Tag Archives: folk

When The Ship Comes In

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Monday morning, Peter, Paul, and the always rarin’-to-sing Mary Travers with a Dylan favorite. Their level of musicianship and commitment to a song was just wonderful. Mary Travers’ parents were journalists and union organizers for the Newspaper Guild.

I once had the pleasure of driving Mary in my cab! It was sometime in the late seventies and she was going to visit her daughter in Manhattan. She was quite a down to earth person.

Click on the video to play.

Thanks to YouTuber Superannuated Lp Records

The Sun Is Burning

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I thought I knew the whole Simon and Garfunkel catalogue, but somehow I just found this song, which is from their first album, Wednesday Morning, 3 AM. The song was written by Ian Campbell.

Thanks to YouTuber Big Chuck Lyric Video

Suzanne

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Monday morning, we give thanks that we were born into the time of Judy Collins singing Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne,” as perfect a match between singer and song as there will ever be. Here she is at Tanglewood in 1968.

Thanks to YouTuber Flickering Songs

I’ll Never Find Another You

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Monday morning we salute Judith Durham of the Seekers who died this month. The 1964 hit featured the Australian singer’s wonderful voice which would ring out from the harmonies of her band mates. They had other hits including the theme song to the film, Georgy Girl, but this song is my favorite of theirs.

Thanks to YouTuber Classic Hits {Stereo}

The Circle Game

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Joni Mitchell, 78 years old, appeared this week at the Newport Folk Festival–her first public concert for 20 years. She’s had an aneurysm and other health problems, but with a little help from her friends (Brandi Carlile, Wynona Judd) she sang, among other songs, “Both Sides Now,” “Summertime,” and the song above, a very touching “The Circle Game.”

Thanks to YouTuber Amy Karibian

Hollow Wood

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Monday morning, a beautiful song written and sung by Allison Young and Josh Turner. Josh writes:

“When Allison and I started to conceive of this project, we both wanted to do something acapella in the Scots-Irish-Appalachian folk tradition. I had suggested a few covers, and then Allison come to me with a verse and a chorus. We finished the song together over the next two days and recorded it just a few days after that. Allison woke up with her voice feeling terrible the morning of recording but it was one of the last days we had, so when she said she felt good enough to give it a try, I hit record on the camera without even checking it – couldn’t waste time! as a result, it is not a very good shot, with Allison almost out of frame and me blocked by the mic. But the recording I’m very happy with.  

Longtime friend of the channel Gabe Terraciano added some subtle fiddle drones after the fact for this one, and I put just a tiny bit of Moog synth on there for bass. Topping it off is a recording of some birds Allison took at Edwin Warner park.”

More at Josh Turner Guitar

Buy A Gun For Your Son

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Monday morning, Tom Paxton, one of the best of the political songwriters of the 60s and afterwards, sings a song for Pete Seeger in 1965 about buying war toys. Little did Tom or Pete realize that the problem of war toys would be fully solved in our time by banning toy guns for children and insisting that they use real ones.

Thanks to Mitchel Cohen for pointing out this video.

Thanks to YouTuber funkydudesupreme

Tom Joad: Woody Guthrie

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Woody Guthrie’s song version of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath as sung by Brooklyn’s favorite cowboy, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Phil Ochs fans might recognize the melody as the same that Phil used for his own song “Joe Hill,” but Phil was just following tradition since Woody had already stolen the tune from an even earlier song called “John Hardy.”

Thanks to YouTuber mrgildons

It Won’t Be Long

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Monday morning, going to the window to hear those kids and birds singing. A great haunting cover of The Train Song by Kelly, Josh and Carson, performing a once obscure song by Vashti Bunyan. Vashti Bunyan’s musical journey is an interesting one in itself: this song was originally recorded in 1966, and released on an album in 1970; the album flopped and Vashti left the music world. Thirty years later, her music is rediscovered, she gains a measure of fame, and now she is playing music dates again.

Kelly’s and Carson’s harmonies are exquisite.

More at Josh Turner Guitar

Whatshername

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The other day on the street, I could swear I heard someone call out “Jimmy McGregor,” and so I immediately thought of this song, which I hadn’t heard in years. One of the most interesting songs lyrically and musically on a Peter, Paul, and Mary album; it’s sung and written by “Paul,” that is, Noel Stookey.

In glorious vinyl, complete with comforting scratches at regular intervals.

Thanks to YouTuber R.O.K DuKane TV

The Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness

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With a song title like that, you know the rest of the song just has to be great.

John Prine, with accompaniment by Nanci Griffith who unfortunately died this month.

Thanks to YouTuber derek868

You Can Come To My House: Mike & Ruthy and the Mammals

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Mike and Ruthy closing the 2019 Summer Hoot in Ashokan, New York. They’ll be back at it again August 27-29th.

More at The Mammals