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    "A Nod to Bob: An Artists' Tribute to Bob Dylan on His Sixtieth Birthday" Greg Brown Our price: $13.99 | You save: $3.98
    ...more here.
    If not for Bob Dylan, would we even have the concept of the modern singer-songwriter? By combining the feel and flavor of traditional folk music with a highly literate and personal lyrical bent, Dylan threw the door wide open for all who followed. Guy Davis, John Gorka, Norman Blake, Lucy Kaplansky, and Greg Brown are among the disciples who cover the master's work in this diverse collection.

    "Live: Ralph's Last Show [LIVE]" Fred Eaglesmith Our price: $21.82 | You save: $1.15
    ...more here.
    Hailing from southern Ontario, Fred Eaglesmith has built a rather devoted following with his partly sincere, partly sardonic blend of country, folk, and farmland rock. This two-CD live set is a great introduction for the uninitiated while offering a few new, previously unrecorded gems for the longtime follower.

    "time* sex* love*" Mary Chapin Carpenter Our price: $13.99 | You save: $4.98
    ...more here.
    After a considerable songwriting hiatus, Mary Chapin Carpenter ventured to London to record her first album of new material in five years. Once again, the Jersey girl shows an affinity for classic pop melodies and an ability to marry those melodies to lyrical substance.

    "Middlin' Sisters" Minton Sparks Our price: $13.99 | You save: $2.98
    ...more here.
    "Middlin' Sisters" is a stark and vivid collection of uniquely Southern poetry recited atop a mix of country-blues and mountain music. Minton Sparks invites us into her Tennessee childhood and introduces us to its various odd characters.

    REDISCOVERING REV. GARY DAVIS

    Two recent reissues celebrate the revered bluesman: "Demons and Angels [BOX SET]" Reverend Gary Davis Our price: $35.12 | You save: $1.85
    ...more here.
    Fans of Rev. Gary Davis will find much new material to explore on the three-CD set "Demons and Angels," which includes a slew of rare live, studio, and home recordings.

    Listen to "Twelve Sticks."
    ...more here.

    "Live at Newport [LIVE]" Reverend Gary Davis Our price: $14.99 | You save: $1.98
    ...more here.
    An important touchstone of the urban folk boom of the 1960s, Davis's "Live at Newport" has reappeared this year newly remastered with a pair of previously unreleased tracks.

    Listen to "Samson & Delilah."
    ...more here.

    EDITOR'S CHOICE

    Ben Harper Live "Live From Mars [LIVE]" Ben Harper Our price: $21.82 | You save: $1.15
    ...more here.
    This double-disc concert recording is a great way to get acquainted with Ben Harper's soulful musical mixture. As impressive as disc one is with Harper's Innocent Criminals supporting the leader, the highlight of the set is surely disc two, an amazing solo-acoustic collection that proves Harper to be a superb singer and commanding performer.

    NEW AND NOTABLE posted 2 MAY 2001

    "Borderland"
    Tom Russell
    ...more here.
    Californian Tom Russell's move to the Mexican border in western Texas helped inspire the 11 original songs that make up the entrancing "Borderland," including tracks cowritten with Dave Alvin and Katy Moffatt. In this case, however, "border" takes on another meaning: that which separates a man and a woman. Russell deftly blends the subject of male-female relations with the Mexican-flavored mood and sounds of guitars and accordion.

    "Always Be"
    Jeffrey Gaines
    ...more here.
    Though the superstardom he was poised to find never materialized, Jeffrey Gaines was still able to cultivate a strong following for his personal songs throughout the 1990s. His latest, "Always Be," tackles the time-tested subject of love and relationships. Gaines's soulful singing and plainspoken lyrics, combined with the music's acoustic textures, will remind fans of his early days.

    "Something I Saw Or Thought I S"
    Bill Morrissey
    ...more here.
    So it would seem that relationships (blooming, booming, and failing) still provide plenty of fodder for the folk troubadour, as evidenced by the previous two releases and this one as well. Bill Morrissey's first album of new material in five years is an understated gem focusing on love's demise, and, as such, it has been compared in a few circles to Bob Dylan's "Blood on the Tracks."

    "Young Guitar Days"
    Steve Forbert
    ...more here.
    One of the original "new Dylans," Steve Forbert came dangerously close to superstardom himself when his catchy "Romeo's Tune" ("meet me in the middle of the day, let me hear you say everything's OK") hit the charts in 1979. The "Young, Guitar Days" compilation revisits those heady times, culling a surprisingly strong selection of outtakes from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

    ON THE WAY

    "Nod to Bob-An Artists Tribute"
    Greg Brown
    ...more here.
    Guy Davis, John Gorka, Norman Blake, Lucy Kaplansky, and Greg Brown are among the folk luminaries who pay tribute to the master on this eclectic collection.

    "Live in Santa Cruz [LIVE]"
    Fred Eaglesmith
    ...more here.
    This double-disc set features Canadian Fred Eaglesmith in front of an appreciative audience, delivering favorite after favorite.

