The Americana and roots music authority

Greatest Americana Album list

Hey everyone !
I'm a Senior Editor @ digitaldreamdoor.com where for many years I've been contributing
music lists. This one ( and the Greatest Americana Songs list ) has been special to me with several of the list artists offering their opinions. Hope you will offer yours as well.

Greatest Americana Albums

Background: Americana is a subset of American roots music, best defined as "classic American music" ranging in style from & including elements of folk, country blues, bluegrass, alternative country, rockabilly, neo traditional & roots rock.

Criteria: These albums were chosen for best identifying, inspiring & encapsulating the heart of tradition & the American experience. As with all lists, this is a subjective list and makes no claim of an official nature.

1. American Music - The Blasters
2. Rear View Mirror - Townes Van Zandt
3. Honky Tonk Masquerade - Joe Ely
4. The Gilded Palace of Sin - The Flying Burrito Brothers
5. Pieces of The Sky - Emmylou Harris
6. Old #1 - Guy Clark
7. Trace - Son Volt
8. Into The Purple Valley - Ry Cooder
9. John Prine - John Prine
10. Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
11. Frisco Mabel Joy - Mickey Newberry
12. Eats Away The Night - Butch Hancock
13. Train a Comin' - Steve Earle
14. Car Wheels On a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams
15. Ashgrove - Dave Alvin
16. More a Legend Than a Band - The Flatlanders
17. Ain't Livin' Long Like This - Rodney Crowell
18. Bring The Family - John Hiatt
19. No Depression - Uncle Tupelo
20. Boomer's Story - Ry Cooder
21. Blackjack David - Dave Alvin
22. El Corazon - Steve Earle
23. King of California - Dave Alvin
24. Washington County - Arlo Guthrie
25. Non Fiction - The Blasters
26. Delirium Tremolos - Ray Wylie Hubbard
27. Stangers Almanac - Whiskeytown
28. Living With Ghosts - Patty Griffen
29. Anodyne - Uncle Tupelo
30. Full Service, No Waiting - Peter Case
31. Paradise and Lunch - Ry Cooder
32. The Last of The True Believers - Nanci Griffith
33. Okemah & The Melody of Riot - Son Volt
34. Musta Notta Gotta Lotta - Joe Ely
35. California Bloodlines - John Stewart
36. Aereo Plain - John Hartford
37. After Awhile - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
38. Flying Saucer Blues - Peter Case
39. Lord of The Highway - Joe Ely
40. The Fantastic Expedition - Dilliard & Clark
41. Sundown - Rank & File
42. Third Down, 110 To Go - Jesse Winchester
43. Lost In The Ozone - Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen
44. Tangled In The Pines - BR5-49
45. My Name Is Buddy - Ry Cooder
46. Still Feel Gone - Uncle Tupelo
47. Essence - Lucinda Williams
48. Uncle Charley & His Dog Teddy - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
49. The Dark - Guy Clark
50. The Road To Ensenada - Lyle Lovett
51. A.M. - Wilco
52. Guitar Town - Steve Earle
53. Up On The Lowdown - Chris Smither
54. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
55. Workingman's Dead - The Grateful Dead
56. Loco Gringo's Lament - Ray Wylie Hubbard
57. Last Chance - Chip Taylor
58. Faithless Street - Whiskeytown
59. I Feel Alright - Steve Earle
60. White Light - Gene Clark
61. Hoboes Lullaby - Arlo Guthrie
62. Love and Fever - Tom Russell
63. Somebody Else's Troubles - Steve Goodman
64. Hardline - The Blasters
65. Kerosene Hat - Cracker
66. Safe At Home - The International Submarine Band
67. Mr Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker
68. Hollywood Town Hall - The Jayhawks
69. New Riders of The Purple Sage - New Riders of The Purple Sage
70. Fate's Right Hand - Rodney Crowell
71. The Tractors - The Tractors
72. Torn Again - Peter Case
73. Stacked Deck - The Amazing Rhythm Aces
74. Lone Justice - Lone Justice
75. Snake Farm - Ray Wylie Hubbard
76. Wide Swing Tremelo - Son Volt
77. Slow Turning - John Hiatt
78. Big Backyard Beat Show - BR5-49
79. No Other - Gene Clark
80. Diamonds In The Rough - John Prine
81. Steve Goodman - Steve Goodman
82. Honeysuckle Dog - Chris Smither
83. Bombs Away Dream Babies - John Stewart
84. Burrito Deluxe - The Flying Burrito Brothers
85. Storms - Nanci Griffith
86. Good Times - Charlie Robison
87. Straightaways - Son Volt
88. Childish Things - James McMurtry
89. Growl - Ray Wylie Hubbard
90. Driftin' Way of Life - Jerry Jeff Walker
91. Healing Bones - Jules Shear
92. Pretty Close To The Truth - Jim Lauderdale
93. Fair & Square - John Prine
94. Nothing But a Breeze - Jesse Winchester
95. Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams
96. Sings Like Hell - Peter Case
97. Full Western Dress - The Derailers
98. My Baby Don't Tolerate - Lyle Lovett
99. Jesse Winchester - Jesse Winchester
100. Saint Mary of The Woods - James McMurtry

