Classic Folk Albums - Your Suggestions Please!
"I must admit that I was a bit of a latecomer to the world of folk, roots and acoustic music, but I have been a regular listener to your show for the last three years now, and I have built up a good collection of contemporary CDs as a result of hearing tracks on your shows from a wide variety of performers, such as , , , , , , , , , and so on."
He goes on to suggest that many of these artist have made 'classic albums'
which set me to thinking about such things. You might remember that last year we broadcast the whole of the Fairport Convention's 'Liege & Lief' concert live from Cropredy. Liege & Lief was voted the Most Influential Folk Album Of All Time by listeners to my programme.
Off the top of my head, other classic albums, in my humble opinion, would be:
Ry Cooder - Into The Purple Valley
Christy Moore - This Is The Day
De Danaan - Star Spangle Molly
Dick Gaughan - Handful of Earth
Steeleye Span - Please To See The King
John Tams - Unity
Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs
Kate Rusby - Sleepless
Richard & Linda Thompson - I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
Lal & Mike Waterson - Bright Phoebus
......... I could go on and on.
So perhaps we should pick a classic album once a month and play a couple of tracks from it? I'd be interested to hear your choice of classic album. Perhaps you could limit it to your top three?
Comment number 1.
At 17th Sep 2008, JoeGBradford wrote:Good idea Mike - it would be great to hear some of the classics of the past and present as well as more of the newly emerging artists which we are in the great position of being to enjoy.
It's a tough choice but there is no doubt that my No 1 classic is Alright Jack by Home Service - a work of genius led by the great John Tams but with a stellar cast of musicians
Second would probably be 'Battle of the Field' by the Albion Country Dance Band - tremendous line up and great songs - particularly 'I was a young man'
For a modern classic I would look no further than Island Stories by Tom Bliss - admittedly a compilation but what a collection of great and moving stories.
If I could have a fourth it would have to be Jez Lowe 'Bad Penny' - so redolent of my early life in the South Durham Delta!
But enough from me look forward to others' comments
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Sep 2008, theleveller wrote:Wow, what a difficult decision. After a great deal of consideration I think it would have to be Martin Carthy’s first album; Show of Hands’ Country Life and what is sure to be a classic of the future, Mawkin’s The Fair Essex. For me, these represent three distinct and important phases in folk music development.
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Sep 2008, theleveller wrote:Could I squeeze Davy Graham's Folk, Blues and Beyond in there. as well?
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Sep 2008, martinsdb wrote:Have to say my favourite Folk Album is (and I think it should be regarded as a Folk Album!) Jonathan Kelly´s ¨ Twice Around the Houses ¨ an Album with wonderful tracks ... classics like the Ballad of the Cursed Anna, Madeliene, We are the People and so much more... I believe he has performed concerts this Summer and if you haven´t heard him , I do recommend it as Good Listen! Enjoy Jonathan Kelly and hope Mike that you play him sometime!
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Comment number 5.
At 3rd Oct 2008, rockaday wrote:Can I please add: Polly Bolton - Woodbine and Ivy, I bought a copy at Cropredy this year to replace a long lost Tape of the Album. It more than lives up to my memory of it .... It would be great to hear her played on the show.
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