Singer Song writers.

[Frank v]

Florian,
Do you like any of the following American singer song writers?

John Stewart
Tom Russell
Eric Andersen
Guy Clark
Lee Clayton
John Prine
Fred Neil
Tom Rush

If you haven't heard of any particular artist, or want more info or recommendation,
let me know.

Frank v.

[Janice]

Frank,

I just saw Guy Clark a week ago in a show with Rodney Crowell and Nanci Griffith. I was familiar with Guy's name from songwriting credits and liner notes of Jimmy Buffett and Jerry Jeff Walker albums but had never heard him perform (live or otherwise). I went to the show because of Rodney Crowell (you should definitely add him to your list of great singer/songwriters. His style is very much like Guy Clark's, as a matter of fact they have collaborated on several songs!). At first I would have liked a solo Rodney show but I was so pleased that Guy and Nanci were there. It was a show to remember! (a little GL connection here, a while back, Nanci Griffith did a cover of
"10 Degrees & Getting Colder"). The Rodney Crowell board I participate with introduced me to John Prine...wonderful (have you heard his recent cover album of duets? If you like country classics, as I do, it is awesome).

Sorry to jump in here, I know your post was directed to Florian - but this was finally a topic that I knew something about http://www.corfid.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
While I love Gordon Lightfoot songs, I didn't know much about him otherwise until I found this site...so I don't feel really knowledgeable enough to contribute to many of the other threads.

Janice

lol...Florian, you really should add a spell check feature for Rob and myself
[This message has been edited by Janice (edited March 19, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Janice (edited March 19, 2000).]

[Frank v]

Hello Janice,
It was good to read your post.
The post is open to everybody.
The reason I personalised it to Florian is that it probably would have been an email,
but I haven't got that facility at the moment.
John Prine recently played some shows here in London to good reviews.
Rodney Crowell is also becoming more popular here,judging by his appearance in a Fairoaks
Ents journal,I receive monthly.
Guy Clark has got this excessive habit of
appearing on stage with other artists.
Does he ever appear alone!
Jimmy Buffet has never been big here.
(He never tours.)'Come Monday' will always be a classic.I remember it well.

It's good you're still around.
Keep posting.
Frank.

[Janice]

Frank,

I'm glad you don't have e-mail if it means that your original post would not have been public http://www.corfid.com/ubb/wink.gif
It's nice to know that someone else enjoys some of the other singer/songwriters I do; But, it doesn't surprise me...Folks who appreciate Gordon Lightfoot's songwriting are sure to like some of the others you mentioned.

LOL about Guy...although, a cyberspace friend saw his show in So CA a couple of weeks ago and I believe it was just he and his sideman, Verlon Thompson, a wonderful guitarist that has been with Guy since forever.

I'm curious, what is this "Fairoaks Ents Journal" you mentioned? I'm pleased that Rodney Crowell is getting some International recognition, he really is an exceptional songwriter.

You're right Buffett doesn't tour like he used to but when he has been in my neck of the woods, his shows are sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale so I've never seen him live...I just enjoy his songs. This is the same relationship I have with Gordon Lightfoot...I've never seen him perform but I love his songs.

Janice


[This message has been edited by Janice (edited March 19, 2000).]

[Frank v]

Hi Janice,

Fairoaks entertainments is a newsletter, distributed by the U.K rep of the folk era label.They also promote the concerts of a lot of American artists.It supplies details of latest tours and C.D releases.
When I eventually register my e-mail address I can let you know more details if you are interested.

Frank.

[Janice]

Frank, I would definitely be interested...

Thanks,

Janice

[Frank v]

Janice,
I haven't forgotten you.
(This e-mail problem is so irritating.)


To all UK fans of John Stewart,he will be appearing on Jools Holland's TV show in the first week of May.At the same time as his Scottish dates. Don't miss it!


Frank.

[Christian Kuschel]

Hi - sorry for jumping in as well on this topic. With the exception of Tom Russell I have heard of all of the singer/songwriters you mentioned in your post, even though in some cases I have only encountered their compositions as opposed to their actual voices(like Fred Neil, who wrote "Everybody´s Taking" and other great tunes if my memory serves me right).
There are not too many singer/songwriters around that could hold a candle to Gordon but three come to my mind that I´d like to put to your attention as well:
Dan Fogelberg, John Denver, and Hoyt Axton.
Unfortunately John and Hoyt are no longer with us, but all of their careers started in the late Sixties/early Seventies as well and they have provided us with a lot of excellent music and lyrics, at least in my humble opinion.

