From: alan@lpl.org (Alan Rowoth)
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk
Subject: Re: Ultimate top 10 of folkalbums
Date: 6 Nov 92 04:14:17 GMT
Organization: Liverpool Public Library
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Re: Ultimate top 10 of folkalbums

Here is a list of albums that I sent out to friends awhile back with some
mini-reviews that I generated. It's not all strictly folk, but there's a lot
of great stuff here. A few new releases not on this list include Shawn Colvin
"Fat City", Mary-Chapin Carpenter "Come On Come On", and Maura O'Connell's
"Blue Is the Color of Hope". The various artist disks at the end offer a lot
of artists, but also less consistency. The Mountain stage ones are the best.

Amy & Leslie ? Amy & Leslie ? Alcazar 110 ?Great voices and a nice mix of
covers and originals. I am anxiously awaiting their next.  
Al Anderson ? Party Favors ? Twin Tone 88110 ?Solo effort by guitaris of NRBQ,
includes "I Got Your Number" written w/ John Hiatt
Mary Black ? No Frontiers ? Gift Horse D2-77308 ?I didn't know she was Irish
until somebody told me. Unusual lyrics, interesting stuff.
Luka Bloom ? Riverside ? First american release. A little uneven, but
energetic. Check out "Couldn't Have Come At A Better Time"
Luka Bloom ? The Acoustic Motorbike ? A very strong second effort. Many good
songs. Hot cover of LL Cool J's "I Need Love"
Mary Chapin Carpenter ? Hometown Girl ? Columbia CK 40758 ?Mary Chapins first
album, great, but she has gained control since this.
Mary Chapin Carpenter ? Shooting Straight In the Dark ? Columbia CK 46007
?Most recent release, mature songwriting & that voice...
Mary Chapin Carpenter ? State Of The Heart ? Columbia CK 44228 ?My favorite
Mary Chapin, a must-have I give it ****!
Shawn Colvin ? Steady On ? Columbia CK 45209 ?One of the most listenable
records I have ever heard, in my all time top 10! ****!
Don Dixon ? EEE  ? Enigma 73356-2 ?Don's most recent, like Todd Rundgren he is
never content unless he's pushing the envelope.
Don Dixon ? Most Of the Girls Like To Dance, But Only Some Of The Boys Do  ?
Enigma 73239-2 ?His1st album, 2 & 3 are better. 
Don Dixon ? Romeo At Julliard ? Enigma 73243 ?An excellent album, top flight
songs and performances, the production is great!
Cliff Eberhardt ? The Long Road ? Windham Hill WD 1092 ?More mainstream than
most of this list. Very listenable, great performances.
Electric Bonzai Band ? I Am Joe's Eyes ? Yellowtail YT-001 ?One of the
wordiest songwriters, I'll bet you love it or hate it. (I love it)
Joe Ely ? Live At Liberty Lunch ? MCA MCAD 10095 ?Energetic intensity from
this Texas country rocker propells this record.
Sally Fingerett ? Unraveled ? Amerisound (no number) ?Finally available on CD.
Thoughtful music for the BMW generation.
Foster & Lloyd ? Foster & Lloyd ? The first album by this popular country
songwriting duo. Packed with great songs! ***1/2!
Foster & Lloyd ? Faster And Llouder ? More up country pop tunes by this duo.
Great driving music. 
Foster & Lloyd ? Version of the Truth ? Energetic Country pop finale for this
group. Radney Foster is working on a solo album
John Gorka ? Land Of The Bottom Line ? Windham Hill WD-1089 ?A BIG voice and
some interesting lyrics, right down the folk alley.
John Gorka ? Jacks Crows ? Windham Hill ? John see's the world a little
differently from anyone else. Sound is sort of compressed.
John Gorka ? I Know ? His first album. I think it's on Red House. I haven't
sprung for this one yet.
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister ? A Change In the Weather ? Rhino R2 70914
?Mostly dark subjects, handled with perspective.
