Mostly Folk Playlist, February 5, 2012

Howjadoo | John McCutcheon | This Land: Woody Guthrie’s America
This Morning I Was Born Again | John McCutcheon | This Land: Woody Guthrie’s America
Morning of Your Life | The Nellies | The Nellies
Soar On | The Nellies | The Nellies
Been to Town and Back Again | Christopher Shaw | Been to Town and Back Again
River of Dreams | Claire Lynch | New Day
River and the Road | Archie Fisher | Windward Away
Bei Mir Bist du Schoen | Annie and the Hedonists | Moonglow on the Midway
The Boys of Wexford, Scotland the Brave, Come Dance and Sing | Bill Spence and Fennig's All-Star String Band | The Hammered Dulcimer
Off the Griddle | Red Hen | Birds of a Feather
The Derby Ram | John Roberts and Tony Barrand | Dark Ships in the Forest
Puzzle Waltz | John Kirk and Friends | Fiddle Tunes of the North Country
Sur la Route de Dijon | Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen | Home by Dark
Manomet Waltz / The Mathematician | Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen | Home by Dark
Big Big Love | Katya Chorover | Big Big Love
Saint Francis | Gretchen Peters | Hello Cruel World
Come the Wind, Come the Rain | Anna Coogan | The Wasted Ocean
Way Over Yonder in a Minor Key | Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer | Little Blue Egg
Any Way I Do | Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer | Little Blue Egg
Lighthouse Light | Mary Black | Stories from the Steeples
May We Be Released | Carrie Newcomer with Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Khan, and Ayan Ali Khan | Everything is Everywhere
I Believe | Carrie Newcomer with Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Khan, and Ayan Ali Khan | Everything is Everywhere
How Can I Keep from Singing | Michael Johnathon | Front Porch
Oh Freedom | Kim and Reggie Harris | Steal Away
Now Let Me Fly | Kim and Reggie Harris | Steal Away
Down By the River | Betty and the Baby Boomers
It’s A Long Haul | Tomorrow’s Children | Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends
We Shall Not Be Moved | Tomorrow’s Children | Pete Seeger with the Rivertown Kids and Friends

Best albums, January 2012

Of the albums that arrived in the station in January 2012, my favorites were:

• Home by Dark by Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen.  Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen are superstars in the folk world.  You can see lyrics and buy the CD on their web site at  http://compassrosemusic.com/HomeByDark.html.  I try to buy music directly from the musicians, so that they will get more of the money.  If you want to hear samples or download mp3s, you can do that at iTunes or amazon.
• Front Porch by Michael Johnathan.  You can buy the CD on his web site at  http://www.michaeljohnathon.com/merchantile.html, or you can hear samples or download mp3s on amazon.
• Midwinter by Peter Mayer.  I first got excited about Peter Mayer when his album Heaven Below arrived at the station in September.  The songs on Midwinter are mostly suited to being played in December.  It is not an album of Christmas carols or anything like that, but many of the songs contain references to December or Christmas.  An exception is "Magical World" which celebrates the beauty of the world at all times, but starts with tulips in May.   Peter Mayer's web site offers lyrics and samples, and provides links for buying the album from CDBaby or iTunes.
• Enthralled by Oliver Schroer and Nuala Kennedy.  This album offers instrumentals with fiddle and flute, with influences from a variety of cultures, especially Celtic.
• Move by The Sultans of String.  This album is mostly instrumental, and draws on a variety of styles and cultures, especially flamenco.  You can listen to the music at  http://www.sultansofstring.com/.
• Look Back Don't Stare by Triskele.  This is a local group that plays Irish music. There's an article about the group at http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/dec/29/1229_Triskele/.