/
10. Dana and Susan Robinson: Delta Queen (Big Mystery), Threshold http://www.robinsongs.com/
11. Beyond the Pale: Extra Spicy (Postcards), Borealis http://www.borealisrecords.com/
12. Kim Beggs: Birds and No Bees (Wanderer's Paean -- updated version), Out of A Paperbag http://www.kimbeggs.com/
13. Herdman / Hills / Mangsen: The Language of The Bees (concert at the Institute of Musical Traditions), private

Mr. Cheney says the investigations into torture are pure partisanship.
14. David Ippolito: Resolution [The Torture Song] (download), self http://www.thatguitarman.com/
15. Billy Bragg: O Freedom (Mr. Love & Justice), Anti-
16. Jack Hardy: Soundtrack (Wry Grass), Great Divide http://www.jackhardy.com/

Who owns the water supply? I read some of Sarah Gilbert's commentary about Fiji bottled water at DailyFinance.com:
17. Evalyn Parry: Bottle This! (Small Theatres), Borealis http://www.borealisrecords.com/
18. Rory McLeod: Thirsting for War (Brave Faces), Talkative http://www.rorymcleod.com/
19. Karine Polwart & Tim O'Brien: Well for Zoe (Wells for Zoe -- Water for Life), Compass benefit release http://www.wellsforzoe.org/

"Girl" guitar players:
20. Janis Ian: Play Like A Girl (God and The FBI), Windham Hill http://www.janisian.com/
21. Nina Gerber: Peace Medley (Live -- Good Music with Good People), Goatscape http://www.ninagerber.com/
22. Patty Larkin: Not Bad for A Broad (Step into The Light), Philo LP

Ticket giveaway for Rhythm & Roots:
23. Eilen Jewell: One of Those Days (Sea of Tears), Signature Sounds http://www.signaturesounds.com/ 24. The Duhks: Mighty Storm (Fast Paced World), Sugar Hill http://www.duhks.com/
25. Cedric Watson: Cochon de Lait (Cedric Watson), Valcour http://www.valcourrecords.com/

The Dreaded Folk Calendar over selections from Steve Martin's "The Crow," Rounder http://www.rounder.com/

I read Greg Palast's article about the firing of hurricane expert Ivor van Heerden by Lousiana State University http://www.gregpalast.com/
26. Chris Thomas King: What Would Jesus Do? (Blue Highways Volume One), Blue Highways http://www.bluehighwaystv.com/
27. Mary Chapin Carpenter: Houston (The Calling), Zoe Rounder http://www.rounder.com/
28. Truckstop Honeymoon: The Cover of The N.Y.T. (Great Big Family), Squirrel http://www.truckstophoneymoon.com/
29. Jackson Browne: Where Were You (Time The Conqueror), Inside http://www.insiderecordings.com/ 30. Catie Curtis: People Look Around (Long Night Moon), Compass http://www.compassrecords.com/
31. John McCutcheon: Hope Dies Last (This Fire), Appalsongs http://www.folkmusic.com/
32. John Flynn: The Passunder [New Orleans] (America's Waiting), self http://www.johnflynn.net/
33. Eliza Gilkyson et al: Peace Call (Land of Milk and Honey), Red House http://www.redhouserecords.com/