Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Jon Runsey's Top 10 & Honorable Mentions

John Runsey of the "Four Strong Winds" show on KVMR in Nevada City, CA offers both his Top 10 of 2013 and his Honorable Mentions:

Top 10 11

10.  Jaime Michaels, Unknown Blessings, fromdahart
10.  Spark and Whisper, Ghost Towns, Self
9.  Si Kahn, Bristol Bay, Strictly Country Records
8.  Mara Levine,Jewels and Harmony,Mara Levine
7.  Monocle Band, Monocle Band, Monocle Band
6,  Slaid Cleaves, Still Fighting The War, Music Road Records
5.  Spuyten Duyvil, Temptation, Spuyten Duyvil Music
4.  Passenger, All the Little Lights, Nettwerk
3.  John McCutcheon, 22 Days, Appalsongs
2.  Erik Balkey, Everything is Great, Hudson Harding Music
1.  Brother Sun, Some Part of the Truth, Brother Sun Music

Honorable Mention       
        
* Jed Marum, The South Wind, Boston Road Records

* Friction Farm, I read your book, Self

* Rita Hosking, Little Boat, Rita Hosking

* David Mallett, Greenin' Up, North Road Records

* Various Artists, Woody Guthrie at 100, Legacy Records

* Dave Van Ronk, Down in Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

* Paul Simon, Over the Bridge of Time, Legacy Recordings

* Tom Rush, Celebrates 50 Years of Music, Appleseed

* Boxcar Lillies, Shugar Shack, Self

* James Keelaghan, History - The First 25 Years, Borealis

* Della Mae, This World Oft Can Be, Rounder

* Larry Diehl, Close to the Soul, Larry Diehl

* Mustard's Retreat, A Good Place to be, Self

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Saturday, December 28, 2013

John Platt's faves of 2013

John Platt/WFUV offers up his faves from 2013:
Favorite CDs of 2013

* *Sam Baker*, *Say Grace*
(Not a newcomer, but new to me this year, with an album of haunting songs)


* *Dawes*, *Stories Don’t End*
(The best songs Jackson Browne didn’t write this year)


* *Simone Dinnerstein & Tift Merritt*, *Night*
(Women from different worlds – classical pianist and singer-songwriter – meet for a creative collaboration)


* *Iron & Wine*, *Ghost on Ghost*
(Sam Beam embraces influences ranging from the Beach Boys to Charles Mingus)


* *The Jammin’ Divas*, *Across the Stony Ridges*
(Four women – from the U.S., Australia, Ireland, and Israel – backed by a
bassist from St. Louis, prove the power of cross-pollination)


* *The Levins*, *My Friend Hafez*
(A married musical couple creates inspiring songs from the words of a 14th
century Persian poet)


* *The Lone Bellow*, *The Lone Bellow*
(A Brooklyn-based trio with melodic hooks and soulful harmonies)


* Bobby McFerrin, *Spirityouall*
(Music's Renaissance man shows his spiritual side, while paying homage to his classically-trained father.)


* J*ean Rohe*, *Jean Rohe & the End of the World Show*
(A remarkable young woman from Brooklyn who’s absorbed music from around the world)


* *Various Artists*, *Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate
McGarrigle*
(Stirring performances by Kate’s family and friends, drawn from concerts in
London, new York, and Montreal

More Listening Pleasure:
 

*Brother Sun*, *Some Part of the Truth*

*Mary Gauthier*, *Live at Blue Rock*

*The Henry Girls*, *The Henry Girls*

*Jason Isbell*, *Southeastern*

*Jack’s Waterfall*, *Everybody’s Music*

*James Maddock*, *Another Life*

*Tara O’Grady*, *A Celt in the Cotton Club*

*Over the Rhine*, *Meet Me at the Edge of the World*

*Amy Speace*, *How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat*

*Spuyten Duyvil*, *Temptation*, and too many others to mention…

Favorite Songs of 2013
(Alphabetical by artist)

*Dawes*, "From a Window Seat"


*Michael Franti* & Spearhead, "Life Is Better With You"


*Iron & Wine*, "The Desert Babbler"


*Lorde*, "Royals"
(Not for Sunday Breakfast, but who can resist it?)