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister ? Home And Away ? Cooking Vinyl COOK CD
003 ?first record, lots of live things, interesting.***
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister ? Mischief ? Rhino R2 70842 ?My favorite
by them, great songs and their styles really mesh.
Clive Gregson & Christine Collister ? Love Is A Strange Hotel ? RNA-Rhino ?
All covers, done Home & Away style. a classic ****!
Clive Gregson ? Songs From The Workhouse ? (import) ? a motley collection of
demos & odds and ends. My fave- "Trouble With Love"
Nanci Griffith  ? Last Of The True Believers ? Philo PH 1109 ?Early  Nanci,
some people find Nanci's twang obnoxious. Get over it!
Nanci Griffith  ? Little Love Affairs ? MCA MCAD 42102 ?More early  Nanci, buy
the newer ones first and work your way back, I think.
Nanci Griffith  ? Lone Star State Of Mind ? MCA MCAD 5927 ?Still more early
Nanci, she writes great songs and sings great covers too.
Nanci Griffith  ? One Fair Summer Evening ? MCA MCAD 42225 ?This is the one!
Clear and uncluttered Nanci shines bright. ****!
Nanci Griffith  ? Storms ? MCA MCAD 6319 ?2nd most recent, they synthed it up
to go AOR, but the songs are all there if you listen.
Nanci Griffith  ? There's A Light Beyond These Woods ? Philo PH 1097 ?More
early Nanci, you'll know when it's time to pick it up.
Nanci Griffith  ? Late Night Grande Hotel ? MCA ? Her most recent. Some feel
it lacks edge. I like the songs alot.  
Hamell On Trial ? Conviction ? Blue Wave 110 ? An excellent  lyricist &
songwriter, his voice grows on you.
John Hiatt ? Bring The Family ? A&M CD 5158 ?From start to finish this record
is an all-time favorite. Just buy it! ****! 
John Hiatt ? Riding With The King ? Geffen 2-4017 ?Geffen had him and didn't
know what to do with him. Some classic tunes on this.
John Hiatt ? Slow Turning ? A&M CD 5206 ?Second to last, some people think
it's his best, for me it lacks the punch of some others.
John Hiatt ? Stolen Moments ? A&M 75021-5310-2 ?His most recent. Polished and
professional. His most cohesive and upbeat.***1/2!
John Hiatt ? Warming Up To The Ice Age ? Geffen 2-24055 ?Production mired
great songs that are worth digging for. For fans only.
John Hiatt ? Y'all Caught? ? Geffen 2-24247 ?Best of his Geffen stuff. This
and the last 3 ought to hold you for a while.***1/2!
Patty Larkin ? I'm Fine ? Philo PH 1115 ?You can hear the low budget, but her
songwriting and guitar playing make this worthwhile.
Patty Larkin ? Live In the Square ? Philo PH 1136 ?A good one to start with.
Her wit and sensibility make this a strong showcase.
Patty Larkin ? Tango ? Windham Hill ? Bigger budget, more experience. Some
touching & funny material unobscured by production.
Christine Lavin ? Another Womans Man ? Philo PH EP-002 ?So obscure I don't
even have it yet, but it's definitely on my buy list.
Christine Lavin ? Attainable love ? Philo PH 1132 ?2nd most recent. She's
mature, funny, and almost too smart. Music for adults.
Christine Lavin ? Compass ? Philo ? Contains some of her best work ever,
including my favorite "Katie Says
Christine Lavin ? Beau Woes (and other problems of modern life) ? Philo PH
1107 ?Early Christine, if you like her, you like it.
Christine Lavin ? Future Fossils ? Philo PH 1104 ?Life never seems this funny
when it happens to me.  The cover is a scream.
Christine Lavin ? It's A Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind ? Philo PH 1121
?Worth buying for the title cut alone, but I play it thru. 
Lyle Lovett ? And His Large Band ? MCA MCAD 42263 ?Is he country? Is he swing?
A unique voice and fresh witty songs  thruout.