[Janice]

Christian,

I, too, enjoy the three singer/songwriters you've mentioned. I have several Dan Fogelberg and John Denver albums. I am also very familiar with Hoyt Axton's work (I named my cat Kalamazoo because of his "Della And The Dealer").

Janice

[Florian]

Hi Frank v,

Sorry for replying late.

To my embarassement I must admit that none of these names ring a bell. However, I might know a couple of songs but cannot connect them to the artist's name.

Could I trouble you to be my 'shopping advisor' by naming an album of each of these artists to start with?

[potter]

Hi Folks,

I have heard of very few of the artist mentioned in the original post, but would be interested in trying out the recommendations.

Another artist that you may find enjoyable is a gentleman by the name of John Hartford. He is perhaps most famous for writing the Glen Campbell hit 'Gentle on My Mind.' If you can get your hands on the very rare 'Aereoplane' album you will hear, perhaps, his best work. His style is greatly influenced by bluegrass with some folk and country flavor as well.

potter

'I always will be proud of every tear I've ever cried'

GL

[Frank v]

Hi Janice and Kalamazoo.
Hello Christian.

Florian and Potter.

Nobodys heard of John Stewart?
Is this a wind-up...
{Does this saying translate across the Atlantic}
Try,
California Bloodlines, Willard

Tom Russell
Beyond St.Olavs gate.
{This may be unavailable, if so any one of these three}
Road to Bayamon.
The Rose of San.Joaquin.
Poor man's dream.

Guy Clark
Old no.1 Texas Cookin'
NOTE This artist is more 'Country' in style

Eric Andersen
Blue river.

Tom Rush
The circle game.
NOTE This is an album of covers, although it sounds like a Bona Fide original.

Thats a selection.
PLEASE NOTE.
If and when you purchase these do not expect GL level.That way you won't be dissapointed.
Just because they are not in the same league as one of the best singer song song writers ever, {In my opinion the best}does not mean they have nothing to offer.

Frank v.

[A Painter]

Hi all,
I have heard and listened to most of the mentioned artists but (in my opinion) the one you must all listen to is John Prine. If nothing else, listen to "Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness". Nanci Griffith also did a good cover of this on the 'Other Voices, Other Rooms' album which also includes her version of '10 Degrees & Getting Colder'.

Frank v - could you also email me details of the Fairoaks Journal when you can ?

[chris]

A Painter and everyone else,
John Prine is also one of my favorites, but now I'm curious, if you're a John Prine fan, how about Steve Goodman? He did a few of Prine's songs, beautifully, and his own songwriting, to me anyway, is almost without peer. When Lightfoot is not in the cd player, which isn't very often, Steve Goodman often is. Unfortunately he passed away years ago -- from leukemia. My favorite album of his is Jesse's Jigs and other Favorites. And while we're on the subject of great songwriters, what about Jesse Winchester?

chris

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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

[potter]

Chris,

I also enjoy Steve Goodman. Perhaps the most famous song which he has penned is 'City of New Orleans,' but he has many other great numbers. Souveniers, Chicken Cordon Blues, Somebody Else's Troubles, and Six Hours Ahead of The Sun etc. I must purchase more Steve Goodman.

potter

[fezo]

Man, am I glad I found this little topic - familiar with all those singer-songwriters. Not a bum in the lot! I see Jesse Winchester has returned to recording which is great news. I've got pretty much all of Steve Goodman - 36 years was much too short a time. I miss Hoyt Axton a lot, too. There's a great import CD available "The A&M Years," which has all 4 of Hoyt's albums for that lable in entirety. Well worth it.

If you are ever lucky enough to see Rodney Crowell's firs album "Ain't Livin' Long Like This" (it would be in a used vinyl place) - pick it up!

For current Canadian writers, try out Fred Eaglesmith. Incredible writer.

[Janice]

Chris,
My favorite Jesse Winchester album is A Touch On The Rainy Side - in my opinion, one of his best! I love the song "Showman's Life"
I imagine every touring musician can relate to this song.

Fezo, I have Rodney Crowell's Ain't Livin' Long Like This (as well as every other recording he ever made)and it is a great album. Just saw him 2 weeks ago at the Bottom Line in New York City and at Northampton, Mass last month. He is still wonderful and has a new album due out this fall called Houston Kid. He played some cuts in concert - sounds promising. The songs are autobiographical in nature...about his childhood in Houston, Texas.

Janice

[This message has been edited by Janice (edited April 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Janice (edited April 23, 2000).]