*Moby*, "The Perfect Life"


*Willie Nile*, "American Ride"


*Over the Rhine*, "All Over Ohio"


*Jean Rohe & The End of the World*, "Umbrella"


*Amy Speace*, "The Sea & the Shore"
(A duet with John Fullbright)


*The Levins*, "Dropping Keys"


*The Lone Bellow*, "You Never Need Nobody"

Friday, December 27, 2013

Sara Elizabeth Campbell has passed

Benjamin Wermund details the life and the passing of Sara Elizabeth Campbell who is probably best known musically for "Geraldine and Ruthie May."

Below is video of Campbell performing.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

"Hard Times in Dublin Again" -- Paul Hourican

Paul Hourican sings of the declawed Celtic Tiger and the resulting human chaos.

"Christmas in Paradise" -- Mary Gauthier

Here's one more. First the lyrics:

Davey stole a Christmas tree from K-Mart last night
Red ribbons and silver bells, angels dressed in white
He tied, it to the bridge rail so passing cars could see
He danced a little dance up there, looked down and smiled at me

My bed is a lawn chair, cushions keep it soft
I sleep in the open air, under the Southern Cross
Next to the golf course by the Hyatt Hotel
Davey he is a friend of mine and we get along pretty well

Christmas in paradise under the Cow Key Bridge
Where the warm breeze blows so nice
And the landlord forgives

Snowbirds on the golf course wear Bermuda shorts and Polo shirts
Some play pretty good some play so bad it hurts
We pick up their golf balls that fly over the fence
We shine 'em up a little bit and sell 'em back for fifty cents

Christmas in paradise under the Cow Key Bridge
Where the warm breeze blows so nice
And the landlord forgives

I won't lie, we just get by but we'll be eating good tonight
Christmas dinner at 5 o'clock over at the Church of Life
They don't care who you are, they don't ask what you done
Come on down and bring a friend there's plenty for everyone

Christmas in paradise under the Cow Key Bridge
Where the warm breeze blows so nice
And the landlord forgives

The radio plays Christmas songs while we get high
And Davey shouts, Merry Christmas y'all
To the cars passing by
Davey shouts, Merry Christmas y'all
To the cars passing by

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

"American Noel" -- Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer

From the late Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer.

First the lyrics:

Three wise men
Riding hard through the cold
Lost on some big city street
With no place warm to go
They are looking for a manger
Or a sign in the lights
But they're a long way from Bethlehem tonight  


But they heard about a savior
And a preacher in the)park
Who will camp with the homeless
Where they shiver in the dark
He'll deliver salvation
To the weary and the cold

And he'll bring joy joy joy to the wandering sou

The cleaning lady sighs
As she closes up the gate
'Cause this job don't quite pay the bills
And she's always working late
But all in a moment
Comes a light from above
It's an angel speaking words of joy and love 


And he tells her of a savior
And a preacher in the park
Who will camp with the homeless
Under bridges in the dark
He'll deliver salvation
To the weary and the cold
And he'll bring )oy joy joy to the wandering soul  


Four in the morning
At the Tradewinds Motel
The register reads "all full up"
And the clerk thinks just as well
But out in the tool shed
'Round an old Coleman lamp
A little family makes its meager camp 

The Wise Men bring presents
And the angels gather round
The cleaning lady slips in through the door without a sound
And an old black dog
Looks on with the rest
At the little babe up on his mother's breast


And there comes a savior
And a preacher in the park
And he camps with the homeless
Where they shiver in the dark
He delivers salvation
To the weary and the cold
And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul 
And he brings joy joy joy to the wandering soul 


"First Christmas" -- Stan Rogers

One of Stan Rogers' best.