101. Arlo Guthrie - Arlo Guthrie
102. Down On The Drag - Joe Ely
103. Tomorrow The Green Grass - The Jayhawks
104. Pickin' On Nashville - The Kentucky Headhunters
105. The Dirty South - Drive By Truckers
106. Walk On - John Hiatt
107. Man With The Blue Post Modern Guitar - Peter Case
108. 1000 Kisses - Patty Griffin
109. Pontiac - Lyle Lovett
110. The Houston Kid - Rodney Crowell
111. Dangerous Spirits - Ray Wylie Hubbard
112. Sweet Revenge - John Prine
113. Got No Breeding - Jules and The Polar Bears
114. Kingfish - Kingfish
115. Electric Blue Watermelon - The North Mississippi All-Stars
116. Being There - Wilco
117. Van Go - The Beat Farmers
118. Chicken Skin Music - Ry Cooder
119. Alive On Arrival - Steve Forbert
120. West Texas Waltzes & Dust Blown Tractor Tunes - Butch Hancock
121. Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams
122. Weird Tales - Golden Smog
123. It Aint Easy - Chris Smither
124. Stolen Moments - John Hiatt
125. Crusades of The Restless Knights - Ray Wylie Hubbard
126. Rodney Crowell - Rodney Crowell
127. Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams - BoDeans
128. Texas Tornados - Texas Tornados
129. Bradley's Barn - The Beau Brummels
130. Hell of a Spell - Doug Sahm
131. Museum of Heart - Dave Alvin
132. Hell Among The Yearlings - Gillian Welch
133. Train Home - Chris Smither
134. Come On Back - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
135. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
136. March 16-20, 1992 - Uncle Tupelo
137. The South Coast of Texas - Guy Clark
138. Spinning Round The Sun - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
139. Too Far To Care - Old 97's
140. Dog Days - BR5-49
141. Wail & Ride - Grayson Capps
142. Buddy & Julie - Miller Buddy & Julie Miller
143. Mermaid Avenue - Billy Bragg
144. Hotwalker - Tom Russell
145. Love & Danger - Joe Ely
146. The Doug Sahm Band - Doug Sahm
147. Home - BoDeans
148. Furnace Room Lullaby - Neko Case
149. Too Long In The Wasteland - James McMurtry
150. The End Is Not In Sight - Russell Smith
151. Sex and Gasoline - Rodney Crowell
152. All I Intended To Be - Emmylou Harris
153. Original Recordings - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
154. Borderland - Tom Russell
155. Blue Blvd - Dave Alvin
156. Now Again - The Flatlanders
157. Jacksonville City Nights - Ryan Adams
158. Letter To Laredo - Joe Ely
159. Down By The Old Mainstream - Golden Smog
160. Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm
161. If You Knew My Mind - Grayson Capps
162. Freedom and Weep - The Waco Brothers
163. Del Rio Texas, 1959 - Radney Foster
164. Juke Box Music - Doug Sahm
165. Rural Free Delivery - Whiskeytown
166. Boats To Build - Guy Clark
167. Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris
168. J.D. Crowe & The New South - J.D. Crowe
169. Everything You Thought Was Wrong - Slobberbone
170. Bottle Rockets - Bottle Rockets
171. Quarter Moon In a Ten Cent Town - Emmylou Harris
172. Sweet Old World - Lucinda Williams
173. Streets of Sin - Joe Ely
174. Zone of Our Own - Texas Tornados
175. The Adventures of Panama Red - New Riders of The Purple Sage
176. Dog Days - Blue Mountain
177. The Notorious Cherry Bombs - Rodney Crowell
178. Chidren Running Through - Patty Griffin
179. Transcendental Blues - Steve Earle
180. Born Again In The U.S.A. - Loose Fur
181. Positive Friction - Donna The Buffalo
182. The Long Way Around - Tom Russell
183. Deeper Well - David Olney
184. Kevin Welch - Kevin Welch
185. Wreck Your Life - Old 97's
186. Cracker - Cracker
187. Flash, Crash and Thunder - Farmer Boys
188. Jackrabbit Slim - Steve Forbert
189. Copperopolis - Grant Lee Buffalo
190. The Desert Rose Band - The Desert Rose Band
191. Terrior Blues - Jay Farrar
192. Amigo - Arlo Guthrie
> 193. Gentleman's Blues - Cracker
194. Old Friends - Guy Clark
195. Modern Art - Tom Russell
196. Native Sons - The Long Ryders
197. Shake Hands With Shorty - North Mississippi All-Stars
198. Wacoworld - The Waco Brothers
199. Last of The Brooklyn Cowboys - Arlo Guthrie
200. Stray Cats - The Stray Cats

