tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post4530184843725411762..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: The Great Troubadours and their AlbumsBen Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-46389099872549062132008-08-30T12:29:00.000-07:002008-08-30T12:29:00.000-07:00Don't forget Harry Chapin.Don't forget Harry Chapin.lukegrifpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08490565558452444840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-51570236530955156662008-08-29T10:14:00.000-07:002008-08-29T10:14:00.000-07:00Vince, I agree it's a matter of taste. That&#...Vince, I agree it's a matter of taste. That's what I meant when I said, "I don't get it" with regard to James Taylor because I don't. There's no denying his appeal to most people, but where it concerns the folk genre, give me the dirt & grime everytime.Crossroads ABFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00228315463191309011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-53586372301975639232008-08-28T08:48:00.000-07:002008-08-28T08:48:00.000-07:00Crossroads,James Taylor "sounds less than authenti...Crossroads,<BR/><BR/>James Taylor "sounds less than authentic"? "not enough dirt"? I suppose it is personal taste, but it is his voice that gives him success beyond a folk niche. He is one of the few singers that can do a cover on an old hit and make his cover more famous than the original ("Up On the Roof", "You've Got a Friend", "How Sweet It Is", "Handy Man").<BR/><BR/>I was at a James Taylor Concert where James's brother, Livingston, sang a solo song after intermission. Livingston has a very credible career as a New England Folk musician. Half way through his song, James came out and joined Livingston. I was astonished at the clarity of James' voice over Livingston's good voice. <BR/><BR/>I agree! No dirt in James's clarion voice. His tenor is sweet baby James.Average Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12766271371872078101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-61275156505802652802008-08-26T18:17:00.000-07:002008-08-26T18:17:00.000-07:00I'm most fond of Dylan's Blood on the Trac...I'm most fond of Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, but I like it all when it comes to him. That Bootleg Series is comprehensive. I love his version of "Moonshiner". Beautiful. Even the liner notes had to mention that one. He actually sang it pretty.<BR/><BR/>As for Paul Simon, I like him sans Garfunkle. Love his Concert in the Park, and would say it's worthy of mention on some of the other threads and one I'd want if I was stranded on an island.<BR/><BR/>The Alt Country genre has some great songwriters. My favorite (and probably my second favorite songwriter to Dylan period) is Guy Clark. Check out "Dublin Blues" & more recently, "The Dark" & "Work Bench Songs". He wrote "Step Inside this House" of Lyle Lovett fame. I've cried at one show in my life and it was during an incredible songwriters workshop in Live Oak, Florida that included Guy Clark, Peter Rowan, Tim O'Brien, & Darrell Scott. Guy did "The Randle Knife", and I've never been the same.<BR/><BR/>As for lady Alt Country songsters, how about Gillian Welch? She's fantastic. I have two of her albums: "Time (The Revelator)" & "Soul Journey". I love her voice, and paired with David Rawlings' picking, what a match.<BR/><BR/>I saw John Prine years ago, and have liked him a lot. A little dark sometimes, but honest & witty.<BR/><BR/>Similar to the guy who said the Rolling Stones are overrated, I bring you James Taylor. I don't get it. He's got a pansy of a voice, and I think his writing sounds less than authentic. Not enough dirt & grime on it or something. <BR/><BR/>For whoever said Ricky Skaggs deserves mention, be sure to pick up his album with Bruce Hornsby. Lots of fun and has been getting tons of play in my CD player of late. Good night, and another great topic.Crossroads ABFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00228315463191309011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-164786628410200162008-08-25T07:42:00.000-07:002008-08-25T07:42:00.000-07:00Nick Drake is another one that hasn't been mention...Nick Drake is another one that hasn't been mentioned.Tom Hinklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01036007600113932268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-13550280956964948832008-08-25T06:58:00.000-07:002008-08-25T06:58:00.000-07:00Can't leave out Bruce CockburnCan't leave out Bruce CockburnLiving the Biblioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15267015591878790193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-53317342392009828562008-08-24T08:26:00.000-07:002008-08-24T08:26:00.000-07:00Of course many of you are right. There are wonderf...Of course many of you are right. There are wonderful British balladeers who deserve to be in the list-- Donovan, Gerry Rafferty in his folk days, Sandy Dennis, Lindisfarne, and so many more. <BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-89231961673135309722008-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:002008-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:00Thanks to all for the mention of so many great art...Thanks to all for the mention of so many great artist. There is one<BR/>more that deserves the highest of praise, Van Morrison. His music over the years has incorporated folk, blues, rock, jazz, big band, country, traditional celtic, gospel, funk, r&b, soul, skiffle, and perhaps more than is coming to mind. I get a sense of musical nostalgia from listening to his music as if he is paying tribute to his own favorite artist.<BR/>He and Dylan's music over the years, has sparked my interest in other many other artist, such as John Lee Hooker and Woody Guthrie.<BR/><BR/>Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Donovan, John Prine, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Richard Thompson, Townes Van Zandnt, Leonard Cohen, Norman Blake, Tracy Chapman, Kris Kristofferson all belong in 'the great troubadours'.