FolkBlog

Top 35 tracks as rated by listeners of Festival Radio for January 2010.  Why 35?  Why not?

Artist – Track – Album

1. Nanci Griffith – You Were On My Mind – Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back To Bountiful)
2. Trillium – Schule Agra (Johnny’s Gone For a Soldier) – Crossing the Stream
3. Peggy Seeger – Gonna Be An Engineer – Three Score and Ten
4. Trillium – Jenny Lind Polka/Swedish Polka – Crossing the Stream
5. The Mad Maggies – Luna Marie – Crazed and Enthused
6. Leo Kottke – Morning Is The Long Way Home – One Guitar, No Vocals
7. The Greencards – Lonesome Side Of Town – Viridian
8. Steve Martin – Calico Train – The Crow – New Songs For The Five String Banjo
9. Richard Shindell – State of the Union – Not Far Now
10. We’re About 9 – Maryland, 1987 – Paperdust :: Stardust
11. Mustard’s Retreat – Hard Times Come Again No More – Back to Back
12. Susan Werner – Misery and Happiness – New Non-fiction
13. Suzie Brown – Over & Done – Side Streets
14. Sonia and Disappear Fear – Tango – Tango
15. Kate Campbell – Trains Don’t Run From Nashville – Songs from the Levee
16. Toni Price – #1 – Sol Power
17. Susan McKeown and Lorin Sklamberg – Enniscorthy Fair – Saints and Tzadiks
18. Kathleen Edwards – Copied Keys – Back To Me
19. Rosanne Cash – Tennessee Flat Top Box – Hits 1979-1989
20. Brad Colerick – Leave It All Behind – When I’m Gone
21. Sloan Wainwright – Every Grain Of Sand – Rediscovery
22. Mick McAuley and Winifred Horan – The Cafe Milou Jigs – Serenade
23. Josh Ritter – You Don’t Make it Easy Babe – Hello Starling
24. Johnsmith – The Times They are A-Changin – Gravity of Grace
25. Ben Bedford – The Cherry Mine – Land of the Shadows
26. Jessica Fichot – Le Grenier – Accordion Babes 2010
27. 10,000 Maniacs – Stockton Gala Days – Campfire Songs: The Popular, Obscure & Unknown Recordings (Disc 1 – The Most Popular Recordings)
28. Kim and Reggie Harris – Done Wit’ Driver’s Dribbin’ – Get on Board: Underground Railroad and Civil Rights Freedom Songs Volume 2
29. Julie Miller – All my Tears – Broken Things
30. Jake Shimabukuro – While My Guitar Gently Weeps – Best of Woodsongs Volume Three
31. Silly Sisters (Maddy Prior and June Tabor) – Rosie Anderson – No More to the Dance
32. Bob Dylan – Most Of The Time (alternate version, Oh Mercy) – Tell Tale Signs
33. Alison Krauss & Union Station – The Lucky One – Live
34. Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band – Eyes On The Prize – Live In Dublin
35. Battlefield Band – Three Brothers – Zama Zama …try your luck…

Keep listening and rating the songs, crimestoppers.  If you use the Live365 player, use the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons to make your votes.  Songs people like really do stay in the playlist for longer, so your vote counts.  Vote early and often.

Top 40 Tracks as rated by listeners to Festival Radio for November 2009:

Artist – Track – Album

1. Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Blue Moon Waltz – After Awhile
2. Julie Miller – All my Tears – Broken Things
3. Norman & Nancy Blake – Happy Little Home In Arkansas – Back Home In Sulphur Springs
4. Kris Drever – Braw Sailin’ On the Sea – Black Water
5. David Bromberg – Wee Midnight Hour Blues - Live New York City 1982
6. Pamela Ward and Paul Cherrington – Sail On By – Sail on By
7. The Notting Hillbillies – Railroad Worksong – Missing… presumed having a good time
8. Leadbelly – Goodnight Irene – Genius of Folk
9. Buffy Sainte-Marie – To the Ends of the World – Running For The Drum
10. Peter, Paul And Mary – Leaving On A Jet Plane – The Very Best Of Peter, Paul And Mary
11. Peter Case – Blue Distance – Who’s Gonna Go Your Crooked Mile?
12. Arlo Guthrie – If You Would Just Drop By - Tales of ‘69
13. Molly’s Revenge – The Long Drive – The Western Shore
14. Mark Stepakoff – Little Black Dress – Some Assembly Required
15. Jon Brooks – The Crying of The Times – Moth Nor Rust
16. Buskin & Batteau – Red Shoes and Golden Hearts – Red Shoes and Golden Hearts
17. Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah – The Essential Leonard Cohen
18. The High Kings – The Rocky Road To Dublin – The High Kings
19. Mavis Staples – Waiting for My Child – Live: Hope at the Hideout
20. Maura O’Connell – There’s No Good Day For Dying – Don’t I Know
21. The Innocence Mission – Follow Me – Birds of My Neighborhood
22. The Foremen – Godzilla Has a Midlife Crisis – The Best of the Foremen
23. Woody Guthrie – Jesus Christ – Classic Protest Songs From Smithsonian Folkways
24. Tom Russell – The Eyes of Roberto Duran – The Long Way Around
25. Steve Goodman – The Dutchman – Anthology: No Big Surprise
26. Smithfield Fair – Radio - The Longing
27. Loudon Wainwright III – Daughter - Strange Weirdos
28. Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams – Everyone Has A Broken Heart – The Great Unravel
29. David Bromberg – Levee Camp Moan – Try Me One More Time
30. Woody Guthrie – This Land is Your Land (extra verse) – The Asch Recordings Vol. 1 – This Land is Your Land
31. The Waybacks – The River – Loaded
32. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg – Heart’s Blood – Saints & Tzadiks
33. Paul Simon – Kodachrome – Concert In The Park
34. Nia Morgan – Silent Times - Nia Morgan
35. Michael Stanley Band – Falling In Love Again – Right Back at Ya (1971-1983)
36. Lara Herskovitch – Here Comes the Sun – Through a Frozen Midnight Sky
37. The Kennedys – Chimes of Freedom – Half A Million Miles
38. Josh Ritter – Leaving – Golden Age of Radio
39. Eddie From Ohio – Imagine Me – Portable EFO Show
40. The Byrds – Positively 4Th Street (Live) – There Is A Season

This month listeners seemed to really like some of the older tunes, so I have marked the recent releases with red type to distinguish them from the herd.   I appreciate that they are digging on Woody Guthrie, Leonard Cohen, Mavis Staples and The Byrds.  I also like the love for the Michael Stanley Band, one of the favorite bands of my youth.

Top 42 tracks for October 2009, for Festival Radio.  Why 42?  Why not?