Tags: Greatest Americana Albums

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Shaw on September 21, 2009 at 11:37am

Excellent list.

GP ... Gram Parsons

Brooklyn Side ... Bottle Rockets

Sweetheart of the Rodeo ... Byrds

Road to Bayamon ... Tom Russell Band

Something by Eliza Gilkyson (hard to choose ... love all her music)

King of California ... Dave Alvin

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Permalink Reply by Abbi on September 21, 2009 at 3:01pm

A glaring omission, I think is "Will the Circle Be Unbroken"- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (If it's there and I missed it, please forgive me)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Varner on September 22, 2009 at 12:53pm

Hey Abbi,
Thanks. Over at digitaldreamdoor.com "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"
was given the placement of #6 on the "Greatest Country Album" list
so I kept the Americana lists separate from those choices.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Abbi on September 22, 2009 at 1:22pm

Ah, I see. I didn't think that it could have been overlooked. Glad to see it wasn't. BTW thanks for the list- There's a lot on there I know and love, but a lot I don't know yet. Can't wait to discover it!

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Permalink Reply by Lost Hills on September 21, 2009 at 7:32pm

Dig your list!
Try this one on for size:

Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - Neil young

John Wesley Harding - Bob Dylan

Music From Big Pink - The Band

Beggars Banquet - The Rolling Stones

Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival

GP/Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons

Dr. Byrds And Mr. Hyde - The Byrds

Pickin' Up The Pieces - Poco

Take A Giant Step/The Old Folks At Home - Taj Majal

Hot Tuna - Hot Tuna

Working Man's Dead - The Grateful Dead

Will The Circle Be Unbroken - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

At Home In Sulpher Springs - Norman Blake

The Phoenix Concerts - John Stewart

Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town - Emmylou Harris

The Redheaded Stranger - Willie Nelson

Live At The Old Quarter - Townws Van Zandt

Atlantic City - Bruce Springsteen

Copperhead Road - Steve Earle

Sweet Old World - Lucinda Williams

No Depression - Uncle Tupelo

Trace - Son Volt

Being There - Wilco

Hollywood Town Hall - The Jayhawks

Gravity - Alejandro Escavedo

Buddy And Julie Miller - Buddy And Julie Miller

Winnemucca - Richmond Fontaine

Ghosts Of The Great Highway - Sun Kil Moon

Man Of Sin - Varnaline

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Permalink Reply by SpandTex Pants on September 22, 2009 at 10:01am

Willis Alan Ramsey, "Willis Alan Ramsey"

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Permalink Reply by Ron D. on September 22, 2009 at 10:02pm

I agree - Willis Alan Ramsey and The Band (both Music from Big Pink and The Band) have to be on this list! Those are about as Americana as you can get. Otherwise, the list is just about perfect and I definitely enjoy checking out DigitalDreamDoor (although Jeff Beck needs to be ranked higer :-)

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Permalink Reply by Ol' time Phelan on September 23, 2009 at 12:23am

The Band

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rick Varner on October 28, 2009 at 9:18pm

Hey everyone,
Here is an update to my Americana Album list. I've been listening a lot lately to Michael Hurley
and Grayson Capps...both very worthy of their placement on this list. Got a nice e-mail from the
Ray Wylie Hubbard camp about his album spots as well.