[chris]

Janice,
my favorite is Brand New Tenn. Waltz. He was here in Maryland, but I didn't go, now of course I wish I had, but alas, I have another GL concert coming up in a few weeks and my conscience got ahold of me. Anyway, do you have his new album? I'm debating getting it. I've heard only snatches of a few songs from an online cd store. If you have it or have heard it let me know what you think and how it compares with the old stuff. thanks

chris


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"It took most of my time to do what never was done" -- GL

[Janice]

Chris,
No, I don't have his new album but based on reviews I read at Amazon.com it appears that it is similar in style to his older work...I may have to pick it up just because it's him. If you happen to get it before I do, let me know what you think...and I'll do the same.

Janice

[fezo]

Hey, Janice! You know that first Rodney Crowell album sold only 20,000 copies. I can now account for at least three of them personally........ To me that's his best work. "Diamonds and Dirt" is another great one.

Jesse Winchester - the album that really does it for me is "Nothing But a Breeze." Wonderful record - but you can't go too far wrong with Jesse, either.

[Janice]

Fezo, Diamonds And Dirt *is* another great one. An interesting tid bit...to date it is the only album in country music history to render five #1 hits. ("After All This Time" won a Grammy). I'm also partial to Street Language and Jewell Of The South.

Janice

[isabella]

Dear Frank.God are you in the UK?I recently moved from Canada to Dublin.Would love information on the folk scene.I a a gypsy poet, just published my first book of folk related poetry.My site is www.geocities.com/shereekg (http://www.geocities.com/shereekg)
I co write song lyrics with a folk group called Tanglefoot.They toured England in March and will return in September.
Guy Clarke is an amazing writer.My dear friend Garnet Rogers has recorded his Comes From the Heart.Garnet is Canaidian and writes in the same vein as Gordon Lightfoot.
his site is www.garnetrogers.com.Amazing (http://www.garnetrogers.com.Amazing) singer and for the wowmen out there, very easy on the eyes:}
Saw John Prine in Dublin in January with Iris Dement.3 and a half hour concert.His voice gave out after two but it was great all the same.
Best Tom Russel song ever Blue Wing.

Hi everyone.

Sheree

[isabella]

Sorry for the screw up.Garnet Rogers site with sound clips is www.garnetrogers.com (http://www.garnetrogers.com)

Janice..I have been to NH many times.It is beautiful ther.I am from New Brunswick, Canada

[Frank v]

Hi Isabella,
Blue Wing is a true story.A real tragedy.
TR's writing is first class.
Shame about Prine's voice."Sins of Memphisto" is one of my favourite's of his.
Iris Dement appeared on TR's last album."The man from God knows where" it's a concept album about Irish and other settlers in the USA.
It may be of interest to you,if you haven't heard it.

Frank v.

[fezo]

Hey, Janice! Very true on "Diamonds and Dirt." It's one of those rare times when one of somebody's best albums artistically is olso their biggest seller. GL did that with "Sundown." Call me cynical (OK, Steve, you're cynical) but I'm always amazed that Sundown did as well as it did specifically because it is such a good album on so many levels.

Janice - did I catch you are from teh Northeast? I'm trying to figure where people are. I'm down at teh Jesey shore myself....

[Janice]

Yes Fezo, I'm in Manchester, NH, Where it is still cold and it snowed yesterday. Is winter ever gonna end??

I agree with your concept of the rarity of an artist's best seller actually being some of their best work. D&D and Sundown are 2 of the very few exceptions where quality and quantity are balanced.

Janice

[fezo]

Hey, Janice - I'll actually be up in your neck of the woods in early June. Fred Eaglesmith, one of my absolute favorites will be playing two very different shows in Bellows Falls, VT on June 2 and 3. The first is a standard loud in a bar show and the next day he's playing the oldest meeting house in Vermont acoustic - better be acoustic - there's no electricity in the building! If you're doing nothing that weekend, I highly recommend it.

[Janice]

Steve, where can I find more specific details on these 2 shows in VT and Fred Eaglesmith? Sounds like it could be interesting. Just got back from a 2 week road trip to New Orleans by way of NYC...by June I'll probably be ready for another one (road trip, that is).

Thanks,
Janice

[fezo]

Janice - it's a long story but the Saturday performance is at Nick's in Bellow Falls at 7:30 followed by lots of Fred-head foolishness up the street. The acoustic show is Sunday at 4 at Rockingham Meeting house. The detains are a little complex to post here - E-mail me at fezo@bellatlantic.net .... it'll be a good time. At least for the Sunday show I'll have family in tow...