Artist – Track – Album

1. Willy Porter – How To Rob A Bank – How To Rob A Bank
2. Tiller’s Folly – Reels – A Ripple in Time
3. Norman & Nancy Blake – While the Band is Playing Dixie – Rising Fawn Gathering
4. The Clumsy Lovers – Danielle – Make Yourself Known
5. Tom Chapin – Love Lasts Long – Let the Bad Times Roll
6. Thomas Loefke, Norland Wind – An Saighdiuir Treigthe – Celtic Sampler Summer
7. Thea Gilmore – Icarus Wind – Liejacker
8. Steve Robinson – Road to Ruin – Undercurrent
9. Sligo Rags – Blind Mary – The Whiskey Never Lies
10. Paul Thorn – Mission Temple Fireworks Stand – Mission Temple Fireworks Stand
11. Lynne Hanson – Wayfaring Stranger – Things I Miss
12. The Love Hall Tryst – Jack in the Green – Songs of Misfortune
13. Dave Carter with Tracy Grammer – When I Go – When I Go
14. Christine Lavin – Attractive Stupid People – Cold Pizza for Breakfast
15. The Be Good Tanyas – Out of the Wilderness – Hello Love
16. Tommy Emmanuel – House Of The Rising Sun – Center Stage
17. Tom Paxton – Dance In The Kitchen – Comedians & Angels
18. Red Molly – Beaumont Rest Stop – Love and Other Tragedies
19. Joni Mitchell – Both Sides, Now – Hits
20. Switchback – The Death of William Henry – Falling Water River
21. Red Stick Ramblers – Morning Blues – My Suitcase Is Always Packed
22. Melody Gardot – Les Etoiles – My One And Only Thrill
23. Brad Colerick – Nashville - When I’m Gone
24. Zydecosis – Walk This Way – Zydeco All Night
25. Oysterband – The Early Days of a Better Nation – Pearls from the Oysters
26. Mary-Chapin Carpenter – Middle Ground - Shooting Straight in the Dark
27. La Esperanza – Los Borrachos – Mondo Flamenco
28. The Kennedys – Chimes of Freedom – Half A Million Miles
29. Joe Crookston – Mending Walls – Able Baker Charlie and Dog
30. Fred Eaglesmith – Sweet Corn – Tinderbox
31. Alyse Black – Up in the Air (Not Too Late) – Hold Onto This
32. Matt Molloy, Paul Brady and Tommy Peoples – Mick Finns/The Blachthorn (Reels) – Molloy, Brady, Peoples
33. Mark Heard – Everything Is Alright – Dry Bones Dance
34. Caren Armstrong – Origami – Everything
35. Barry & Holly Tashian – Worry Doesn’t Worry Me – Long Story Short
36. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg – Buenos Aires – Saints & Tzadiks
37. Paul Benoit – Leave It As It Lies – Bluebird
38. Peter, Paul And Mary – Blowin’ In The Wind – The Very Best Of Peter, Paul And Mary
39. Mara Levine – Last Thing On My Mind – Mara’s Gems
40. Debra Cowan – Salisbury Plain – Fond Desire Farewell
41. Caroline Herring – The Great Unknown – Golden Apples Of The Sun
42. Battlefield Band – The Auchengeich Disaster – Zama Zama …try your luck…

Top 42 tracks as rated by Festival Radio listeners for September 2009.  Why 42?  Becuase it’s the answer to the ultimate question, of course.

Rank – Artist – Track – Album

1. Over the Rhine – Born – Drunkard’s Prayer
2. Peter, Paul And Mary – Blowin’ In The Wind – The Very Best Of Peter, Paul And Mary
3. Johnny Cash – Personal Jesus – American IV: The Man Comes Around
4. Diana Jones – Ballad of the Poor Child – Better Times Will Come
5. Mark Heard – Everything Is Alright – Dry Bones Dance
6. Deirdre Flint – Food – Then Again
7. Judy Collins – Mountain Girl – Philadelphia Folk Festival – Celebration Highlights From The 40th Anniversary Festival
8. Christine Lavin – Attractive Stupid People – Cold Pizza for Breakfast
9. Kris Delmhorst – To The Wire – Shotgun Singer
10. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg – Heart’s Blood – Saints & Tzadiks
11. Gibson Brothers – Bottomland – Ring The Bell
12. Chuck Brodsky – The Come Heres & The Been Heres – Two Sets
13. David Stoddard – River of Love – Get Off My Lawn
14. Cry Cry Cry – Shades of Gray – Cry Cry Cry
15. Caroline Herring – The Dozens – Golden Apples Of The Sun
16. Red Molly – Beaumont Rest Stop - Love and Other Tragedies
17. Lisa Biales – Where the Buckwheat Blooms – Chasing Away the Blues
18. Doop and the Inside Outlaws – Prove It All Night – Everett Belcher
19. Dogan Mehmet – Wraggle Taggle Gypsies – Gypsyhead
20. Byrd & Street – My Airplane in the Backyard – Love Broke the Fall
21. Alison Krauss & Union Station – When You Say Nothing At All – Alison Krauss + Union Station Live
22. Tom Russell – Santa Ana Wind – Blood & Candle Smoke
23. Tom Prasada-Rao – Star In Her Crown – The Way of the World
24. Susan McKeown & Lorin Sklamberg – Buenos Aires – Saints & Tzadiks
25. Sarah Siskind – Reasons to Love – Say It Louder
26. Joni Mitchell – Both Sides, Now – Hits
27. Sandy Denny – Learning the Game – No More Sad Refrains: The Anthology
28. Rhythm Angels – Until It Comes Around Again – Girls Like Us
29. Paul Brady – Nobody Knows – Nobody Knows
30. Patty Larkin – Good Thing – Angels Running
31. Nick Humphrey – Logging Katahdin Stream – A Few of Mine
32. Maddy Prior – Dives and Lazarus – Seven For Old England
33. John Gorka – I Know – I Know
34. John Flynn – Reggie’s Question ( What’s in a Name) - America’s Waiting
35. Eastmountainsouth – Show Me the River – Eastmountainsouth
36. Doug Folkins – Calico Girl – Another Last Call
37. Christina Stewart – Dean Ba ba mo Leanabh – Kist O Dreams
38. Chris Vallillo – Hard Times Come Again No More – Abraham Lincoln in Song
39. Carrie Newcomer – The Rooms My Mother Made – My Father’s Only Son
40. Bruce Springsteen – You’re Missing – The Rising
41. Atwater – Donnelly – Sweet Fern – The Blackest Crow
42. Arlo Guthrie – Hurry to Me - Tales of ‘69

