So today I didn’t have time to look up and listen to any new Folk artists so I listened to three artists that I haven’t listened to in a while, Arlon Bennett, David Wilcox and Bill Miller.
First up was Arlon Bennett’s album Summer’s Voicehis third album and was released in 2007 and it’s my favorite and also the one I’ve listened to the most. I enjoy all the songs but my three favorites are “Bandana Man” about a Vietnam Vet who travels around on his Harley telling his story about his time in the war. I love the chorus:
Bandana wears are red one for the fallen’
white for where they’ve gone
blue for how he feels
though he don’t know you he’ll stop
long enough enough to tell you
nothing wipes away the tears like a bandana can
“Summer’s Voice” about those old baseball announcers that we grew up with listening to that radio full of static on a summer’s night. Whether it be for the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies or any other team we all had them!
But my favorite on the album is what I think is one of the best songs about social change “Be the Change” During the presidential campaign Arlon was invited to perform the song in a lineup that also included Bruce Hornsby, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Just go listen!
Next up was the first David Wilcox album I ever bought The Nightshift Watchman.Though it’s the first album and I have five or six others in my collection this one may be my favorite. The title track about the guy who watches radar for nuclear weapons and knows that if he does his job his life is over is a great song! Then there are several others “Frozen in the Snow”, “High Hill”, “Daddy’s Money” and “That Why I’m Laughing”. David has a great voice, plays a great guitar and is a gifted songwriter! Another just go listen!
The last artist that I listened to was Bill Miller a Native American singer, composer, flutist, painter and storyteller. I listened to his album Ghostdance which was released in 1999. But wait I see he has a new album released in June of this year after a 3 and 1/2 year wait. So maybe I’ll listen to that album tomorrow and write a piece after that. Until then you can read about and listen to Bill at his website!
Here’s David Wilcox with “Language of the Heart” a favorite from his album How Did You Find Me Here
