Urban Folk music reviews

I love the Backstreet Boys, but like this CD is awesome! I have this CD already and I listen to it like all the time. My favorite song from this CD is "Late Bloomer" because it helps me relax. Jannel is a great performer I have seen her on many occasions in person and like WOW!

GET THIS CD cuz like you won't regret it!

Jannel Rap's SEA OF RED CD not only evokes pleasent memories from childhood and Saturday afternoon football games, but also inspires the listener to persevere and succeed through life's overwhelming dilemas.

Jannel is a talented artist and this, her third CD, has shown great expression and sensitivity. I have followed her career and see great things in her future! I am anxiously awaiting anything new from this artist.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone's enjoyment.

Sea of Red is a great cd. Jannel Rap is such an awesome and talented writer and singer. I love listening to all of her songs. I would reccomend this cd to anyone!

My wife and I saw Jesse open up for Jonathan Richman in Des Moines a couple years back. Quickly bought the album and immediately fell in love with it. Have stayed in love with it for hundreds of listens and thousands of hours. One of the best albums I've ever heard. Just bought "Sould Parade", and am counting the hours until it arrives...

This is a great CD. This guy has talent. Love all songs especially Shangri-La West. Reminds me a little of Dylan, Springsteen, and a few other artists but he is unique. You won't regret this CD, buy it if your looking for something new.

I saw Jesse DeNatale at the recently renovated Cafe du Nord in San Francisco a few weeks ago. It was spine tingling. I couldn't get a few of the songs out of my head. I bought this CD and am listening to it right now. It's just one of those CDs you'll like hearing from the first time you play it.

Definitely liked this CD from the first listen.

You can't find another artist with more integrity than Michelle.

Knowledge and familiarity with American Roots styles is never more evident.

Everyone should give this CD a try!

In this reissue, she added a whole CD worth of bonus material. Great material too, and all for a reasonable price. I think I listen to Disc #2 as much or more than Disc #1. It came in a cool box with new liner notes. All handwritten it appears. I wonder if she did the writing herself?

I had the original back in 1989. It was a favorite back then. It's just one of those albums you can play over and over. Somehow, I sold it with my whole CD collection about 10 or 12 years ago.

Then, one day I was downloading some stuff on Kazaa and I ran across a couple of songs from the reissue and checked out Michelle's web site, because I hadn't followed her too closely in recent years.

Now, this is where the record companies got it wrong. They think everybody's just ripping the everything off. Well, not everyone. I bought this, BECAUSE I heard it on the internet! I feel it's worth every cent it cost. I happen to think that artists are entitled to the profit from their hard work. And the hard work is apparent here.

What makes this even better is the fact that Michelle fought for the rights to own her material and won. So I hope she'll stand to make what's due to her, instead of some record executives in LA. If you're thinking about getting this, don't hesitate. Because, you never know, it may go out of print again. Another two thumbs up. Happy listening!

I ordered this on a whim based on other reviews. What a great purchase, and what an addition to my music library. I sat on my porch here and savored each song...having lived in Texas, having been to the Paradiso in Amsterdam, having lived in Atlanta and been to the old (sigh) Metroplex (God I'm old)...having...well, you get the idea...in other words, this CD touched me, which doesn't happen often. Thank you Michelle for such a wonderful production. Keep up the good work, I'm planning on buying more an more of your music...you are truly talented. HIGHLY recommended!

Dude, screw bad hybrid band "Automatic Baby." What makes this album amazing is Ani DiFranco, Angelique Kidjo, Jane Sibbery, Melissa Etheridge, and, yes, even P.M. Dawn. The new mixes and live cuts can't be gotten elsewhere and are not to be missed. I discovered more than one new obsession through this collection, I hope you do too.

Dude, screw bad hybrid band "Automatic Baby." What makes this album amazing is Ani DiFranco, Angelique Kidjo, Jane Sibbery, Melissa Etheridge, and, yes, even P.M. Dawn. The new mixes and live cuts can't be gotten elsewhere and are not to be missed. I discovered more than one new obsession through this collection, I hope you do too.