Top 4o tracks for August 2009 from Festival Radio, as determined by listener ratings:

Artist – “Track” – Album

1. Tommy Emmanuel – “And So It Goes” - Center Stage
2. The Hooters – “Driftin’ Away” - Out Of Body
3. Nerissa & Katryna Nields – “Ticket to My House” - Love and China
4. The Kennedys – “I Found a Road” – Better Dreams
5. Carolann Solebello – “Dance With Me” – Glass of Desire
6. Christine Lavin – “What Was I Thinking (1993-2007)” – I Don’t Make This Stuff Up, I Just Make it Rhyme
7. Tom Russell Band – “Outbound Plane” – Poor Man’s Dream
8. Simon & Garfunkel – “Richard Cory” – Live From New York City, 1967
9. Mozaik – “The Ballad Of Rennardine / Johhny Cuig” – Changing Trains
10. Moody Bluegrass – “Your Wildest Dreams” – Acoustic Rainbow #22
11. Loreena McKennitt – “The Mystic’s Dream” – Nights From The Alhambra
12. Jakob’s Hollow – “Devil’s Den” – The Legend of Bobby the Kid
13. Susan McKeown and Lorin Sklamberg – “Heart’s Blood” - Saints and Tzadiks
14. Michael Stanley – “Waltzing’s For Dreamers” – Live In Tangiers
15. Kelley McRae – “Sparrow” – Highrises In Brooklyn
16. Blame Sally – “Hurricane” – Night of 1000 Stars
17. Craig Bickhardt – “Brother To The Wind” – Brother to the Wind
18. Smithfield Fair – “Where the Rippling Waters Flow” – The Longing
19. Ralston Bowles – “Draper” – Carwreck Conversations
20. Melinda Crawford – “Twixt Ye Twine Ye Even So” – The Wandering Suitcase of Stirling
21. James Keelaghan – “The Constant Lovers” – A Few Simple Verses
22. Martyn Joseph – “This Is Us” – Don’t Talk About Love (Live ‘92 – ‘02)
23. Johnny Cash – “Where Did We Go Right” – Live From Austin, TX
24. Tom Chapin – “We Will Adjust” – Let the Bad Times Roll
25. Nanci Griffith – “Cotton” – The Loving Kind
26. The McKrells – “Bittersweet and Barbed Wire” – Hit The Ground Running
27. Lori McKenna – “The Ledge” – Bittertown
28. Lisa Biales – “Where the Buckwheat Blooms” – Chasing Away the Blues
29. Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band – “Pay Me My Money Down” – Live in Dublin
30. Pete Seeger – “Walking Down Death Row” - Sowing the Seeds – The 10th Anniversary
31. Maura O’Connell – “There’s No Good Day For Dying” – Don’t I Know
32. Kate Campbell – “Visions of Plenty” – Visions of Plenty
33. Jake Armerding – “Assassination Blues” – Walking On The World
34. Andrew Calhoun & Campground – “Sandy land” – Bound To Go
35. Scott Miller & The Commonwealth – “Ciderville Saturday Night” – Upside Downside
36. Pete And Maura Kennedy – “Life Goes On Without You” – River Of Fallen Stars
37. Nanci Griffith – “Year Down In New Orleans” - Once In A Very Blue Moon
38. Mick McAuley and Winifred Horan – “After the Gold Rush” – Serenade
39. Grey Eye Glances – “The Lost Coast” – GEG Live
40. Annie and Rod Capps – “Crocodile Man” – My Blue Garden

Just a reminder that when you listen to Festival Radio using the Live365 player that you help determine the Top 40 by using the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons.  Generally, high rated songs stay in the playlist for much longer than unrated and low rated songs.

