Singer Song writers.

[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

------------------
"the mornin' after blues, from my head down to my shoes..."
-------------------------
"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.

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

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. Enjoy, Joan