I got this CD mostly for the Automatic Baby version of "One" (R.E.M.'s Stipe and Mills, and U2's Clayton and Mullen), which is excellent. (By the way, it's Mike Mills on backup vocals, not Peter Buck, and he's actually very good.) But rest assured, the rest of the CD is very good as well, full of semi-rare stuff from a lot of other artists.

Bruce has never been afraid to mix politics and love together. He shows it in this album..his humanistic style and compassion toward the human race show through with multi-colored success!

This is just an astonishingly wonderful album. Very dark and bitter yet catchy at the same time. I must have listened thousands (literally) of times. Much different than the cheery "dancing in the dragon's jaw"; it's like the evil cockburn twin (not really evil, but certainly aware of it...)

Kicking off the 80's,"Humans",saw Bruce beginning to add political awareness to his Christian spirituality.An album that builds on his fine late 70's albums,("In the Falling Dark","Further Adventures of" and "Dancing in the Dragons Jaw".)and foreshadows the increasing militancy of the rest of his 80's output.
All the songs are first rate but "The Rose Above the Sky" stands out as a gorgeous song about coming to terms with loss and reconciliation.
The remastered version is particularly welcome,with the enhanced sound bringing out the feel and instrumentation of the record that much more.

This is one of my favorite CDs by Calhoun. I don't know how to describe so you should just listen to a few samples. It falls somewhere between folk, blues, and some hints of good ol' rock-n-roll. It seems he is finally starting to get a little recognition and it's well deserved. He has an outstanding voice and a unique gift for telling life's stories through music.

Calhoun's powerful voice envelops you from the first song on. He sings about little things, people with unnoticed lives, or moments from his past. It's amazing how he transforms these things into songs that will move you tears or laugh out loud. I quite like this CD and it motivated me enough to buy everything I could find by him. The best (in my opinion) is "Tiger Tattoo" which I bought from the label: Waterbug Records.

I just discoverd Andrew when I heard him play at a local folk festival. Wow what a find! Man, the guy has a great voice and he is an amazing mix of folk singer and story teller. Anyone who like Dylan or Prine will dig Calhoun. I have to agree with the reviewer who says see him live. His voice just takes over a room. The man has a gift.

"A rare collection of performances by America's premier bluesmen at the peak of their artistry" proclaims the cover of this disc, and that's no idle boast. Culled from 33 tracks on the two simultaneously released and similarly titled DVDs, these 16 tunes were performed live in German TV studios between 1962 and 1966, and thought lost until recently discovered.
Although the audio is mono, it's immaculately clean, and each instrument is clearly audible, an amazing feat for TV sound during these years.

T-Bone Walker does a mellow, jazzy "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong", laying down one of his finest ever vocals performances. Veterans Lonnie Johnson and Sippie Wallace (both of whom were born at the tail end of the 19th century, and had risen to stardom way back in the twenties) turn out great, soulful performances of "Another Night To Cry" and "Women Be Wise".
In fact, Delta legend Robert Johnson much admired the older Lonnie Johnson, and even took to telling people that his middle initial, L, stood for "Lonnie". (It stood for Leroy. And besides, Lonnie Johnson's first name was actually Alonzo.)

Other highlights include Howlin' Wolf's two songs, Memphis Slim's "Everyday I Have The Blues" (a superior performance which he tosses off seemingly with the greatest of ease), Victoria Spivey's "Black Snake Blues", a slow, stately "Five Long Years" by pianist Eddie Boyd, and "Mississippi" Fred McDowell's howling slide guitar workout "Going Down To The River".

This CD is a little bit short, and some of the performances (such as Muddy Waters' "Got My Mojo Working") are unusually tame, but it is still a real goldmine for folk and Chicago blues fans. Never before were such historic performances so easily available in pristine sound, and as an added bonus, the booklet features complete recording information, rare photos, and an excellent, insightful essay by Rob Bowman.
4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

Some of the greatest and most influential music this country has ever created was the blues- but the artists were just not given the apreciation in this country they deserved. It took the interest in Blues music by young musicians in Europe- especially in Britain- from the Rolling Stones to Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix (who actually played with B. B. King at one point) to bring them back to America. Kids hearing this music then began to search out the originators of this music and finally these Blues pioneers started to gain recognition in their own country. This DVD (and the others in the series) captures where it all got started in Europe.
Since they couldn't find places to play in the US aside form bars and honkey-tonks, they launched a tour in Europe of some of the best Bluesmen (and ladies) of the time in 1962. It was hugely successful and more tours followed. Unfortunately, little to nothing was believed to have survived of the music of that period until a German televison station was going through some old things and found several video tapes of studio programs recorded at that time. Tapes were costly and often were re-recorded over- so the fact of their mere survival is a miracle. The quality is outstanding for the time. So is the sound quality (mono, but what did you expect from a TV show?). You get eighteen amazing performances. There is no announcer- the artists introduce each other and sometimes tell you about the song. Although the tracks may list one performer, you will notice others playing "backup". You get Muddy Waters with his "Mojo Working" and Willie Dixon's "Weak Brain and Narrow Mind", Sippie Wallace (there for the Lady Bluesmakers) telling "Women Be Wise" and Memphis Slim letting us know that "the Blues is Everywhere". The list goes on. Check out the rest of the series too- you won't be disappointed!

Some of the most celebrated "Blues Singers" perform on this one-of-a-kind release "The American folk Blues Festival 1962-1966". With an all-star cast of Eddie Boyd, Willie Dixon, Lightnin' Hopkins, Lonnie Johnson, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Memphis Slim, Otis Rush, Victoria Spivey, T-Bone Walker, Sippie Wallace, Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin Wolf clearly having a ball sharing their God-given talent. This is one of the top blues rivals to come along in many a moon.

So all you blues collectors take care when you play this historic recording with some of the greats in fine fiddle and voice. Some of the artists are no longer with us, but with this recording you can relive those days when blues took hold of you and it was an all time high. Entire festival is a stand out with "I CAN'T QUIT YOU BABY", "HOODOO MAN BLUES", "MY YOUNGER DAYS" and "GOT MY MOJO WORKING" many performers at the peak of their careers giving the public an ear full ~ which is the roots of American music....gotta love it!

Rush out quickly and pick this one up, enjoy the blues as it was meant to be heard. A treasure of unheard blues in this country until this release. Rare photos and a descriptive 28 page booklet that is collectible. Also available on DVD "The American Folk Blues Festival Vol. 1" and "The American folk Blues Festival Vol. 2", which gives the fans sights and sounds we love...good ole American Blues!

Total Time: 59:15 on 16 Tracks ~ Hip-O Records 60670 ~ (8/26/2003)

This is not a review but I am desperate and need help. This is driving me crazy...Years ago my Grandmother used to sing many of the old railroad songs. One of my favorites was The Wreck Of The Old 97. She used to sing another one, but I cannot remember many of the words, therfore I cannot find it ANYWHERE! I am getting desperate trying to find it someplace on line. The song/story is about a conductor driving down the railroad tracks, and when he passes by his house, if his baby is sick (or something like that) the light on the track (or house) will be red. If the baby is OK, the light will be green. I know I did not imagine this song, but I just cannot remember the words. Does anyone have a clue?? I sure hope you can help!

Thank You! Please email me at ssandlf@adelphia.net if you can help! I would sure appreciate it!!

Many compilations of train songs, including others in this series by Rounder, focus on country and folk music, but this set shows that people sang about trains regardless of musical genre or their own ethnic origin. So this set covers blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, R+B, soul and gospel.

Leadbelly adapted Rock Island line in the 1940's, most notably adding the discussion about pig iron and livestock. Others including Johnny Cash and Lonnie Donegan covered his version in the 1950's and beyond. However, the version here, by Linda Tillery and the cultural heritage choir, is more faithful to the song as it existed before Leadbelly made the changes that we now tend to assume were always there.

The version of Mystery train here is by Little Esther (actually Esther Phillips) and the robins. Esther had a top ten American hit in the sixties with Release me, a song which was originally a country hit for Ray Price but which is now associated with Engelbert Humperdinck. Esther does a superb job on Mystery Train.

A high standard is maintained throughout this set, beginning with Louis Jordan's classic rendition of Choo choo ch' boogie. Other train classics can be found here, including Trouble in mind and Boogie-woogie choo choo train.

I am looking for the words to a song my father use to sing to my sister and I 45 years ago. I believe the title might be "Pulling Old #9". The words started "O n a cold winters night, not a start was in sight and the north wind came howing down the line. There stood a brave engineer with his sweetheart so dear and his orders to pull old #9. I know this is not a review but can you or someone help me find this song? Thank you very much. Earle Putnam

... Every single song on this CD is excellent. It was for a benefit for the Honor the Earth Foundation to raise awareness about the Native American plight. The result is somewhat difficult to explain. Its not traditional Native American music, nor is it some New Agey pop music. Instead, its a hauntingly beautiful, ephemeral look at Native American culture through music. Any attempts to force it into a specific genere will fail automatically.
Theres two excellent numbers by Ulali, complete with a really cool sounding drum. "Wise Users", "The Things We Do" and "Crazy Life" are all excellent and stick in your head after hearing them, while the lyrics to "The Future is a War", "Wounded Knee" and "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" really dig down deep. John Trundell's "Out of the Blue" and the "One Knee Gospel" are both hauntingly beautiful and "Creation Story" just sounds great. And then theres the epheemral sound to "4R Ancestors". However, the high point on this collection is Rusted Root's "Scattered". Much better than the version on Cruel Sun.
In the end, I can only say "buy this CD NOW!"

A VERY GOOD COLLECTION OF MIXED NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC WITH OTHERS PITCHING IN FOR THE HONOR THE EARTH CAMPAIGN I PRETTY MUCH GOT IT FOR ULALI-ALL MY RELATION A GREAT SONG.INDIGENOUS-THING WE DO. JIM BOYD-SMALL WORLD. JOY HARJO POETIC JUSTIC-CREATION STORY. AGAIN THE CD IS GREAT AND WORTH THE MONEY,LOVE THE COVER TOO...

The fact that the album was put together to gather voices against the plight of Navite Americans, is only half the reason to buy this superb collection. The other reason is the excellent selection of original songs and performances that are delivered here. A real treasure is the Jim Boyd/Sherman Alexie, "Small World", a haunting theme of reservation life set against a stark American desert landscape. Other stand outs are Soul Asylum's "Motel Notell", an all out rocker about the commericalization of the Native American culture and the weepingly beautiful "My Mother Is Not The White Dove" by Jane Siberry. Also note worthy are the Indigio Girls, "Blood Quantum", "Scattered" by Rusted Root and "One Knee Gospel" by Frank Hyde/Mike Jones. If you are interested in this genre of music, you will be very impressed by the quality that is here. "Things We Do" from Indigenous and "Wake Up Delores" from Los Lobos(Latin Playboys) are remakes and the original tracks from their respective albums are much better than they are presented here. The only tosser is the horrid Matthew Sweet cover of "A Day In The Life Of A Tree". Please buy this album, you'll be very satisfied and have lots of new music to research.

Let's see, How can I write this without sounding spiteful? Oh, I get it.

I listened to the song samples, and I hate this Cd because every one of the songs are...well...boring boring boring boring. I mean, Who could listen to this without falling asleep all the way through it? Love songs, for me, are icky, sick, yucky, stinky, gross, nasty, disgusting, revolting, vomit-inducing, sad, sorry, depressing, unpleasant, possessive, selfish, self-directive, and spiteful. I know this, because love denies everything humans claim to be above, and yet it's cloaked in such a story book idea that people loving each other is a good thing.

Uh...What am I getting at here? I hate this album because it has singing in it. I hate singing! When I listened to the song samples, I was so absolutely disgusted that I couldn't sleep the whole night, and I ended up throwing up the whole time. The whole time! all through the night without any sleep! If you like gross and sickening love songs, this is for you, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I have really enjoyed sitting quietly and listening to this CD. My favorite "Power of Love" song has always been by Jennifer Rush. Very romantic CD. To be enjoyed with a glass of wine and someone special.

I had been searching high and low for a compilation of what some may consider "sappy love songs." Well, if you happen to love so-called "sappy love songs," as I do, then you've found a great CD! Almost all of the songs on this CD are great and received endless airplay in their day. My favorite selections are the duets - many of which are either no longer available on a regular CD or just were released as singles.