First the lyrics:

This day a year ago, he was rolling in the snow
With a younger brother in his father's yard
Christmas break, a time for touching home,
the heart of all he'd known
And leaving was so hard

Three thousand miles away,
now he's working Christmas Day
Making double time for the minding of the store
Well he always said, he'd make it on his own
He's spending Christmas Eve alone
First Christmas away from home

She's standing by the train station,
pan-handling for change
Four more dollars buys a decent meal and a room
Looks like the Sally Ann place after all,
in a crowded sleeping hall
That echoes like a tomb

But it's warm and clean and free,
and there are worse places to be
And at least it means no beating from her Dad
And if she cries because it's Christmas Day
She hopes that it won't show
First Christmas away from home

In the apartment stands a tree,
and it looks so small and bare
Not like it was meant to be,
Golden angel on the top
It's not that same old silver star,
you wanted for your own
First Christmas away from home

In the morning, they get prayers,
then it's crafts and tea downstairs
Then another meal back in his little room
Hoping maybe that "the boys" will think to phone
before the day is gone
Well, it's best they do it soon

When the "old girl" passed away,
he fell apart more every day
Each had always kept the other pretty well
But the kids all said the nursing home was best
Cause he couldn't live alone
First Christmas away from home

In the common room they've got the biggest tree
And it's huge and cold and lifeless
Not like it ought to be,
and the lit-up flashing Santa Claus on top
It's not that same old silver star,
you once made for your own
First Christmas away from home

"Christmas In The Trenches" -- John McCutcheon

This is exquisite.

First the lyrics:

My name is Francis Tolliver. I come from Liverpool.
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here,
I fought for King and country I love dear.
It was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen field of France were still, no Christmas song was sung.
Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lyin' with my mess-mates on the cold and rocky ground
when across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound.
Says I "Now listen up me boys", each soldier strained to hear
as one young German voice sang out so clear.
"He's singin' bloody well you know", my partner says to me.
Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony.
The cannons rested silent. The gas cloud rolled no more
as Christmas brought us respite from the war.
As soon as they were finished a reverent pause was spent.
'God rest ye merry, gentlemen' struck up some lads from Kent.
The next they sang was 'Stille Nacht". "Tis 'Silent Night'" says I
and in two tongues one song filled up that sky.
"There's someone commin' towards us" the front-line sentry cried.
All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side.
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright
as he bravely strode, unarmed, into the night.
Then one by one on either side walked into no-mans-land
with neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand.
We shared some secret brandy and wished each other well
and in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home
these sons and fathers far away from families of their own.
Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin
this curious and unlikely band of men.
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more.
With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war.
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
"whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
It was Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung.
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung.
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
had been crumbled and were gone for ever more.
My name is Francis Tolliver. In Liverpool I dwell.
Each Christmas come since World War One I've learned it's lessons well.
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
and on each end of the rifle we're the same.

"Christmas In Prison" -- John Prine

This will make you count your blessings however meager they might be.

First the lyrics:

It was christmas in prison
And the food was real good
We had turkey and pistols
Carved out of wood
And I dream of her always
Even when I don't dream
Her name's on my tongue
And her blood's in my stream.

Chorus:
Wait awhile eternity
Old mother nature's got nothing on me
Come to me
Run to me
Come to me, now
We're rolling
My sweetheart
We're flowing
By god!

She reminds me of a chess game
Or a picnic in the rain
After a prairie fire
Her heart is as big
As this whole goddamn jail
And she's sweeter than saccharine
At a drug store sale.

Chorus:

The search light in the big yard
Swings round with the gun
And spotlights the snowflakes
Like the dust in the sun
It's christmas in prison
There'll be music tonight
I'll probably get homesick
I love you. goodnight.

"Christmas in New York" -- Shilelagh Law

Here's a wonderful song from a very under-appreciated and -- Shilelagh Law -- out of New York. First the lyrics:

there's snow in the air
winter is here
the wind in blowing
and outsides so clear
there's presents to wrap
and cards to send
it's christmas in new york again

there's somebody singing a holiday song
you pick up the tune and start singing along
you learned the words some time way back when
its christmas in new york again

fancy store windows and millions of lights
downtown in december, what a fabulous sight
you spin round and round trying to take it all in
its christmas in new york again

but as you gather round the table
with everyone you feel that something has been left undone
the tree is all trimmed, your shopping is through
but there's one last thing you still have to do

its christmas eve, 11 pm
you walk down to the church and you quietly go in
you kneel down in the last pew right on the aisle
and say "god i know its been a while
but can you do me a favor on this christmas eve
can you send some blessing to people for me
you know these past few months have been kinda tough
and we could all use a little love

so bless new york finest, our angels in blue
giving us hope and helping us through
and bless new yorks bravest, the f.d.n.y.
giving their sweat and their tears and their lives

and bless all the medics and our troops over seas
bless the guys in the hardhats, removing debris
bless the everyday people who answered the call
bless those who gave some and those who gave all

bless all the souls who left us this year
you may be gone but you'll always be hear
singing and dancing with family and friends
its christmas in new york again

and theres snow in the air
winter is here
the wind is blowing and outsides so clear
there's presents to wrap and cards to send
its christmas in new york again

fa la la la la la la la la la
x11
it's christmas in new york again


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Top Ten Releases of 2013 from KBCS

