Tag Archives: Americana music

Scroggins & Rose’s Speranza

I never tire of hearing new versions of the song “Wayfaring Stranger.” A quick spin through my music library finds at least 10 versions by the likes of Eliza Carthy, Emmylou Harris, Neko Case, Jack White, Maria McKee, 16 Horsepower, … Continue reading

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Jenny Scheinman’s All Species Parade

The last time I caught up with composer and violinist extraordinaire Jenny Scheinman she’d just released her 2017 album Here On Earth. Whereas that stellar release was best described as jazz flavored Americana, Scheinman’s latest All Species Parade is the … Continue reading

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Odetta’s Odetta Sings Ballads and Blues

Odetta is one of the key figures in the American and worldwide folk music revival of the 1950s, and along with Pete Seeger and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott one of the few still around and performing today. This glorious re-release of … Continue reading

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John Prine’s Fair & Square

“That’s golden!” John Prine exclaims, after the last strains of a guitar chord fade away on the last (bonus) track on his latest album, Fair & Square. Those two words sum up the whole album. Prine is an absolute treasure … Continue reading

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John Stewart’s Havana

John Stewart was an early member of the Kingston Trio, replacing Dave Guard in 1961. He wrote one of the Monkees’ greatest hits (“Daydream Believer”). He inspired Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac to play guitar. Buckingham paid him back for … Continue reading

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Various artists’ Six Strings North Of The Border, Volume 1

Judith Gennett wrote this review. Six Strings North Of The Border is an instrumental collection of tunes from Canadian guitarists. Often record companies compile showcases of their own artist, but some of the guitarists here record via Borealis and some … Continue reading

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Patrick McGinley & Family Style’s Patrick, Family & Friends; Bob Neuwirth’s Havana Midnight; and Graham Parker’s Deepcut to Nowhere

Rebecca Swain wrote this review. McGinley’s in Italy with the blues guys, Neuwirth’s in Cuba with the classical musicians, and Parker is, apparently, just in a tizzy. Here’s the scoop. On Patrick McGinley’s enjoyable live (or at least partly live) … Continue reading

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Mimi & Richard Fariña’s Pack Up Your Sorrows: Best of the Vanguard Years

Brendan Foreman wrote this review. Richard Fariña is one of America’s least known superstars. Although he was only in his early twenties, by the early ’60s Fariña was already a veteran of both the Irish uprisings of the ’50s (he … Continue reading

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Stephen Stills’s Turnin’ Back the Pages

Stephen Stills peaked early. There were the Au Go Go Singers and The Continentals, but his first successful band was Buffalo Springfield. What talent was joined together for that little group of rock’n’rollers! Wacko guitarist-songwriter-humanitarian-toy-train-magnate Neil Young! Richie Furay of … Continue reading

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Melissa Carper’s Borned In Ya

Melissa Carper gives a graduate level seminar in classic country music style on her third solo release Borned In Ya. Carper is the real thing when it comes to Americana music, as I’ve been preaching since covering her previous albums … Continue reading

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