Top 16 songs as rated by Festival Radio listeners, July 2009.  Why 16?   Because I said so.

Artist – Track – Album

1. Ariane Lydon – Come Clean My Chimney – Still She Moves
2. Emily Smith – Old Mortality – Too Long Away
3. Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan – The Essential Leonard Cohen
4. Johnny Cash – The Wanderer (U2 Starring Johnny Cash) – The Essential Johnny Cash
5. The Band – Ophelia – Greatest Hits
6. Steve Robinson – Road to Ruin – Undercurrent
7. Red Molly – Beaumont Rest Stop – Love and Other Tragedies
8. John Flynn – The Darker the Night ( The Brighter the Stars) – America’s Waiting
9. Silly Sisters – Fine Horsemen – The Folk Collection
10. Sandy Denny – Learning the Game – No More Sad Refrains: The Anthology
11. Phil Ochs – Talking Pay TV - Classic Protest Songs From Smithsonian Folkways
12. Corinne West – Roses to Rust – Second Sight
13. Traveling Wilburys – Not Alone Any More – Vol 1
14. Steppin’ In It – The Freightliner – Simple Tunes For Simple Times
15. Tift Merritt – Stray Paper – Buckingham Solo
16. The Kingston Trio – Hard Travelin’ – I’m Goin’ Home

Top 14 tracks as rated by listeners to Festival Radio.  Why 14?  Because listeners only rated 14 tracks.  As TV’s Craig Ferguson would say: “I know!”  So, if you’re using the Live365 player, please help me out by rating the songs that you dig, OK?  Songs that get the big thumbs up from listeners tend to get left in the playlist.  Please?

Artist – Track – Album

1. Phil Hardy – The Long Drive Home Set – Revisited
2. Lynn Marie and the Boxhounds – Rainy day Waltz – Party Dress
3. Joe Crookston – Mending Walls – Able Baker Charlie and Dog
4. The British Columbians – Going out on you – The British Columbians
5. Sweet Bitters – Secret Scar – Sweet Bitters
6. Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (with Dolly Parton) – Heavenly
7. Uncle Earl – Take These Chains - She Waits For Night
8. Old Blind Dogs – The breton & Galician Set – The Gab o Mey
9. Jackson Browne – My Personal Revenge – World In Motion
10. Randall Williams – War Stories – Praying For Land
11. David Stoddard – Stuff – Get Off My Lawn
12. Shawn Mullins – House Of The Rising Sun – 9th Ward Picking Parlor
13. Eddi Reader – Dragonflies – Love Is The Way
14. Gordie Tentrees – Fishing Fool – Bottleneck To Wire

Top 29 tracks, Festival Radio for May 2009.  Why 29?  Because the listeners rule.

