Top 50 folk albums of all time

Tonto Yoder · « **on:** 18 Aug 2003, 01:52 am »

This site might interest some

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk/features/top_50_10.shtml

jqp · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Aug 2003, 02:49 am »

Don't currently own any but Graceland. Used to own Sweet Baby James. Want to get Blue soon.

I would beg to differ with the assertion that Graceland is folk.

Which begs the question, what is folk? Americana, 60's acoustic, new age, bluegrass...was Bob Dylan ever folk? I hate having to look for artists in 3 or 4 sections in a record store - they do have to pick one, don't they?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Aug 2003, 03:17 am »

Any top 50 (hell, any top 10) that doesn't include the Clancy Brothers is pretty damned suspect to me!

And "The Long Black Veil" by the Chieftains? It'd be quite a stretch to call it folk, and as a Chieftains album it's pretty subpar, just really commercial crap with a bunch of pop musicians. "A Tribute to Bunting" is an immensly superior album (although it isn't exactly folk, either).

Thump553 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Aug 2003, 02:42 pm »

I'm a pretty big folk fan and was disappointed in this list. It is extremely British oriented. The first American appearance is at #24 (Bob Dylan) and Dylan is the only American ranked below #40. I also agree that some of their choices are highly suspect-Paul Simon is a great songwriter, but folk he is not.

I once had (and may actually still have, somewhere) the album that is #1 on their list. Pretty average British folk-rock, which seems to be the dominant theme of the list.

About the only thing I agree with on this list is a high ranking for Richard & Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Light (#11). Rolling Stone once ranked this the #1 album of all times. It truly is a classic that is as moving on replay #1000 as the first listening, but it should carry a medical warning-not to be listened to after a relationship breakup or by those predisposed to depression.

I suppose what really annoys me is that if you consider this list the top 50 British folk albums, why is Richard Thompson so underrepresented (barring a couple of Fairport Convention albums)? Richard Thompson is to modern British folk music what Bob Marley was to reggae-his albums should totally dominate this list.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Aug 2003, 03:44 pm »

Quote from: Thump553

I'm a pretty big folk fan and was disappointed in this list. It is extremely British oriented.

Well, it IS a BBC list, so you might expect a British bias.
As with all of these lists, it might be best to consider it interesting rather than authoritative??

Thump553 · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Aug 2003, 08:33 pm »

I guess the thing that disappointed me most about the list was not its British bias, but that (from the music I knew on it) they seem to have a strong preference for music as medicine (you may not like it, but its good for you) versus something you might actually enjoy.

It was an interesting read, though.

Gordy · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Aug 2003, 11:35 am »

Freely admitting my, um, slight bias towards British folk rock, I'd probably push Silly Sisters up a notch or two! Loved that comment on music as medicine. A stereotype perhaps, but it does seem to carry over to other life aspects as well. As far as Sandy (the godess) being average, A pox on thee, Thump... (smiling emoto here)

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Aug 2003, 01:19 pm »

Gordy,
personally I like Sandy Denny better on albums OTHER than "Liege & Lief."

I have the "Best of" CD and the 4 record set and play those more than "L&L."

Gordy · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Aug 2003, 02:23 pm »

In all honesty, I agree. Another good anthology is No More Sad Refrains, a two disc set. Good especially in that it has four Fotheringay cuts on it. I've yet to find the CD proper... sniff.

hifitommy · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Dec 2003, 07:40 pm »