Traditional folk music

[Deleted]

I'm on an Irish folk kick right now-listening to the Chieftans, Gaelic Storm, the Irish Rovers, etc.

Some favorites:
"Wearin' O' the Green"
"The Black Velvet Band"
"Loch Lomond"
"Foggy Dew"
"Toora-Loora-Loora"

[Deleted]

"Carrickfergus". Love that one.

[chonies]

"Óró sé do Bheatha Abhaile" is my favorite of all time, but an Irish trad musician told me it's reconstructed neo-folk. I have no idea how true that is, but I love it.

I also like Loch Lomond. I read several years ago that Rosanne Cash was recording several of these as part of a lullabye project, but I don't know if they ever got released.

[Deleted]

*Gasp* Someone else out there loves nerd music! Me so happy! ;D

I love the Chieftains. They have a version of "Down the Ol' Plank Road" that is hilarious. The very first time I heard it I was chanting "Won't get drunk no more, won't get drunk no more" for days afterwards. Yeah, people thought I was pretty much insane.

Also, if you like the Chieftains then you would probably like Cherish the Ladies. They are American, but they perform Irish tunes. Their CD "Woman of the House" has some fantastic stuff on it. I highly recommend track 3 (can't remember what it's called, but it's a bunch of jigs played back to back).

And one more...I really like Andy M. Stewart, who is a Scottish singer. His stuff is a bit more depressing than most Chieftains/Cherish the Ladies/Gaelic Storm stuff, but it's absolutely beautiful.

Oh, and did I mention Altan?

Sorry...getting carried away...

[Deleted]

I found a version of "Foggy Dew" by the Chieftans with Sarah McLachlan that's absolutely heavenly. I like their version with Sinead O'Connor doing the vocals, but as I'm a HUGE fan of Sarah, this was indeed sweet.

That song never fails to give me chills.

[dancedancexenu]

My dad is a huge fan of James Keelaghan and just sent me his newest album, which is a collection of traditional songs. It's really, really lovely, and he has such a velvety, smooth voice. Plus he's from Western Canada and writes a lot about the history here, which makes me go all geeky and fangirly when I hear it. For the traditional songs I love 'Sweet Thames Flow Softly' and 'Harvest Train.' For his original music, I'm a sucker for 'Hillcrest Mine' (I grew up near there! It's not really something to be excited about, since it was a horrible disaster, but no one ever name checks my home in songs!) and 'Turn of the Wheel' (it's about metaphysics!). And 'Red River Rising' which I always thought was actually about the Red River and its yearly flooding but is actually about Louis Riel and the Red River Rebellion. I am teh smart. And, hey, he has a myspace.

I also really like Great Big Sea but since you guys all know a lot more about folk than I do, I'm going to assume you're very familiar.

[muskratmonroe]

ximena said:

I love the Chieftains. They have a version of "Down the Ol' Plank Road" that is hilarious. The very first time I heard it I was chanting "Won't get drunk no more, won't get drunk no more" for days afterwards. Yeah, people thought I was pretty much insane.

I love the Chieftans, and "Down the Old Plank Road" is one of my favorites. it just gets caught in my head. Both of their Nashville Sessions albums are fantastic. I also love "Raggle Taggle Gypsy," "Whole Heap of Little Horses," "Dark As A Dungeon" and "Tennessee Stud."

[chiqui]

My cousin sent me a CD of Hawaiian folk music for Christmas. I thought it would be all upbeat and happy, full of luaus, wahinis, and fishing on the beach. But it's surprisingly mournful.

[Mouse]

Any Steeleye Span fans in here? Maddy Prior's voice is breathtaking and the band's version of Gaudete is haunting and gorgeous.

[Deleted]

Oh. My. God, but Bruce Springsteen's We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions kicks so much ass. Whether I'm cheering on the steel-driving "John Henry" (hee hee), weeping along with "Mrs. McGrath", or gettin' down to "Buffalo Gals", it's all chock full of folky and gospel goodness. Hey, I'm as atheist as they come, but I dare anyone not to stand up and testify on hearing his jazzy rendition of "O Mary Don't You Weep".

This is my first collection of American folk songs--unless you count my two Sweet Honey In The Rock CDs, which I got at the Vancouver Folk Music Fest some years ago. I've also got albums from two French-Canadian folk bands: La Bottine souriante, and La Volée d'castors, who actually performed that day, and kicked much ass. Hmm... I should probably get some more of their albums.