Artist – Track – Album

1. Mary-Chapin Carpenter – Down at the Twist and Shout – Shooting Straight in the Dark
2. Bob Dylan – Tell Ol’ Bill (alternate version, North Country Soundtrack) – Tell Tale Signs
3. Red Molly – Wayfaring Stranger - Love and Other Tragedies
4. David Wilcox – Modern World – Open Hand
5. Over the Rhine – All I Need Is Everything - Good Dog Bad Dog: The Home Recording
6. Steve Goodman – Elvis Imitators - Anthology: No Big Surprise
7. Nerissa & Katryna Nields – The Right Road - Sister Holler
8. Kim Beggs – Up From the River – Wanderer’s Paean
9. Mustard’s Retreat – Bowling Green – A Resolution of Something
10. Leonard Cohen – Suzanne – The Essential Leonard Cohen
11. Laura Gibson – Spirited – Beasts Of Seasons
12. Jason Wilber – Lazy Afternoon – Lazy Afternoon
13. Eilen Jewell – I’m Gonna Dress In Black – Sea Of Tears
14. Diana Jones – Soldier Girl – Better Times Will Come
15. Tim O’Brien – Man Gave Names To All The Animals – Red On Blonde
16. Raul Malo – Moonlight Kiss – Lucky One
17. Meg Braun – Open Wide – Tomboy Princess
18. Crooked Still – Undone In Sorrow – Still Crooked
19. Brian Ashley Jones – Free to Miss You – Courier
20. Stephanie Bettman – The Only Way To Love You – Get Close To Me
21. Kate Rusby – Sir Eglamore – Hourglass
22. Buddy and Julie Miller – Gasoline And Matches – Written in Chalk
23. Hem – Too Late to Turn Back Now – Funnel Cloud
24. Bruce Cockburn – If A Tree Falls – Slice O Life
25. James McMurtry – See the Elephant – Childish Things
26. The Chieftains – Raglan Road (with Joan Osborne) – Tears of Stone
27. Rhonda Vincent and The Rage – Jolene - Ragin’ Live

Top 38 tracks as rated by listeners of Festival Radio, April 2009.  Why 38?  Why not?

Position – Artist – Track – Album

1. Bruce Cockburn – Tibetan Side of Town – Slice O Life
2. Jimmie Dale Gilmore – So I’ll Run - Spinning Around the Sun
3. Emmylou Harris and Mary Black – Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia – Singing Through the Hard Times: A Tribute to Utah Phillips
4. Grada – Maria Letizia’s - Cloudy Day Navigation
5. The Queensberry Rules – Sinking Town – The Black Dog & Other Stories
6. The Tannahill Weavers – The Black Run Set – Live and In Session
7. Sweet Bitters – Secret Scar – Sweet Bitters
8. The Avett Brothers – Hand-Me-Down Time – Emotionalism
9. Dervish – Grainne – Traveling Show
10. Tom Russell Band – Navajo Rug (with Ian Tyson) – Raw Vision
11. Sligo Rags – Riding on the Wexford Line – The Whiskey Never Lies
12. Red Molly – Wayfaring Stranger – Love and Other Tragedies
13. Debra Cowan – Cruel Was My Father – Fond Desire Farewell
14. Simon & Garfunkel – The Times They Are A-Changin’ – Collected Works
15. Tift Merritt – Virginia, No One Can Warn You - Bramble Rose
16. Suzzy & Maggie Roche – God Bless The Artists - Zero Church
17. Old Crow Medicine Show – Down Home Girl – Big Iron World
18. Laura Marling – The Captain and the Hourglass – Alas I Cannot Swim
19. Solas – John Riordan’s Heels/Hoban’s White House/The Lisnagun Jig – For Love and Laughter
20. Rhonda Vincent and The Rage – Frankie Belle – Ragin’ Live
21. Cheryl Wheeler – Spring – Driving Home
22. Boiled In Lead – Menfi – Silver
23. T Bone Burnett – Power of Love – Twenty Twenty
24. Still on the Hill – Seven Pies – Ozark: A Celebration in Song
25. Mike Quick – Get Right With Your Church – Rain
26. Luka Bloom – Don’t be afraid of the light that shines within you – Eleven Songs
27. Kris Delmhorst – Wasted Word – Songs for a Hurricane
28. Craig Bickhardt – The Real Game – Brother to the Wind
29. Corey Crowder – Southern Way – The Gold in the Sand
30. Brian Ashley Jones – Free to Miss You – Courier
31. Salamander Crossing – Sweetest Song – Passion Train
32. Hem – Too Late to Turn Back Now – Funnel Cloud
33. The Clumsy Lovers – Big Ball in Brooklyn – Make Yourself Known
34. Adrienne Young – Room To Grow – Room to Grow
35. Kate Walsh – Talk Of The Town – Tim’s House
36. Shawn Mullins – House Of The Rising Sun – 9th Ward Picking Parlor
37. Steve and Ruth Smith – Mountain Minuet - Dancin’ Cross the Strings
38. Eilen Jewell – I’m Gonna Dress In Black – Sea Of Tears