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214188776702051943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-70089785950681191452008-08-23T09:37:00.000-07:002008-08-23T09:37:00.000-07:00I agree Carole King belongs in here, and actually ...I agree Carole King belongs in here, and actually I think her wonderful recent CD Love Makes the World stands up well with her earlier work, even with Tapestry in places.<BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-21335219367770094302008-08-23T07:24:00.000-07:002008-08-23T07:24:00.000-07:00I'm having an attack of conscience about my Carole...I'm having an attack of conscience about my Carole King comments. I keep forgetting the public nature of these forums.<BR/><BR/>CK's 1994 concert cd is very good, and it features Slash on guitar for a couple of songs. Plus, I liked her theme song for the girls' baseball movie "League of Their Own."Marc Axelrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364703655694001236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-67801767595553753442008-08-23T04:10:00.000-07:002008-08-23T04:10:00.000-07:00She is at the U. of Chicago.BW3She is at the U. of Chicago.<BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-31690473778601525232008-08-22T19:46:00.000-07:002008-08-22T19:46:00.000-07:00Woody Guthrie ought to be in this conversation. He...Woody Guthrie ought to be in this conversation. He wrote a lot of folk classics, including "This Land is Your Land."<BR/><BR/>What about Pete Seeger? You mentioned him in passing, but he could be a part of this conversation. And that Springsteen cd where he covered the Pete Seeger songs is one of my favorite Springsteen albums ever! <BR/><BR/>Aimee Mann is a very good singer-songwriter (she was the lead singer who sang Voices Carry in the mid 1980s). I love her cd "Whatever." "I'm with Stupid" is a good one, too.<BR/><BR/>Some would want Sam Phillips (used to be the CCM artist Leslie Phillips) on this list, but she hasn't grown on me.<BR/><BR/>Did you mention Ani DiFranco? I think she's very talented.<BR/><BR/>What about Carole King? I was eight years old when I heard "Jazzman" on the radio for the first time, and I developed a massive crush on her (without even knowing what she looked like, or that she was Jewish :)<BR/><BR/>But truth be told, after the LP "Thoroughbred," I kind of lost interest. Her lyrics started getting schmaltzy and maudlin, not nearly as arresting as she was on Tapestry and Writer.<BR/><BR/>Does Neil Diamond fit into this category? <BR/><BR/>Did anyone mention Leonard Cohen? <BR/><BR/>I highly recommend Paste Magazine. It's $20 for an annual subscription, and they send a fully loaded cd each month. As good as the magazine is, it's worth it for the cds alone. I got turned on to a lot of artists by sampling these discs. They have mostly adult contemporary music, with a roots rock sound.Marc Axelrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364703655694001236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-14989667222884174462008-08-22T16:59:00.000-07:002008-08-22T16:59:00.000-07:00John Duchendorf (aka Denver) had a remarkable voic...John Duchendorf (aka Denver) had a remarkable voice, the best voice in the Chad Mitchell folk Trio. Then he had a fine run as a solo artist. I learned to play Sunshine on my Shoulder early on in my folk playing days. He had a beautiful tenor. He also was pretty fun in the Oh God movies as well with George Burns. <BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-57517177173569537302008-08-22T12:52:00.000-07:002008-08-22T12:52:00.000-07:00http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/hangin-with...http://rdtwot.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/hangin-with-scholars/#comments<BR/><BR/>!Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00010921001006698533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-18026029583048639552008-08-22T12:46:00.000-07:002008-08-22T12:46:00.000-07:00Thanks for these additions. I agree that Mellencam...Thanks for these additions. I agree that Mellencamp is not a poetic lyricist. I am surprised no one has yet mentioned the early Cat Stevens stuff, especially Tea for the Tillerman, which is wonderful. <BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-13076713165845329222008-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:002008-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00Beautiful list of folk songsters. I would add Ste...Beautiful list of folk songsters. I would add Steve Goodman, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter-Paul-Mary, and John Denver as songwriters and singers. <BR/><BR/>Ben,<BR/><BR/>Please take special note of a brilliant song about the theology of suffering by Joni Mitchell ... <BR/><BR/>"The Sire of Sorrow (Job's Sad Song)" from Joni's excellent 'Turbulent Indigo'. This is one of her best albums ever.Average Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12766271371872078101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-62961026033742345022008-08-22T11:25:00.000-07:002008-08-22T11:25:00.000-07:00This is another good, and fairly comprehensive lis...This is another good, and fairly comprehensive list. Others worthy of consideration might be John Denver, John Hiatt, Neil Young, Jim Croce, Barry Manilow, Sarah McLachlan, Grant Mclennan, Tori Amos, Arlene Faith, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Dermot Byrne, and others.<BR/><BR/>You mentioned Joni Mitchell. I love Court and Spark, it's my favorite Joni cd. But not far behind is For the Roses, especially side one. I also like Blue.<BR/><BR/>You mentioned Mellencamp, and I enjoy his music very much. But lyrically, he falls short of greatness, he can't stand next to the others you have on this list. Then again, something similar could be said about Denver and Manilow ....<BR/><BR/>Ashley Hutchings and Richard Thompson probably belong on this list as well.<BR/><BR/>But no one on this list comes anywhere near Mr. Zimmerman. The album that breaks my hear the most is Infidels, because that record has the song "I and I," which relates Bob's journey from Christianity back to Judaism ....Marc Axelrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364703655694001236noreply@blogger.com