Lyle Lovett ? Here He Is ? MCA MCAD 18455 ?The un-official best of. It's a
radio station promo that you might find in the used racks.
Lyle Lovett ? Lyle Lovett ? MCA MCAD  ?His first record. Buy it last when you
gotta have more Lyle. His style is stronger these days.
Lyle Lovett ? Pontiac ? MCA MCAD  ?2nd Album. It's my favorite Lyle. How does
anyone write a song like "If I Had A Boat"?
James McMurtry ? Too Long In the Wasteland ? Columbia 45229 ?Great lyrics, but
the album sounds a little monotonous after a while.
Katy Moffatt ? Child Bride ? Philo CD 1133 ? A real country-rockin' treat.
This is a great record to drive across the country on.
Katy Moffatt ? Walkin On The Moon ? Philo CD 1128 ?More originals, less
excitement from Katy. Her and another guitarist. I like it .
Maura O'Connell ? Helpless Heart ? Warner Bros. 9 26016-2 ? Another
ex-DeDannon singer goes solo. The title cut  is definitely  a 10!
Maura O'Connell ? A Real Life Story ? Very strong songs sung with verve. She's
become one of my favorite singers.
Spanic Boys ? Spanic Boys ? Rounder CD 9022 ?If Buddy Holly had lived, he
might sound something like this. Everly Bros w/ bite!
Kevin Welch ? Kevin Welch ? Reprise 9 26171-2 ?This guy wants to BE John
Hiatt, but it's an admirable pursuit. Check him out.
Cheryl Wheeler ? Circles And Arrows ? A top shelf writer and singer. One of
the most listenable albums I have ever bought ***1/2!
Cheryl Wheeler ? Half A Book ? Earlier independent release. Less consistent
than C&A, but has some of my favorite songs on it.
Cheryl Wheeler ? Cheryl Wheeler ? Obscure first release by Cheryl. Duplicates
some material from half a book. I still don't have it.
David Wilcox ? How Did You Find Me Here ?  CD 5275 ?At first I thought he was
a James Taylor clone, now I like him better.***1/2!
David Wilcox ? Home Again ? This guy gets better and better. Guests MCC and
John Leventhal help make this record a must have. ***1/2!
David Wilcox ? Nightshift Watchman ? Excellent debut cassette-only release is
virtually unavailable except by mail from Dave or Hear
Various Artists ? Ben & Jerry's Newport folk Festival 88 Live ? Alcazar ALC105
?A cornucopia of folk gems. Sound is nothing special.
Various Artists ? Legacy  ? Windham Hill ?Not just new age, Windham Hill is
embracing the new wave of singer songwriters, try it out.
Various Artists ? On A Winters Night ? North Star NS 0028 ?Excellent
collection of fireplace music assembled by Christine Lavin.
Various Artists ? Best of Mountain Stage 1,2,3 ? Multi-volume set of live
performances from this NPR show. Not to be missed.

Also, it ain't folk, but if you haven't heard Oleta Adams "Circle Of One", you
ought to check it out. I think it's great!

My All Time top 10 albums: (This week) 
1. Joni Mitchell ? Blue
2. Shawn Colvin ? Steady On
3. Stephen Bishop ? Careless
4. Jennifer Warnes ? Famous Blue Raincoat
5. Simon & Garfunkel ? Bookends
6. John Hiatt ? Bring The Family
7. Rickie Lee Jones ? A Girl & her Volcano
8. Mary Chapin Carpenter ? State Of The Heart
9. Utopia ? POV
10.Gregson & Collister ? Home & Away
--
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Alan Rowoth              |"I know what she's thinking, know what she'd say |
Liverpool Public Library | That my life and hers are like night and day    |
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Liverpool, NY 13088-4997 | Brave words, but I don't believe them           |
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315.453.7867 fax         | ...I would be stronger than that."              |
alanr@nysernet.org       | -Maura O'Connell "I Would Be Stronger Than That"|
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk