Collection of Favorite Folk

01. Trapezoid - Bramble and the Rose

I just LOVE this rendition from "Long Time Down the Road". My sister (musician in Oregon) sent me a tape many years ago and I rushed out to get original LP. This is found on Trapezoid's "Cool of the Day", now reissued on Trapezoid CD "Long Time Down This Road" (Azure AZ 53003-2). Barbara Keith wrote it for a 1973 Warner Brother LP "Barbara Keith.

02. Mary Black - The Dimming of the Day

This is the track where I learned it. Mary Black has a gorgeous voice, and this is a very nice arrangement. This is from "Babes in the Wood", which you should buy.

03. Mary Chapin Carpenter - Halley Came To Jackson

My favorite MCC song. I'm just dying to find somebody to sing this. I can play all the cool instrumental parts. That's John McCutcheon on hammered dulcimer, David Grisman on mandolin, and Mark O'Conner on bass. Please please learn this.

04. Maura O'Connell - You'll Never Know

This is not a folk song, but it is sung by Irish singer Maura O'Connell on "Helpless Heart" with a great cast of supporting musicians. "You'll Never Know" was the Academy Award winner for 1943 written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon from the movie "Hello, Frisco, Hello". Harry Warren was a Hollywood songwriter who would go with his friends to the Santa Rosa racetrack (owned by Bing Crosby). The starting few notes of the chorus are from the trumpet call at the start of the race. This has been recorded by many musicians: Johnny Mathis, The Platters, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Nat King Cole, and Barbara Streisand.

05. Emmylou Harris - Hard Times (Live)

Great recording from "At the Ryman." Emmylou recorded this twice. I tried unsuccessfully to get the Brick Road Ramblers to learn this. I gave up after Wayne suggested a rendition as a fiddle tune. The version I want to work up has a clear solo verse sung with three or four part harmony chorus. This is a cross between the Red Clay Ramblers rendition (off the LP "Hard Times") and the Emmylou Harris rendition. Stephen Foster was inspired to write “Hard Times” by reading Charles Dicken's novel "Hard Times". He heard Dickens speak during one of his U.S. tours. Foster wrote this almost exactly like this version, often his lyrics needed to be cleaned up for modern sensibilities.

06. Alison Krauss - I Will

I read a record reviewer who wrote, "When Alison Krauss sings, angels stop what they were doing and take notes." Originally from a (banjo player) Tony Furtado CD, this is on a retrospective CD of Allison Krauss, "Now That I've Found You". This is a Beatles song written by Paul McCartney who was excitedly waiting for his girlfriend, Linda Eastman (later his wife). He recorded 58 tries until he got it right. Paul and Linda's marriage was a real model for musicians; they were together every day for almost 30 years until she died of breast cancer.

07. Nanci Griffith - From a Distance

This is the original popular version of this song. I also have perhaps a better version on "One Fair Summer's Evening (LIVE)". Nanci Griffith introduced this song written by her friend, folksinger Julie Gold. Julie has been singing and playing with Christine Lavin as one of the "Four Bitchin' Babes".

08. James Keelaghan - Cold Missouri Waters

What a great song! I heard this on WKSU's folk programs; it's a Jim Blum favorite sung at his wedding (now he’s divorced). James Keelaghan released a new rendition on “Now and Again” with a Montana geographical correction.

09. Anne Hills - The Dutchman

Wow, I love this rendition of "The Dutchman" on piano! I learned this song from the Steve Goodman LP, "Somebody Else's Troubles". Anne Hills performs with author, Michael Smith.

10. Fiddler On The Roof - Sunrise Sunset

This is perhaps the greatest song from a wonderful musical. A friend once explained the Jewish customs referenced within the lyrics.

11. Richard & Linda Thompson - Dimming Of The Day

This is the original recording of this song from their landmark LP "Pour Down Like Silver". Many of my friends like Bonnie Raitt's excellent recordings of this song.

12. John McCutcheon - Cut the Cake

Originally on the award-winning children's CD "How J Do" misnamed as "Birthday Cake", this comes from a retrospective "Water from Another Time". This was written by a friend, Tina Liza Jones. The BRR just sang this for the little clogger, Madyson Bee, on her fifth birthday.

13. Kenny Loggins - Return to Pooh Corner

Twenty-five years ago I was learning guitar and I picked up "House at Pooh Corner" from the first Loggins and Messina album "Sittin' In". The song got a great reception. This was a hit with a rock version by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Kenny Loggins rerecorded it on a new CD called "Return To Pooh Corner" which went platinum.

14. Trapezoid - From a Distance

A really unusual version of the song by a later formation of the West Virginia Trapezoid band. Folksinger Julie Gold wrote this (one of the original “4 Bitchin’ Babes”) and Nancy Griffiths popularized this song.

15. Helen Kane - Button up Your Overcoat

This is a song circle favorite that I had to include because we've sung it so many times. The good advice in this 1928 song still matters: "Cut out sweets" and "Don't eat meats" and even the investment advice is relevant. I have many old recordings of this classic song, and I’ve learned a third refrain and the two verses. Helen Kane was a Brooklyn girl who almost accidentally became a singer. Once while she was singing she threw in the phrase "boop, boop de doop", which brought down the house. She was the model for the cartoon character, Betty Boop. Kathy Johnson gives me credit on her latest CD.

16. Emmylou Harris & Don Williams - If I Needed You

This is the "Duets" CD. It's a simple (three chord) song, but I listen to it over and over. This is another great song by Townes Van Zandt.

17. Townes Van Zandt - Pancho and Lefty

Sung by the man wrote wrote it. Also listen to Willie Nelson's version.