Essential Collections for a Newbie

Hi everyone, this is my first post after recently signing up.

I watched a few weeks back the documentary Down from the Mountain (2000) and was completely bowled over by the music.  American folk, Bluegrass, and Americana were all types of music that I knew very little about but when I heard Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings sing 'I want to sing that Rock and Roll' I was hooked!

I immediately bought Time (The Revelator), Revival, and The Harrow & The Harvest by Welch along with Dave Rawlings' Dave Rawlings Machine - A Friend of Mine.  A couple days ago, Steve Earle's Train a Comin' arrived through the post.   I can't stop listening to these recordings.

I just thought I 'd ask for some pointers: which ten albums should I buy next?  Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

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Permalink Reply by Dave L on October 30, 2012 at 1:20pm

Great suggestions on this thread.

As for a few outstanding instrumental albums I highly recommend:

Strength in Numbers (1988) Telluride Sessions (I wish they'd record another...)

Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer and Mark O'Connor (2000) Appalachian Journey

Permalink Reply by Randy S on October 30, 2012 at 4:42pm

add Bela Fleck's Acoustic  PlanetCDs to the list

Permalink Reply by Kip Byrum on October 30, 2012 at 4:06pm

Whiskeytown's - Strangers Almanac
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
Drive By Truckers
John Hiatt
Todd Snyder
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Trampled by Turtles
Punch Brothers

Permalink Reply by Gerwyn Glyn Owen on November 6, 2012 at 2:56am

Just got Whiskeytown's Strangers Almanac (Deluxe Edition) through the post - it is exceptional.  Ryan Adams is supremely talented - his lyrics on songs such as 'Houses on the Hill' are something else.

I'm kind of angry with myself for not having listened to this band before.  But, hey, at least I've started journeying the right roads thanks to this forum!

I'm not sure where to go next.  Perhaps Ryan Adams' solo stuff, Heartbraker, or Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, which quite a few have mentioned on here.

Thank you to all for some superb suggestions.

 

Permalink Reply by Ms H on November 6, 2012 at 12:16pm

Essential albums that have absolutely blown me away include:

I SPEAK BECAUSE I CAN by Laura Marling (though not American, close enough in the gene pool by being a Brit)

MARCH 16, 1992 by Uncle Tupelo

I'M A MOUNTAIN by Sarah Harmer (again, doesn't Canadian kinda count as Americana? same continent)

HELPLESSNESS BLUES by Fleet Foxes

THE DUHKS by The Duhks (also MIGRATIONS and YOUR DAUGHTERS & YOUR SONS, all before singer Jessica Havey left this Canadian band)

THE DUEL by Allison Moorer

***everything ever recorded by Andrew Bird

UNA VOLTA by DeVotchKa

THE CONVISCATION E.P. by Samantha Crain

HERITAGE by Carolina Chocolate Drops

Permalink Reply by Melissa James on November 6, 2012 at 2:49pm

I also love Gillian Welch and would wholeheartedly recommend her album The Revelator and The Harrow & The Harvest.

I would also add:

Eric Bibb: Good Stuff

Amos Lee: Supply & Demand

Amos Lee: Mission Bell

Lizz Wright: The Orchard

Ray Lamontagne: Gossip in the Grain

Permalink Reply by Bob Gordon on November 10, 2012 at 9:20am

Hi Gerwyn,

Here are ten more great Americana albums I did not see  listed yet.  All are grade "A" albums IMHO:

 

1. Emmylou Harris, Wrecking Ball

2. Ryan Adams, Love is Hell

3. Matraca Berg, The Dreaming Fields

4. Calexico, Feast of Wire

5. Neko Case, The Tigers Have Spoken (live album)

6. Gene Clark, No Other

7. Nanci Griffith, One Fair Summer Evening

8. Shelby Lynne, I Am Shelby Lynne

9. Richmond Fontaine, Post to Wire

10. Rosanne Cash, King’s Record Shop

 

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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by No Depression Sep 24, 2012.