1. American Music-The Blasters
2. Rear View Mirror - Townes Van Zandt
3. Honky Tonk Masquerade - Joe Ely
4. The Gilded Palace of Sin - The Flying Burrito Brothers
5. Pieces of The Sky - Emmylou Harris
6. Old #1 - Guy Clark
7. Trace - Son Volt
8. Into The Purple Valley - Ry Cooder
9. John Prine - John Prine
10. Grievous Angel - Gram Parsons
11. Frisco Mabel Joy - Mickey Newberry
12. Eats Away The Night - Butch Hancock
13. Train a Comin' - Steve Earle
14. Car Wheels On a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams
15. Ashgrove - Dave Alvin
16. More a Legend Than a Band - The Flatlanders
17. Ain't Livin' Long Like This - Rodney Crowell
18. Bring The Family - John Hiatt
19. No Depression - Uncle Tupelo
20. Boomer's Story - Ry Cooder
21. Blackjack David - Dave Alvin
22. El Corazon - Steve Earle
23. King of California - Dave Alvin
24. Washington County - Arlo Guthrie
25. Non Fiction - The Blasters
26. Delirium Tremolos - Ray Wylie Hubbard
27. Stangers Almanac - Whiskeytown
28. Living With Ghosts - Patty Griffen
29. Anodyne - Uncle Tupelo
30. Full Service, No Waiting - Peter Case
31. Paradise and Lunch - Ry Cooder
32. The Last of The True Believers - Nanci Griffith
33. Okemah & The Melody of Riot - Son Volt
34. Musta Notta Gotta Lotta - Joe Ely
35. California Bloodlines - John Stewart
36. Aereo Plain - John Hartford
37. Childish Things - James McMurtry
38. Flying Saucer Blues - Peter Case
39. Lord of The Highway - Joe Ely
40. The Fantastic Expedition - Dilliard & Clark
41. Sundown - Rank & File
42. Third Down, 110 To Go - Jesse Winchester
43. Lost In The Ozone - Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen
44. Tangled In The Pines - BR5-49
45. Songbones - Grayson Capps
46. Ancestral Swamp - Michael Hurley
47. Essence - Lucinda Williams
48. Uncle Charley & His Dog Teddy - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
49. The Dark - Guy Clark
50. The Road To Ensenada - Lyle Lovett
51. A.M. - Wilco
52. Guitar Town - Steve Earle
53. Up On The Lowdown - Chris Smither
54. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
55. Workingman's Dead - The Grateful Dead
56. Loco Gringo's Lament - Ray Wylie Hubbard
57. Last Chance - Chip Taylor
58. Faithless Street - Whiskeytown
59. I Feel Alright - Steve Earle
60. White Light - Gene Clark
61. Hoboes Lullaby - Arlo Guthrie
62. Love and Fever - Tom Russell
63. Somebody Else's Troubles - Steve Goodman
64. Hardline - The Blasters
65. Kerosene Hat - Cracker
66. Saint Mary of The Woods - James McMurtry
67. Mr Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker
68. Hollywood Town Hall - The Jayhawks
69. New Riders of The Purple Sage - New Riders of The Purple Sage
70. Fate's Right Hand - Rodney Crowell
71. The Tractors - The Tractors
72. Torn Again - Peter Case
73. Stacked Deck - The Amazing Rhythm Aces
74. Lone Justice - Lone Justice
75. Snake Farm - Ray Wylie Hubbard
76. Wide Swing Tremelo - Son Volt
77. Slow Turning - John Hiatt
78. Big Backyard Beat Show - BR5-49
79. No Other - Gene Clark
80. Diamonds In The Rough - John Prine
81. Steve Goodman - Steve Goodman
82. Honeysuckle Dog - Chris Smither
83. Bombs Away Dream Babies - John Stewart
84. Burrito Deluxe - The Flying Burrito Brothers
85. Storms - Nanci Griffith
86. Good Times - Charlie Robison
87. Straightaways - Son Volt
88. My Name Is Buddy - Ry Cooder
89. Growl - Ray Wylie Hubbard
90. Driftin' Way of Life - Jerry Jeff Walker
91. Healing Bones - Jules Shear
92. Pretty Close To The Truth - Jim Lauderdale
93. Fair & Square - John Prine
94. Nothing But a Breeze - Jesse Winchester
95. Heartbreaker - Ryan Adams
96. Sings Like Hell - Peter Case
97. Still Feel Gone - Uncle Tupelo
98. My Baby Don't Tolerate - Lyle Lovett
99. Jesse Winchester - Jesse Winchester
100. Safe At Home - The International Submarine Band

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
101. Arlo Guthrie - Arlo Guthrie
102. Down On The Drag - Joe Ely
103. Tomorrow The Green Grass - The Jayhawks
104. Pickin' On Nashville - The Kentucky Headhunters
105. The Dirty South - Drive By Truckers
106. Walk On - John Hiatt
107. Man With The Blue Post Modern Guitar - Peter Case
108. 1000 Kisses - Patty Griffin
109. Pontiac - Lyle Lovett
110. The Houston Kid - Rodney Crowell
111. Dangerous Spirits - Ray Wylie Hubbard
112. Sweet Revenge - John Prine
113. Got No Breeding - Jules and The Polar Bears
114. Too Long In The Wasteland - James McMurtry
115. Electric Blue Watermelon - The North Mississippi All-Stars
116. Being There - Wilco
117. Van Go - The Beat Farmers
118. Chicken Skin Music - Ry Cooder
119. After Awhile - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
120. West Texas Waltzes & Dust Blown Tractor Tunes - Butch Hancock
121. Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams
122. Weird Tales - Golden Smog
123. It Aint Easy - Chris Smither
124. Stolen Moments - John Hiatt
125. Crusades of The Restless Knights - Ray Wylie Hubbard
126. Rodney Crowell - Rodney Crowell
127. Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams - BoDeans
128. Texas Tornados - Texas Tornados
129. Bradley's Barn - The Beau Brummels
130. Hell of a Spell - Doug Sahm
131. Museum of Heart - Dave Alvin
132. Hell Among The Yearlings - Gillian Welch
133. Train Home - Chris Smither
134. Come On Back - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
135. Sky Blue Sky - Wilco
136. March 16-20, 1992 - Uncle Tupelo
137. The South Coast of Texas - Guy Clark
138. Spinning Round The Sun - Jimmie Dale Gilmore
139. Too Far To Care - Old 97's
140. Dog Days - BR5-49
141. Wail & Ride - Grayson Capps
142. Buddy & Julie - Miller Buddy & Julie Miller
143. Mermaid Avenue - Billy Bragg
144. Hotwalker - Tom Russell
145. Love & Danger - Joe Ely
146. The Doug Sahm Band - Doug Sahm
147. Home - BoDeans
148. Furnace Room Lullaby - Neko Case
149. Kingfish - Kingfish
150. The End Is Not In Sight - Russell Smith
151. Sex and Gasoline - Rodney Crowell
152. Full Western Dress - The Derailers
153. Original Recordings - Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
154. Borderland - Tom Russell
155. Blue Blvd - Dave Alvin
156. Now Again - The Flatlanders
157. Jacksonville City Nights - Ryan Adams
158. Letter To Laredo - Joe Ely
159. Down By The Old Mainstream - Golden Smog
160. Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm
161. If You Knew My Mind - Grayson Capps
162. Freedom and Weep - The Waco Brothers
163. Alive On Arrival - Steve Forbert
164. Juke Box Music - Doug Sahm
165. Rural Free Delivery - Whiskeytown
166. Boats To Build - Guy Clark
167. Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris
168. J.D. Crowe & The New South - J.D. Crowe
169. Everything You Thought Was Wrong - Slobberbone
170. Bottle Rockets - Bottle Rockets
171. Quarter Moon In a Ten Cent Town - Emmylou Harris
172. Sweet Old World - Lucinda Williams
173. Streets of Sin - Joe Ely
174. Zone of Our Own - Texas Tornados
175. The Adventures of Panama Red - New Riders of The Purple Sage
176. Dog Days - Blue Mountain
177. The Notorious Cherry Bombs - Rodney Crowell
178. Chidren Running Through - Patty Griffin
179. Transcendental Blues - Steve Earle
180. Born Again In The U.S.A. - Loose Fur
181. Positive Friction - Donna The Buffalo
182. The Long Way Around - Tom Russell
183. Deeper Well - David Olney
184. Kevin Welch - Kevin Welch
185. Wreck Your Life - Old 97's
186. Cracker - Cracker
187. Flash, Crash and Thunder - Farmer Boys
188. Jackrabbit Slim - Steve Forbert
189. Copperopolis - Grant Lee Buffalo
190. The Desert Rose Band - The Desert Rose Band
191. Terrior Blues - Jay Farrar
192. Amigo - Arlo Guthrie
193. Gentleman's Blues - Cracker
194. Old Friends - Guy Clark
195. Modern Art - Tom Russell
196. Native Sons - The Long Ryders
197. Shake Hands With Shorty - North Mississippi All-Stars
198. Wacoworld - The Waco Brothers
199. Last of The Brooklyn Cowboys - Arlo Guthrie
200. Stray Cats - The Stray Cats