Shunned by country audiences Johnny Cash signed with a record company known for its rockers and rappers… and made a folk album. 'Delia's Gone' is a killer song (in subject matter anyway) and was an underground hit of sorts. Cash continued the winning formula for four more records, but this is both the original and best.
Buy Amazon
Car Wheels On a Gravel Road Lucinda Williams 1998 [Mercury]
A huge hit, this record saw Williams de-emphasise intimate confessional songs in favour of emotionally direct portraits of Southern life. Steve Earl helps out in places, which no doubt helped from both commercial and artistic perspectives, although this is definitely Williams' show. A superb mix of honk, trash and balladeering.
Buy Amazon
The Man From God Knows Where Tom Russell 1999 [Hightone]
Veteran Texan singer-songwriter Russell focuses on his own ancestry to create a moving set of portraits of the Old West, remarkably tinged with Irish and Norwegian folk elements. It all works beautifully, with contributions from Iris DeMent and Dave Van Ronk rounding things out nicely. A record that makes history come alive.
Buy Amazon
Public Domain Dave Alvin 2000 [HighTone]
A founding member of cult blues-rock group the Blasters, singer/songwriter Dave Alvin won a contemporary folk Grammy for this collection of American folk classics. Subtitled Songs From the Wild Land, Alvin shows he is a great interpreter of songs. A mixed reception from his fans shouldn't stop this from becoming a folk favourite.
Buy Amazon
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Various Artists 2000 [Mercury]
The soundtrack to the eclectic Coen brothers Depression-era film is an unqualified masterpiece. Americana folk was already growing in popularity, but this was the first exposure many had to Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch, their harmonising with Emmylou Harris on 'Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby' an uplifting spiritual experience.
Longtime collaborator and guitarist David Rawlings also produced this outstanding record that shows Welch at the forefront of her craft. If time truly is a revelator, then the glorious title track should be a favourite for years to come. The music is lean, with only acoustic guitar and occasional banjo backing the impressive harmonies. Fab folk.
Buy Amazon
You Can't Save Everybody Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch 2004 [Dead Reckoning]
While several name artists have benefited from Kevin Welch's noted songwriting ability, his own recording career still struggles despite this outstanding authentically-styled Americana teaming with Kieran Kane. This record should delight with the quality on display, with 'Everybody's Working for the Man Again…' summing things up nicely.
Buy Amazon
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions Bruce Springsteen 2006 [Columbia]
After discovering some old Pete Seeger tribute recordings he had done almost a decade earlier, the Boss gathered together a baker's dozen folk musicians for two days of live unrehearsed recording. The result is a set of raw and energetic folk tunes that capture both Seeger's sense of tradition and devout social conscience. A real treat.
