Folk/Country — All Formats  

Great rootsy Cajun accordion – a version of the genre that's much grittier than any of the later versions that were spread more strongly through the mainstream – and definitely light years from the touristy sounds heard in more recent years! This set offers up a host of rare small label recordings from Nathan Abshire – a player who really handles his instrument with a personal touch – almost as raw and soulful as a harmonica in the hands of a blues musician, and often supported by rhythms that are pretty darn blue as well – although also with a definite Louisiana sound! The package features material with the Pine Grove Boys and Balfa Brothers group, plus others by Nathan on his own – and the set features 25 titles that include "Pine Grove Blues", "Offshore Blues", "Shamrock", "J'Etais Au Bal", "Choupique Two Step", "Partie A Grand Basile", and "Dying In Misery".

A stunner of a solo acoustic folk guitar record from Daniel Bachman – one that rivals some of the great archival releases on Tompkins Square – though this one was recorded in 2012, and Bachman is a young player just a couple years into his twenties! Raw, string-buzzing immediacy and dexterous playing from young Bachman – and it's incredibly engaging stuff, too! He's also one of the relatively few contemporary folk instrumentalists – along with with Nashville's William Tyler – who truly evoke the spirit of trailblazers like Fahey and Basho for us. Includes "Copperhead", "Seven Pines", "Sun Over Old Rag", "Long Nights I", "Mount Olive Chohoke", "With Signs Following" and '218 To Caledon".

Joan Baez, back when she was really pretty darn amazing – a young, fresh, powerful force in 60s folk music! The set features Baez on vocals and guitar – with additional electric guitar on a few tracks, a bit of mandolin, and some bass. Includes great readings of Dylan tunes "Farewell Angelina", "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", and "Daddy You Been On My Mind" – plus Donovan's "Colours".

Joan Baez, back when she was really pretty darn amazing – a young, fresh, powerful force in 60s folk music! The set features Baez on vocals and guitar – with additional electric guitar on a few tracks, a bit of mandolin, and some bass. Includes great readings of Dylan tunes "Farewell Angelina", "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", "Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", and "Daddy You Been On My Mind" – plus Donovan's "Colours".

Classic level greatness from Bobby Bare – with The Real Thing from 1970! At his peak – and we consider this to be peak material – Bobby Bare had an easygoing, laconic storyteller vocal style that's as great as any of his more celebrated peers – plus add a perfect mix Nashville Sound lushness and stripped-down country laid down by the best session musicians in the business and the recipe is pretty close to perfection! Includes: "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", "The Chicago Story", "Maggie (I Wish We'd Never Met)", "California Dreams", "Tulsa County", "Barbara Joy", and more.

A perfect illustration of the genius of guitarist Robbie Basho – a set recorded early in his career, but with music that's light years ahead of most of his contemporaries! Although a set of solo acoustic guitar tracks, the music isn't really folk – nor is it the sort of acoustic underground music that would emerge more strongly in the 70s – and instead, it's got a real edge throughout – lots of odd tones and weird phrasings that almost preface a whole generation of guitar experimentalists like Derek Bailey or Eugene Chadbourne – yet still within a setting that's relatively tuneful overall! Basho's music has this subtle mysticism that we really love – and the solo sounds here are as evocative as the titles – which include "Mountain Man's Farewell", "Seal Of The Blue Lotus", "Sansara In Sweetness After Sandstorm", "Dravidian Sunday", and "Bardo Blues".

Amazing work from acoustic guitarist Don Bikoff – a 60s contemporary of John Fahey and Robbie Basho, but much more obscure than either of those legendary players! Yet Bikoff's got a very similar vibe – a style that's rooted in folk, but has broken way way past the genre – amazing acoustic guitar explorations that are filled with tones and timings that so many other players wouldn't discover until the 70s – yet still never be able to deliver with a freshness like this! The album's completely mesmerizing from the start – almost like the hypnotic air of Sandy Bull, without the hypnotic pyrotechnics – served up simply and sparely, in a way that leaves us breathless. Titles include "Today Has No Tomorrow", "Rindler's Metamorphosis", "The Ellipses Of Your Mind", "Bathing Prohibited In The River Styx", and "Riverside Park Blues".

Amazing work from acoustic guitarist Don Bikoff – a 60s contemporary of John Fahey and Robbie Basho, but much more obscure than either of those legendary players! Yet Bikoff's got a very similar vibe – a style that's rooted in folk, but has broken way way past the genre – amazing acoustic guitar explorations that are filled with tones and timings that so many other players wouldn't discover until the 70s – yet still never be able to deliver with a freshness like this! The album's completely mesmerizing from the start – almost like the hypnotic air of Sandy Bull, without the hypnotic pyrotechnics – served up simply and sparely, in a way that leaves us breathless. Titles include "Today Has No Tomorrow", "Rindler's Metamorphosis", "The Ellipses Of Your Mind", "Bathing Prohibited In The River Styx", and "Riverside Park Blues".

Some of the moodiest sounds you'll ever hear in a record to feature banjo as the main instrument – a classic set of recordings from the legendary Dock Boggs! The set was put together by Mike Seeger, who also plays a bit of guitar on the record – but most of the sounds are up-close, very personal work by Boggs – whose voice has as much character as his inventive sounds on the banjo. Titles include "Wise County Jail", "Brother Jim Got Shot", "Little Black Train", "Danville Girl", "Old Joe's Barrom", and "Glory Land".