April. That's Merlefest month. I'm looking forward to one of my
favorite festivals of the year. I look forward to this like I looked
forward to Christmas when I was young.
There were no house concerts in April, but on May 8th Topsoil is
presenting another sold out show. This time I'm having Tom Sauber, Brad
Leftwich and Alice Gerrard. June 18 will be Fred Eaglesmith.. Tickets
for that will go on sale at the beginning of June probably. Email me to
get on my mailing list.
Here's the playlist for April. Remember to listen to Topsoil live every
Sunday from noon-3pm at 88.7FM (or on the internet at
www.wxdu.duke.edu).
Cheers.
Steve Gardner
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.topsoil.net
===
WXDU-Fm 88.7
Durham, NC
Steve Gardner, "Topsoil"
E: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
April Roots Report
1. Terry Allen - Salivation - Sugar Hill
[Nobody is more alternative country than Terry Allen. In fact, Terry is
an alternative to just about anything! Contained in this CD is nearly
an hour of the best songs that Terry has written and performed since
1979's "Lubbock on Everything."]
2. Kelly Willis - What I Deserve - Rykodisc
[Kelly still hasn't made an album that really shows how incredible she
really is. This one comes close, but I still think she has a better one
in her. With that said, though, this is still one of the best CDs of
the year. I expect to see this on many topten lists at the end of '99.]
3. Grayson and Whitter - The Songs of Grayson and Whitter 1928 to 1930 -
County
[Here's a great reissue from a duo that heavily influences country and
folk music even to this day. I'm sure you've heard some of these songs:
Handsome Molly, Rose Conley, Train 45, Tom Dooley. A great companion to
this CD would be Ralph Stanley's recent tribute to Grayson and Whitter
called "Short Life of Trouble."]
4. Lilly Brothers and Don Stover - Have a Feast Here Tonight - Prestige
Folklore
[This is a very nice reissue package of bluegrass done straight up.
What you get here is 23 songs by this brother duet (Everett and Bea
Lilly) along with Don Stover on banjo. This is actually a one CD
compilation of two old Lilly Brothers CDs "Bluegrass Breakdown" and
"Country Songs."]
5. Tara Nevins - Mule to Ride - Sugar Hill
[Tara was in a band called the Heartbeats and is currently in a rock
band called Donna the Buffalo. On "Mule to Ride" she flies solo (but
with a *lot* of helpers) and produces a great album of new oldtime
music. One of my favorite parts about this CD is that we get to hear a
lot of singing from her husband, Jim Miller, who has been a favorite of
mine ever since I heard him on the albums by the Wandering Ramblers and
Dirk Powell's solo album. Other guests include Ralph Stanley, Don
Rigsby, Paul Brown and many others.]
6. Tom, Brad and Alice - Been There Still - Copper Creek
[Wow, the triple threat! Brad is one of my top 3 living oldtime fiddlers
today and Alice, of course is a great singing. I really love Tom's banjo
playing (and fiddling) too which I was introduced to through a tape he
made with Dirk Powell. Don't be fooled into thinking this is a CD of
oldtime instrumentals, though. There are a few, but the real theme of
this album is singing...and it's GOOD singing! One of my favorite cuts
is an oldtime take on the Stanley Brothers favorite "Little Glass of
Wine." Highly recommended. They'll be doing a house concert for me on
May 8.]
7. Dirk Powell, Tim O'Brien John Herrmann - Songs From the Mountain -
Howdy Skies
[This is the best CD of new fangled old-time music I've heard in a few
years. Together, these three musicians have succeeded in putting a
soundtrack to the book Cold Mountain, written by local author Charles
Frazier. This CD is only sold as a companion to the paperback version
of the book. Check major retailers such as Borders and Amazon.com if
you have problems finding it. Both the book and the CD are well worth
the search.]
8. Steve Earle and Del McCoury - The Mountain - E Squared
[I wasn't so sure Steve Earle had the voice to pull off a good bluegrass
album...well, boy was I wrong! This CD not only kicks butt, but it is
one of the best bluegrass CDs I've heard in at least a year. This is a
top-notch bunch of original songs with a crack band and it deserves to
be heard by many.]
9. Charlie Poole - Legend of Charlie Poole Vol 3 - County
[Another great reissue of Charlie Poole's oldtime stringband music. I'm
especially excited to hear an old version of the song "Goodbye Booze"
which I only heard recently from a recording by the Blue Ridge Mountain
Minstrels.]
10. Jimmy Murphy - Electricity - Sugar Hill
[I can't imagine anything beating this album out for reissue of the
year. I had no clue who Jimmy Murphy was, but upon hearing this I
realised that I (and many others) have been missing one of the greatest
country songwriters and singers. "I Get a Longing to Hear Hank Sing the
Blues" should be the new national anthem.]
11. Big Sandy
