Mostly Folk Playlist, May 31, 2009

(It's Ok to) Feel Good | Susan Werner | New Non-Fiction
There is A Tree | Carrie Newcomer | The Geography of Light
The Tide | Lucy Kaplansky | The Tide
The Way Life Should Be Rocker-T with Joan Baez | Luv is the Foundation
Make A Better World | Doug Cox and Salil Bhatt | Slide to Freedom 2: Make A Better World
St. James Infirmary | Allen Toussaint | The Bright Mississippi
Corrina, Corrina | Mickey Baker | Blues and Jazz Guitar of Mickey Baker
I Heard the Lonesome Whistle Blow | Tom Aksten and Neil Rossi | Oasis Acoustic, Volume IX, #7
I'm Goin' Home | Paul Rishell and Annie Raines | Goin' Home
Death Don't Have No Mercy | Ramblin' Jack Elliott | A Stranger Here
Soul of A Man | Ramblin' Jack Elliott | A Stranger Here
Shady Grove | The Gordons | Our Time
Gypsy Davey | Happy Traum | Relax Your Mind - Traditional Fingerpicking Guitar Styles
Blackjack Davey | The Gordons | Our Time
Gypsy-O | Jennifer Mylod | Oasis World Vol. VII, #1
Beggarman | Dave Rowe | Big Shoes
The Mary Ellen Carter | Dave Rowe Trio | Three's a Charm
One Misty Moisty Morning | Schooner Fare | The First Ten Years
Lonesome Traveler | Woods Tea Company | Standing Room Only
Movin' in My Heart | Serendipity Singers | Serendipity/The Many Sides of
Freedom Star | Serendipity Singers | Serendipity/The Many Sides of
We Belong to the Earth | Magpie | In This World: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Give Light | Magpie | In This World: Looking Back, Moving Forward
Follow the Drinking Gourd | Eric Bibb, Linda Tillery, and Taj Mahal |This Land is Your Land: Songs of Unity
Calypso Freedom | Sweet Honey in the Rock |This Land is Your Land: Songs of Unity
This Land is Your Land | John McCutcheon, et. al. |This Land is Your Land: Songs of Unity

Best albums, May 2009

Of the albums that arrived at the station in May 2009, my favorite was Kimba Fá by Eva Ayllón. She is an Afro-Peruvian singer with a strong voice.

Best CDs, April 2009

Of the CDs that arrived at the station in April 2009, my favorites were:

• Roger Davidson and Raul Jaurena, Pasión por la Vida
• Klezmer Juice 2, Yiddish Lidele
• Music From Argentina - Folk Music and Tangos
• Simon and Garfunkel, Live 1969
• Sweet Bitters, Sweet Bitters
• Tahiti Here, Music from the South Pacific
• Truckstop Souvenir, Big Blue Sky

Cheryl Wheeler on growing older

Cheryl Wheeler says she loves everything about getting older except the "unscripted contact with the ground."

Adam Lambert came in second

Adam Lambert should have won American Idol. I was shocked when they announced Kris was the winner, and it seemed like Kris was too. I liked hearing Adam's mellow side when he sang "Beth." I also liked it when he changed gears to "Rock and Roll All Nite." "Beth" was poignant, while "Rock and Roll All Nite" was energetic and made me smile.

I'm not too fussed about him not winning. You know, none of the singers I like have won American Idol, and that fact has not interfered with their greatness. So it was a surprise, but it was not a terrible thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exfq6ZtBjwA

Adam Lambert

I don't usually follow popular music or reality TV, but I'm rooting for Adam Lambert to win American Idol. What I like about Adam is that when I see him on stage, I remember what it's like to live life without being weighed down by fatigue and cynicism. Adam performs wholeheartedly, like someone who is living life to the fullest.

Pete Seeger turns 90

Sunday was Pete Seeger's 90th birthday, and the occasion was marked by a concert at Madison Square with about 50 performers. You can see or hear some interviews with the performers on the Democracy Now web site. In one of the interviews, Dar Williams talks about a time when Pete Seeger visited a camp for disabled children. Pete got all the kids participating, and the counselors were in tears because it was so touching the way that even those with very limited abilities were able to be a part of it. That story captures part of what I admire about Pete Seeger, the way he draws everyone to shine. The other part is the way he knits people together. When a group of strangers is before him, he infuses them with the light of universal love, transforming them into a community.