[Bill]

Tom Rush's most famous song (that he wrote) was "No Regrets". He was one of the first (maybe THE first) to record songs by James Taylor, Jackson Brown, and Joni Mitchell.
He was one of a group of performers in Boston area in the 60s. He's a Harvard grad. I saw him in Dallas years ago, he said all these white college boys were trying desperately to sing like old black field hands!

He lives in Wyoming now (has a website too)...ran his own record label for a while...doesn't release much new stuff...does commercial voice overs. Limited tours in New England and on the west coast. Great show if you can catch it. In 1980 he taped a PBS special that included David Bromberg and Emmylou Harris.

John Stewart was a replacement member of the Kingston Trio. He did some work with Rosanne Cash in the 80s. "Armstrong" is a killer song about the moon landing.

[Bill]

Tom Rush's most famous song (that he wrote) was "No Regrets". He was one of the first (maybe THE first) to record songs by James Taylor, Jackson Brown, and Joni Mitchell.
He was one of a group of performers in Boston area in the 60s. He's a Harvard grad. I saw him in Dallas years ago, he said all these white college boys were trying desperately to sing like old black field hands!

He lives in Wyoming now (has a website too)...ran his own record label for a while...doesn't release much new stuff...does commercial voice overs. Limited tours in New England and on the west coast. Great show if you can catch it. In 1980 he taped a PBS special that included David Bromberg and Emmylou Harris.

John Stewart was a replacement member of the Kingston Trio. He did some work with Rosanne Cash in the 80s. "Armstrong" is a killer song about the moon landing.

[charlene]

I love John Prine and Jimmy Buffett. Jimmy tours every year - he puts on a great party! Since he turned 50 a couple of years ago he's on the 3 shows a week tour. If you get a chance to see him get a ticket and have a ball! His songs about sailing, the ocean,and men of the sea are beautiful.
Char

[fezo]

Now here's a coupe more exceptions to the rule - people whose best work is also thier most popular. Jimmy Buffett qualifies - "Changes in Lattitudes" ranks up with his most solid work (probably my favorite would be "A1A," but it's a close contest). Another, and if you don't have this you should, is Radney Foster - "Del Rio, TX, 1959. Fabulous album. He's had two since but nowhere near this piece of work. Great, great stuff.

[Dean]

Not much action here of late but plenty of good reading for this neophyte.
I would echo votes for John Prine, Eric Anderson ("Blue River" makes my list for lost classics) and Stan Rodgers.
I would add Richard Thompson as an artist whose entire catelogue rivals Lightfoot. Those interested in strong writing, biting guitar with more than a hint of Celtic flavour would do well to check out "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight", "Shoot Out the Lights", "Across a Crowded Room" and his most recent "Mock Tudor". "Watching the Dark" is also an helpful compilation although a tad on the expensive side.
I helped out at the last Winnipeg Folk Festival and discovered the music of an Aussie named Rory McLeod (spelling may be off).
Joni Mitchell is amazing in most of her moods... even checked out her art show in Saskatoon!
Neil Young probably is as close to eclipsing Dylan as anyone.
I think "Bad Love" by Randy Newman is the best new album by a singer-songwriter.
John Martyn ("May You Never") and Delaney & Bonnie are criminally ignored.
Any thoughts....

[Frank v]

Dean (and lost pearl)!
I was on post rationings, when you posted this. LoL. Always interesting to mention these other artists.
Long survivor of British Folk scene(Martyn).
Like Al Stewart,(anyone like him)?
Blue River was recently re released with a couple of bonus tracks.

Frank.

[theotterjudy]

Yes! Al Stewart: "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" are really all I know of his, but I really like them. His backup music is great- kind of pop-jazzy. Whatever happened to him?

--Judy

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"the mornin' after blues, from my head down to my shoes..."
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"Laughing eyes and smiling face..."

[Frank v]

He still tours.
His early work was folky.
Became more pop in mid 70's.
He's worth checking out.

Has anyone heard of Clifford T Ward?

Frank.

[jbt]

frank,
surprised that harry chapin wasn't mentioned. a truly great songwriter and humanitarian.
also, i noticed you listed eric anderson. not very familiar with his work, but how about anderson contemporary and friend phil ochs, the brilliant poet of protest/introspective songs. ochs, though dead now, may just be the most talented of all of the above (must admit i lack objectivity).
what do you think?

jbt

[janis]

My favorite singer/songwriter is Dave Mallett. Gord was a great inspiration for him at the start of his songwriting career, which has spanned 25 years and hundreds of magnificent songs. Take a look at www.davidmallett.com. (http://www.davidmallett.com.) Enjoy, Joan