The Best of the Baby Sitters
Artist: The Baby Sitters

Lee Hays (a former Weaver) and then-future acting star Alan Arkin led this folk quartet, whose music is a kind of children's version of The Weavers. They are playing originals, Woody Guthrie songs, and traditional material for an audience ideally aged from one to five. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide Read More

The American
Artist: Martin Sexton

Martin Sexton's aptly titled major label debut finds the ostentatiously talented singer on a spirited, cross-country tour of nearly every genre the nation has ever produced. Folk, roots rock, grunge, country, soul, R&B, blues, and jazz -- Sexton pulls it all off with a voice that exhibits all the rangy flexibility of a ballet dancer. The... Read More

Three
Artist: The Flirtations

A new highlight in the stellar career of the legendary Flirtations. Pop/jazz vocalist Suede has joined remaining original members Jimmy Rutland and Jon Arterton in the group's best recording yet. A joy from git to go, the fabulous Flirts keep rolling on with super vocals, outrageous humor, emotional intensity and utmost musicianship. Recorded in... Read More

For the Family
Artist: Stan Rogers
Community Score: 6.00

This album was originally released on the Folk Tradition label in 1983, shortly before Rogers' tragic death in an airplane crash; it was reissued on CD by the small but very cool Gadfly label in 1996. Rogers had a deep, rich singing voice and an amazing melodic talent; his original songs are of legendary quality. But this album consists of songs... Read More

Black Sheep
Artist: Martin Sexton

Martin Sexton's acoustic singer/songwriter routine is just one of many flavors here; along with Motown-style R&B, sweeping pop ballads, gypsy fiddling, blues, and jazz, there's even a little rapping. The genre jumping works surprisingly well. Producer Crit Harmon sequences the switches with sensitivity and class, and gives the set a consistent... Read More

Songs from the Big Front Porch...A Celebration of American Folk Music
Artist: Bridget Ball
WoodSongs
Artist: Michael Johnathon

The singer/guitarist writes some nifty liner notes explaining the difference between being a singer/songwriter and a folksinger, which he clearly identifies himself as. The basic difference is that the folksinger continues to recognize and include the music of the past within the body of their work, while a songwriter focuses solely on adding to... Read More

Diamond Joe
Artist: Joe Val

For over 25 years, Joe Val was, in the words of Peter Rowan, the voice of bluegrass in New England. It didn't matter that he was a short, skinny Italian (his last name was really Valiante) from a blue-collar Boston suburb, nor did it matter that his renditions of Bill Monroe and Jimmie Rodgers standards were often tinted by a decidedly Yankee... Read More

Mountain Snow and Mistletoe
Artist: Bridget Ball

Mountain Snow and Mistletoe features Bridget Ball and Christopher Shaw performing a variety of holiday favorites. Featured songs include "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Christmas Children," "What Child Is This?," and "The Holly and the Ivy," in addition to 11 others. Those who appreciate the featured artists or at least the folk idiom should... Read More

The Phil Salazar Band
Artist: Phil Salazar
Labour Day
Artist: Spirit of the West

For anyone who has checked out later discs by Spirit of the West, this early disc will come as a bit of a surprise. Labour Day shows much more of a bluegrass/Irish slant to the music, and while the songs are all originals, they are based upon jigs and reels rather than rock & roll. Highlights include "Run Boy," "Drinking Man" and the eerie "Take... Read More

One Look
Artist: Lynn Marie