CD-Charts Position 71
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Carols and Capers

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Maddy Prior

Release Date November 04, 1991
Maddy has long been an important figure in the British folk music scene, whether as lead singer of Steeleye Span, as a solo singer or (as on this album) with The carnival band, who specialise in medieval and other traditional music.
This collection of Christmas music is not a typical Christmas album - it draws heavily on old and largely forgotten songs. The range of instruments used is as unusual as the songs - they even include recorders. I thought recorders were just use to teach children to learn to play an instrument - but here they are.

First the familiar - there are three songs here which will be instantly recognisable to everybody - Away in a manger, Joy to the world and I saw three ships. While shepherds watched is a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 72
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Celtic Themes: the Very Best of Clannad

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Clannad

Release Date March 10, 2008
Maddy has long been an important figure in the British folk music scene, whether as lead singer of Steeleye Span, as a solo singer or (as on this album) with The carnival band, who specialise in medieval and other traditional music.
This collection of Christmas music is not a typical Christmas album - it draws heavily on old and largely forgotten songs. The range of instruments used is as unusual as the songs - they even include recorders. I thought recorders were just use to teach children to learn to play an instrument - but here they are.

First the familiar - there are three songs here which will be instantly recognisable to everybody - Away in a manger, Joy to the world and I saw three ships. While shepherds watched is a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 73
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Live at Blues Alley

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Eva Cassidy

Release Date February 19, 2001
I was heartbroken to hear that Eva Cassidy herself considered Live at Blues Alley to be a lesser work. I think it is her best album and it is the one I reach for first when I need an "Eva Fix." Each song is an individual treasure, and together, they form artistry that continues to make me mourn the loss of one of the 20th Century's finest voices, and people.

CD-Charts Position 74
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Another Side of Bob Dylan

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Bob Dylan

Release Date March 29, 2004
This is undeniably one of the best albums ever made, and to think that it was accomplished by just one man, his voice, a guitar and a harmonica makes it even more amazing. I don't think anyone (except possibly Dylan himself) could do such a thing today. It has the perfect balance of songs: the clever wordplay of 'all i really want to do', the comedy of 'motorpsycho nitemare' and 'i shall be free - no.10', the tenderness of 'to Ramona', the surrealism of 'my back pages' and 'spanish harlem incident', the beautiful simplicity of 'ballad in plain D', the anti romantic messages of 'i don't believe you' and 'it ain't me babe'.......... I could go on forever. The only slightly ordinary track here is 'black crow blues', which is basically used to showcase ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 75
Average Rating:

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Mar A Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is)

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Julie Fowlis

Release Date December 24, 2007
This is undeniably one of the best albums ever made, and to think that it was accomplished by just one man, his voice, a guitar and a harmonica makes it even more amazing. I don't think anyone (except possibly Dylan himself) could do such a thing today. It has the perfect balance of songs: the clever wordplay of 'all i really want to do', the comedy of 'motorpsycho nitemare' and 'i shall be free - no.10', the tenderness of 'to Ramona', the surrealism of 'my back pages' and 'spanish harlem incident', the beautiful simplicity of 'ballad in plain D', the anti romantic messages of 'i don't believe you' and 'it ain't me babe'.......... I could go on forever. The only slightly ordinary track here is 'black crow blues', which is basically used to showcase ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 76
Average Rating:

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Only Time: the Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Enya

Release Date November 11, 2002
This is the most beautiful collection of music I have ever had the privilege to own. The packaging on this deluxe box set is pure class and the production is brilliant. It is hard to find words to describe the music, the closest I can get is SUBLIME. Enya's voice is truly wonderful and the music is beautiful. The price Amazon are selling this for is amazing and I urge you to buy it if you are into timeless ,classic music.

CD-Charts Position 77
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Searchlight

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Runrig

Release Date July 01, 1990
Runrig, as a band, have progressed through a career of nigh on 25 years through traditional Gaelic melodies, storming political folk-rock, and heavier mood pieces with lush keyboard sounds and thoroughly modern production. "Searchlight" catches them at the midpoint in their journey. Simplicity is the hallmark of this album (much more so than its rabble-rousing predecessor, "The Cutter and the Clan"), with deeply reflective, spiritual elements in songs such as "Every River" and "Precious Years". The band's social and political consciousness is clear in songs such as "Eirinn" and "Smalltown", but not worn so blatantly on their sleeves as in "The Cutter...". There are hints too - notably the lovely keyboard in the outstanding ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 78
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The Best Of Richard And Linda Thomspon: The Island Record Years

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Richard Thompson Linda Thompson

Release Date August 21, 2000
I do love this album and my only criticism is that there is not enough from "Henry the Human Fly". My favourite track on that album is The Old Changing Way and I would have liked to have seen that added for one. More than half of the "I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight" album is here and I am sure at least one of those tracks could have been sacrificed to include more of Richards very first solo album. Moan over! A brilliant album from a brilliant singer songwriter and he's British.

CD-Charts Position 79
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Look

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Beth Nielsen Chapman

Release Date February 26, 2008
As a huge BNC fan, I find this fifth album a bit of a mixed bag. Happily, Beth's voice is returning to its former glory after dipping a bit in Deeper Still (understandably given her health - but then the sheer musicality of some of the songs on DS more than made up for it). But whereas each of the previous four albums had unique musical identities, this one doesn't. If I had to sum it up, I'd say it seems to be a collection of all the songs they couldn't squeeze onto the first four, plus a few others.

One of BNC's qualities I most admire is how her songs and arrangements never show all the cards in the first verse/chorus: you always have to listen to the entire song; either for the lyrics, the descants, the musical embellishments, etc. Unfortunately a lot of songs on this album don't do this: ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 80
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Black Water

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Folk
by: Kris Drever

Release Date October 23, 2006
We saw Kris at the Orkney Festival this year, and bought the album on spec: glad I did. A fine set of songs and tunes, with just the right mix of new and trad. Go buy it now !