The various djs at radio station KBCS (Bellevue, Washington) have issued their choices for the Best of 2013 releases:
Tracey Wickersham
Womanotes


Sarah Jarosz   - Build Me Up From Bones  (Sugar Hill )
Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle (Ribbon)
Aiofe O’ Donovan  - Fossils (Yep Roc)
Valerie June – Pushin’ Against a Stone (Concord)
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison  - Cheater’s Game  (Premium/Thirty Tigers)
Laura Veirs  - Warp & Weft  (Raven Marching Band)
Mavis Staples   - One True Vine  (Anti)
Laura Cortese – Into the Dark  (independent)
Rokia Traore – Beautiful Africa  (Nonesuch)
Pharis & Jason Romero  - Long Gone Out West Blues  (Lula)

Tom Keeney
Bluegrass Ramble


Jr. Sisk & Joe Mullins – Hall of Fame Bluegrass (Rebel)
Chris Brashear – Heart of the Country (Dog Boy)
Adam Steffey – New Primitive (Organic)
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – On the Edge (Compass)
Peter Rowan – The Old School (Compass)
Alan Bibey & Wayne Benson – Mandolin Chronicles (Pinecastle)
Boxcars – It’s Just a Road (Mountain Home)
James King – 3 Chords and the Truth (Rounder)
Jim Lauderdale – Old Time Angels (Sky Crunch)
Gibson Brothers – They Call it Music (Compass)

Tamara Lewis
Sunday Folks


Valerie June – Pushin’ Against a Stone (Concord)
Gregory Alan Isakov – The Weatherman  (independent)
Milk Carton Kids – Ash and Clay (Anti)
Slaid Cleaves – Still FIghting the War (Music Road)
David Francey – So Say We All (Red House)
Patty Griffin – American Kid (New West)
Shannon Whitworth and Barrett Smith – Bring it on Home (independent)
Amy Speace – How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat (Wind Bone)
Lissa Schneckenburger – Covers (independent)
Grace Pettis – Two Birds (Blue Rock)
Best EP: The Living Sisters – Run for Cover (Vanguard)

Sandy Macdonald
Sunday Folks


Pharis & Jason Romero – Long Gone Out West Blues (Lula)
Bruce Molsky – If It Ain’t Here When I Get Back (independent)
Lauren Sheehan – The Light Still Burns (Wilson River)
Banjo Babes – Banjo Babes (Wepecket Island)
Pokey LaFarge – Pokey LaFarge (Third Man)
Alice Gerrard – Bittersweet (Spruce & Maple)
Martha Redbone Roots Project – The Garden of Love – Songs of William Blake (Blackfeet)
Old Buck – Old Buck (Tin Halo Music)
Veronica Sbergia & Max Di Bernardi – Old Stories For Modern Times (independent)
Dave Van Ronk – Down In Washington Square (3 CD set) (Smithsonian Folkways)

Rus Thompson
Road Song
s

Holly Williams – The Highway (independent)
Jason Isbell – Southeastern (independent)
Willie Nelson – To All The Girls (Legacy)
Townes Van Zandt – The Sunshine Boy Demos: 1971-72 (Omnivore)
Robbie Fulks – Gone Away Backward (Bloodshot)
Jessie Payo – Down The Mountain (Payote Records)
Mandolin Orange – This Side of Jordan (Yep Roc)
Tom Jones – Spirit in the Room (Rounder)
Glen Campbell – See You There (Surfdog)

Pete Goodall
Bluegrass Ramble


Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice – The Story Of The Day That I Died (Rebel)
The Bluegrass Regulators – One Step Closer (independent)
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – On The Edge (Compass)
James King – Three Chords And The Truth (Rounder)
Della Mae – This World Oft Can Be (Rounder)
The Steeldrivers – Hammer Down (Rounder)
Noam Pikelny – Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe (Compass)
Jim Lauderdale – Old Time Angels (Sky Crunch)
Rebecca Frazier – When We Fall (Compass)
Sideline – Session 1 (Mountain Fever)