    NEWPORT NEWS

    Two great box sets featuring music from the Newport Folk Festival:
    "Best of Blues [BOX SET]"
    Newport Folk Festival
    ...more here.
    A generous assortment of blues legends--Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Son House, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and Muddy Waters to name only a few--grace this three-disc collection.

    "Best of Bluegrass [BOX SET]"
    Newport Folk Festival
    ...more here.
    Flatt & Scruggs, Jim & Jesse, the Stanley Brothers, and Bill Monroe highlight this three-CD bonanza.

    EDITOR'S CHOICE

    Charles Sawtelle's Swan Song
    "Music from Rancho Deville"
    Charles Sawtelle
    ...more here.
    Though leukemia claimed the life of beloved and talented Hot Rize guitarist Charles Sawtelle in 1999, we're fortunate that he was able to leave us this wonderful bluegrass farewell featuring the support of buddies like David Grisman, Laurie Lewis, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, and Jerry Douglas.

    DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

    Brilliant Angel
    "Angel in the Dark," a non-CD version of the title track for her new album, brings the late Laura Nyro's haunting, soulful voice and lovely piano playing back to life on an intimate, unaccompanied song that was new when recorded in 1994-95.
    Go to download
    ...more here.

    Go to all Folk downloads
    ...more here.

Editor, Marc Greilsamer associates of amazon.com,bn,tower,cdnow

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Posted 14 April 2001

    "Whole New You"
    Shawn Colvin
    ...more info here.
    "Whole New You" represents Colvin's first album of all-new material since 1996's Grammy-winning "A Few Small Repairs." Once again she's collaborating with John Leventhal who produced and co-wrote all 11 songs with Colvin. Edie Brickell also added her songwriting talents to "Roger Wilco." The result is an album that serves up more of the sweet pop-folk sounds her fans adore, but also confronts a number of deeper issues that reflect her recent marriage and motherhood.

    "Revelling/Reckoning"
    Ani DiFranco
    ...more info here.
    Buffalo's best offers a 29-song double-disc set of new material that proves her lyrics remain as incisive as ever while her musical palette continues to expand. Disc one is a more upbeat affair, bursting with elements of soul music, while the second disc has a more toned-down, subdued mood.

    "Concerts for a Landmine Free World"
    ...more info here.
    Guy Clark, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gillian Welch, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, and project organizer Emmylou Harris are among the performers on this special live collection.

    "The Company You Keep"
    John Gorka
    ...more info here.
    Ani DiFranco, Lucy Kaplansky, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Patty Griffin are among Gorka's special guests this time out.

    "Scuffletown"
    Eric Taylor
    ...more info here.
    The revered but little-known Texas songsmith returns with a fifth album featuring nine originals and two Townes Van Zandt covers.

    "Wicked Grin"
    John Hammond
    ...more info here.
    The veteran bluesman strikes gold with his album of Tom Waits covers, which was produced by Waits himself.

    "The Diamond Mountain Sessions"
    Sharon Shannon
    ...more info here.
    The respected Celtic multi-instrumentalist is joined here by American luminaries such as John Prine, Steve Earle, and Jackson Browne.

    "Let It Fall"
    Sean Watkins
    ...more info here.
    Nickel Creek's virtuoso guitarist releases his solo debut.

    ON THE WAY

    "Borderland"
    Tom Russell
    ...more info here.
    Russell's move to the Mexican border helped inspire these 11 original songs, including tracks co-written with Dave Alvin and Katy Moffatt.

    FROM THE VAULTS

    "Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years"
    Richard Thompson
    ...more info here.
    This 19-track compilation surveys the most recent period of the beloved folk-rock guitarist and songwriter. Three songs make their debuts on CD, including "Persuasion," a duet with son Teddy that was co-written by Tim Finn.

    "Angel in the Dark"
    Laura Nyro
    ...more info here.
    The late singer is celebrated with this posthumous release, culling a mix of originals and covers from her final 1994 and 1995 sessions.

    "Morning Glory: The Tim Buckley Anthology"
    Tim Buckley
    ...more info here.
    This two-CD set offers an overview of the eclectic artist's career, from sweet-voiced folkie to bold iconoclast.

    DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

    Bela Fleck
    Recently remastered and reissued, Bela Fleck's 1982 album "Natural Bridge" shows just how resourceful and innovative the banjo master is within an acoustic bluegrass-inflected context. And there's no Future Man in sight! Download the roaring album opener "Punchdrunk" for a free sample.
    ...more info here.

    Or check out downloads from the following artists:

    Alison Krauss
    ...more info here.

    Ricky Skaggs
    ...more info here.

    Tony Rice
    ...more info here.

    Go to all Bluegrass downloads
    ...more info here.

    NEW & FUTURE DELIVERS, check out the New & Future Releases page to view titles by release date, catch the latest digital downloads, investigate the coolest new reissues, and more.
    ...more info here.


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Editor, Marc Greilsamer. The reviews excerpted are copyright © 2001 amazon.com & associate ncdn and CDnow, TowerRecords, Barnes & Nobel associates.