2008 has been a good year for folk music and the gift of a folk music album will make the perfect Christmas gift. Here are five of the best to choose from.
Steve Tilston, ‘Ziggurat’ (Hubris Records HUB004). Steve Tilston’s first album in five years has been long-awaited by his fans and this hour-long album containing 12 track won't disappoint them. Accompanied by Chris Parkinson and Richard Curran, Steve reels off a selection of fine songs including an opening track that revisits the early days of the folk club.
Maddy Prior ‘Seven for Old England’ (Park Records PRKCD100). The former Steeleye Span vocalist returns to her roots with an album of acoustic folk, her first in a long time. The album contains 16 songs some of which, like ‘The Collier Lad’ will be known to many, while some are a little more obscure. Accompanied, as one would expect, by some excellent musicians like Tony Poole and John Banks, Maddy’s return to her roots will be welcomed by all folk fans.
Down Trodden String Band, ‘Land of the Sky’ (Down Trodden Music DTM010). Made in the old-fashioned way, this ‘live in the studio’ album by the band from Derbyshire features guitar, mandolins and banjo. The music is that of the residents of the Appalachian and the band selects a variety of well-known and rare music for this seventeen track album, which is enhanced by a very handsome set of well-illustrated sleeve notes.
Fred Wedlock ‘The Folker/Frolics’ (double CD from Village Thing VTS 207). There was a time when every region in the UK had its own comedic (not comedy) folk singer and Fred Wedlock was Bristol and Avon’s response to Scotland’s Billy Connolly, Lancashire’s Mike Harding and Birmingham’s Jasper Carrot. The albums contained on this great two CD package (with bonus tracks) were originally released in the early 1970s and have been sought out by the cognoscenti ever since. This is guaranteed to have every member of the family smiling (even Granny).
Tom Paxton, ‘Still Going Strong’ Appleseed Recordings APRCD1105) Tom Paxton was one of the pioneers of the American folk-revival of the early 1960s and is still going strong. It’s sometimes difficult to remember just how many of the standards he wrote until he is heard in concert when the whole audience starts to sing along. This is his first album for six years and adds to his total output of over 40 albums bringing the listener a mixture of old and new, but all wonderfully phrased.
Giving a good album as a gift is giving something that will give pleasure over many years. Each of these albums is guaranteed to do just that.
 |
 |