Larry Lewin
Our Saturday Tradition


John McCutcheon – 22 Days (Appalsongs)
Eric Bogle – Roll Call (Greentrax)
April Verch – Bright Like Gold (Slab Town)
Slaid Cleaves – Still Fighting the War (Music Road)
Various Artists – Unsung Hero: A Tribute to the Music of Ron Davies (Warner / Chappell)
Pharis & Jason Romero – Long Gone Out West Blues (Lula)
Alice Gerrard – Bittersweet (Spruce and Maple)
Various Artists – Acoustic America (Putumayo)
Bill Kirchen – Seeds and Stems (Proper)
The Carper Family – Old-Fashioned Gal (independent)
“Honorable Mention: Big Country Bluegrass, Beppe Gambetta, Yvette Landry, Erynn Marshall, Laura Smith and Robin and Linda Williams”

Jean Geiger
Folksounds


David Francey – So Say We All (Red House)
John Reischman – Walk Along John (Corvus)
Pharis & Jason Romero – Long Gone Out West Blues (Lula)
Bruce Molksy – If It Ain’t Here When I Get Back (independent)
Kruger Brothers – Remembering Doc Watson (Double Time)
Claire Lynch – Dear Sister (Compass)
Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott – Memories And Moments (Full Skies)
Sutton, Holt & Coleman – Ready For the Times (High Windy)
John McCutcheon – 22 Days (Appalsongs)
Alice Gerrard – Bittersweet (Spruce and Maple)

Eric Hardee
Folksounds


Helene Blum – But with my eyes open (Gateway)
David Francey – So say we all (Red House)
Lily Henley – Words like yours (independent)
Pharis & Jason Romero – Long Gone Out West Blues (Lula)
Sutton, Holt and Coleman – Ready for the times (High Windy)
Claire Lynch – Dear Sister (Compass)
The Onlies – Setting Out to Sea (independent)
Tradish – Beyond the Borders (GO’Danish Folk Music)
Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott – Memories and Moments (Full Skies)
Brad & Ken Kolodner – Skipping Rocks (independent)

Christine Linde
Walkin’ the Floor


Robbie Fulks – Gone Away Backwards (Bloodshot)
Holly Williams – The Highway (independent)
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison – Cheater’s Game (Premium)
The Carper Family – Old-Fashioned Gal (independent)
Lindi Ortega – Tin Star (Last Gang)
Sturgill Simpson – High Top Mountain (independent)
Emily Herring – Your Mistake (independent)
Slaid Cleaves – Still Fighting The War (Music Road)
Patty Griffin – American Kid (New West)
Cale Tyson – High On Lonesome (independent)
Tracey Wickersham
Womanotes
Sarah Jarosz   - Build Me Up From Bones  (Sugar Hill )
Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle (Ribbon)
Aiofe O’ Donovan  - Fossils (Yep Roc)
Valerie June – Pushin’ Against a Stone (Concord)
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison  - Cheater’s Game  (Premium/Thirty Tigers)
Laura Veirs  - Warp & Weft  (Raven Marching Band)
Mavis Staples   - One True Vine  (Anti)
Laura Cortese – Into the Dark  (independent)
Rokia Traore – Beautiful Africa  (Nonesuch)
Pharis & Jason Romero  - Long Gone Out West Blues  (Lula)
- See more at: http://kbcs.fm/2013/12/10/top-ten-releases-of-2013-2/#sthash.PQPyHP3G.dpuf

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Rich Warren's Favorites of 2013

Rich Warren has posted his Favorites of 2013:
First, an explanatory note:

I refrain from calling these "The Best of 2013" because the following list is but one listener's biased opinion. I have culled these from the many good recordings that crossed my CD player this year. I'm sure I forgot to include a few notable recordings. All told, I estimate The Midnight Special received at least 1000 new recordings, and I listened to about 500 new recordings, of which about 250 made it into the WFMT library, and about 150 received airplay. I do not include reissues and most compilations among these favorites. As the cut-off date is November 15, some of the newest recordings will not be considered until next year.

Sometimes I am just overwhelmed by mediocrity and at other times marvel at the creativity and talent. There are a mere eight favorites this year. It boiled down to being exceptionally discriminating or a list of 25. I probably could have halved these or doubled the number yet again. There was ample good music, but only these eight grabbed me. While I thought about these choices long and hard for several weeks, if not most of the year, had I made the list a day earlier or a day later it might have been slightly different

If a good friend visited from out-of-town with only an hour or two to spare, and asked me to play my favorites from 2013, I would play the following. Actually, I have purchased quantities of several of them to give to friends for the holidays.

By way of explanation, I have annotated the CDs on the list, arranged alphabetically.

Sam Baker: Say Grace  self, no# (sambakermusic.com)
Sam Baker may be the songwriter of the year. I reacted to this CD the same way as when I first heard John Prine. Not that Baker is like Prine, per se, but he definitely follows a different path than most songwriters. His songs contain a quirky raw honesty without apology. Some listeners may even be offended by a few of the songs, but at the same time marvel at the way Baker expresses himself. He obliquely touches on politics with his cleverly crafted songs that burrow deep in the human condition.

Childsplay: As the Crow Flies  self 006 (childsplay.org)
All the string instruments of this large ensemble were built by Bob Child, thus the name Childsplay. Liz Carroll superbly produced the CD as well as composing some of the tunes, and filled the rest with a variety of traditional and original tunes and songs by some of the musicians on the recording. Lissa Schneckenburger beautifully sings the vocals, making traditional songs entirely her own, as well as fiddling, while fiddler Hanneke Cassel performs many of the  impressive fiddle solos and wrote some incredibly beautiful tunes, such as The Last Alleluia.

James Keelaghan: History The First 25 Years  Borealis 222 (keelaghan.com)
Normally, my rules forbid choosing a compilation or reissue for a favorite of the year, but if there ever was a worthy exception, this 18 song retrospective by Keelaghan is it. First, Keelaghan is one of the greatest singer-songwriters in the folk tradition living today. Period. Not to mention a splendid voice with which to sing his songs. While many artists err or take poor advice as to which songs to include on a “best of” retrospective, Kelo hits the nail on the head. What makes this more unusual is an accompanying DVD that includes his concert introductions to each song and explanations about them, but not a video of the actual song. The audio recording of each, which includes Kiri’s Piano, Cold Missouri Waters, Captain Torres (which seems to have been remixed so the lyrics are much clearer) and McConnville’s, stand alone. This really is a “must have” CD.

Old Man Luedecke: Tender Is the Night True North 569 (oldmanluedecke.com)
First, Luedecke is not an old man, he’s somewhere around 30. He is something of a cross between the young Loudon Wainwright and Ralph Stanley. He borrows traditional and contemporary song titles for his original songs, tips his hat to the original and off he goes. The album sounds vaguely old-timey, with a contemporary tilt. I greatly appreciate off-beat, highly original artists and Luedecke fills the bill.

Audra McDonald: Go Back Home Nonesuch 517766-2 (audramcdonald.com)
This is not a folk album; it falls in the intriguing vortex of cabaret, concert, lieder and pop. The reason I chose it goes beyond McDonald’s glorious voice. She’s a superb interpreter and her selection of songs involving and captivating. I'll Be Here by Adam Gwon is worth the entire CD, but Married Love by Michael John LaChiusa also is worth the journey. There are many better known songwriters represented and a few familiar songs as well.

Mist Covered Mountains: This Distant Shore self, no# (fiddlingdemystified.com/bands/mist)
This all-too-short CD snuck up on me. The vocals are good, but not outstanding, the musicianship is skilled, but not extraordinary, however, the sum is greater than the parts. Perhaps it’s because this trio chose eight rather extraordinary songs (although I felt cheated there were not more). Including only one completely original song (and a few original additions to another song or two), Mist Covered Mountains covers songs by Archie Fisher, John Gorka, Richard Berman and a handful of traditional songs, including a lovely version of Fear an Bhata and The Parting Glass with a new verse or two. All in all it’s a delightful CD from leftfield. Why, the group doesn’t even have its own Website.

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer: Child Ballads Wilderland 002 (anaismitchell.com)
No originals here, except that this is a highly original CD. Mitchell & Hamer fix their sights on the great canon of English and Scottish Popular Ballads as compiled and researched by Francis Child in the 19th century. Popular ballads at that time are what we call traditional or roots now, and Childs collection probably is the greatest in the English language. Mitchell & Hamer chose seven of these great ballads to brilliantly interpret, picking and choosing from the many variants of each ballad collected by Child to assemble a cohesive story. They then bring the songs to an enchanting and contemporary sensibility without altering the lyrics or “jazzing” them up. They provide convincingly sincere vocals with a most pleasing uncluttered accompaniment. I love these great old ballads and this is the best interpretation of them I’ve heard in many a year. My only complaint is that the CD should contain a few more ballads. After all, they are free of royalties.

Nora Jane Struthers & The Party Line Carnival Blue Pig 2222 (norajanestruthers.com)
Struthers fuses old-time bluegrass with contemporary singer-songwriter into a beguiling amalgam of influences that still seem at home under the bluegrass umbrella. Her well crafted lyrics cover a wide range of topics and their poetry sneaks up on the listener, while her melodies are pure ear candy. This is the kind of CD you can put in the player and hit “repeat” without growing bored.

Honorable mention:

Amy Speace: How to Sleep in a Stormy Boat Wind Bone 59709-60466 (amyspeace.com)
Speace ought to win an award for the best title of the year, but these also are the best songs she’s written or co-written, all inspired in some way by William Shakespeare. Her assured voice brings the songs to life and takes you on an compelling voyage.

Laura Smith: Everything Is Moving  Borealis 224 (laurasmith.ca)
After a long hiatus Laura Smith returns in better voice than ever, with her smoky alto fully caressing and illuminating ten songs ranging from traditional to original to covers, and like with Mist Covered Mountains above, Smith has exceptionally well chosen her material.

Rich Warren
The Midnight Special & Folkstage
www.midnightspecial.org

Sunday, December 8, 2013

The genesis of "Fairytale of New York"

Niall O'Dowd provides the background on the making of "The Fairytale of New York."

The song's lyrics:
It was christmas eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me: won't see another one
And then they sang a song
The rare old mountain dew
I turned my face away and dreamed about you
Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I´ve got a feeling
This year´s for me and you
So happy christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
Where all our dreams come true.

They got cars big as bars
They got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It´s no place for the old
When you first took my hand on a cold christmas eve
You promised me broadway was waiting for me
You were handsome you were pretty
Queen of new york city when the band finished playing they yelled out for more
Sinatra was swinging all the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night.

And the boys from the NYPD choir were singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out for christmas day.

You´re a bum you´re a punk
You´re an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy christmas your arse I pray god it´s our last.

And the boys of the NYPD choir's still singing Galway Bay
And the bells were ringing out
For christmas day.

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can´t make it out alone
I´ve built my dreams around you

And the boys of the NYPD choir's still singing Galway Bay
And the bells are ringing out
For christmas day.

This year's Grammy nominations

Kim Ruehl details the folk and Americana-oriented Grammy nominations alongside her commentary.

Another Best of 2013 list

Kim Ruehl offers her choice as the best releases of 2013 -- they number eight.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Mike Regenstreif's Top 13 for 2013

Mike Regenstreif has posted his Top 13 folk releases for 2013. It's interesting that no 'newcomers' or those relatively so to the genre made the cut for him (it's always great to hear about newbies establishing a name). We'll try and locate other lists for 2013 and post them.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

"Danny Boy" reaches a century


"Danny Boy" is 100 years old, still beloved but also besmirched. What other song could have been recorded by Elvis, Bing Crosby, Cher, Willie Nelson and Mario Lanza?

Here's Frank Patterson:

Monday, December 2, 2013

"The Pogues 30 Years"

Alexis Petridis reviews the new nine disc release "The Pogues 30 Years" and provides the band's history as well.

Everyone has heard "Fairytale of New York" (especially around this time of year) but there are a number of brilliant Pogues songs -- "If I Should Fall From Grace With God," "Turkish Song of the Damned," "Thousands Are Sailing," "Streams of Whiskey" plus the best titled release ever in "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash".