Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays, a compilation CD distributed by radio promoter Erik Balkey, was the most-played album on folk radio during December 2017. “Somethin’ Special” by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul & Mary fame) was the month’s most-played song; it’s featured on both the Hudson Harding Sampler and on Stookey’s own EP, Summerfallwinterspring. So say charts compiled by Richard Gillmann from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio.
Gillmann, a former folk DJ who has been voluntarily compiling the charts for some 20 years, is retiring from doing so. However, the monthly charts shall continue to be compiled and posted.
The December 2017 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 14.015 airplays from 132 different DJs. Label and release date appear in brackets below, while the number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.
Top Albums of December 2017
1: Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays, Various Artists
[Hudson Harding, new] (109)
2: Christmas Caravan, Sultans Of String [CEN, 10/17] (85)
3: Fifteen, The Wailin’ Jennys [Red House, 10/17] (57)
4: Joy!, Rachael Sage [Mpress, 11/17] (56)
5: Letters Never Read, Dori Freeman [Free Dirt, 10/17] (47)
5: When Winter Comes, Sofia Talvik [sofiatalvik.com, 11/17] (47)
7: On Christmas, Ryanhood [ryanhood.com, new] (46)
8: The Long-Awaited Album, Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
[Rounder, 9/17] (45)
9: Echo In The Valley, Bela Fleck And Abigail Washburn [Rounder, 10/17]
(41)
10: Short Stories, Beppe Gambetta [Borealis, 10/17] (39)
11: Summerfallwinterspring (EP), Noel Paul Stookey [Neworld, 11/17] (36)
12: Turmoil And Tinfoil, Billy Strings [Apostol, 9/17] (34)
13: Christine Lavin Presents: Just One Angel v2.0, Various Artists
[Yellow Tail, 2013] (33)
14: Tribute To The Traveling’ Lady Rosalie Sorrels, Various Artists [
rosaliesorrelstribute.com, 9/17] (32)
15: At The End Of The Day, Bett Padgett [bettpadgett.com, 10/17] (30)
15: Poets, Philosophers, Workers And Wanderers, Joe Jencks [Turtle Bear, 5/17] (30)
17: A Stranger In This Time, Tim Grimm And The Family Band [Vault, 3/17]
(29)
18: Come Darkness, Come Light, Mary Chapin Carpenter [Zoe, 2008] (27)
18: Spirit To The Sea, Trout Steak Revival [troutsteak.com, 11/17] (27)
20: Sing Louder, Meghan Cary [Angel Bear, 11/17] (26)
21: Spaghettification, Christine Lavin [christinelavin.com, 8/17] (24)
22: Said Little Sparrow, Kim Beggs [Baselinemusic, 10/17] (23)
23: Midwinter, Peter Mayer [Blue Boat, 2005] (22)
23: Silver Wood: Wintersongs, Krista Detor [Tightrope, 2008] (22)
23: Winter’s Grace, Laurie Lewis And Tom Rozum [Signature, 1999] (22)
26: Chase The Sun, The Early Mays [Bird On The Wing, 8/17] (21)
26: Down Hearted Blues, Eilen Jewell [Signature, 9/17] (21)
26: Happy Little Trees, KC Groves [thebluegrassgirl.com, 9/17] (21)
26: True In Time, John Gorka [Red House, new] (21)
26: Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 10: Happy Holidays, Various Artists
[Hudson Harding, 2015] (21)
31: Different Hymnals, Joel Mabus [Fossil, 8/17] (20)
31: Gift Of The Magi, Darryl Purpose [darrylpurpose.com, 2002] (20)
31: Night Tree, Night Tree [nighttreemusic.com, 9/17] (20)
31: O Christmas Tree, Various Artists [Rounder, 2002] (20)
31: Wonderland: A Winter Solstice Celebration, Various Artists
[Signature, 2001] (20)
36: The First Christmas Gift, Robin And Linda Williams [Red House, 2005]
(19)
36: Folk Hotel, Tom Russell [Frontera, 9/17] (19)
36: Medicine Songs, Buffy Sainte-Marie [True North, new] (19)
36: One Go Around, Jeffrey Martin [Fluff And Gravy, 10/17] (19)
36: Poor David’s Almanack, Dave Rawlings [Acony, 8/17] (19)
36: Small Believer, Anna Tivel [Fluff And Gravy, 9/17] (19)
36: Just One Angel, Christine Lavin And Friends [Yellow Tail, 2010] (19)
36: A Very Blue Rock Christmas, Various Artists [Blue Rock, 2013] (19)
44: Leadbelly, Baby!, Dan Zanes And Friends [Smithsonian/Folkways, 9/17] (18)
44: Usher’s Island, Usher’s Island [Vertical, 3/17] (18)
44: American Noel, Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer [Signature, 2007] (18)
44: At The Turning Of The Year, Herdman, Hills And Mangsen [Hand And
Heart, 2000] (18)
44: Christmas On The Lam And Other Songs From The Season, Various
Artists [Red House, 10/16] (18)
44: Rise, Molly Tuttle [mollytuttlemusic.com, 6/17] (18)
51: Belle Of The West, Samantha Fish [Ruf, 11/17] (17)
51: Bidin’ My Time, Chris Hillman [Rounder, 9/17] (17)
51: Champion, Nora Jane Struthers [Blue Pig, 10/17] (17)
51: Dounia Tabolo, Boubacar Traore [Hearth, 11/17] (17)
51: Mother Lion, May Erlewine [Earthwork, 11/17] (17)
51: Small Brown Birds, Zoe Mulford [Azalea City, 1/17] (17)
51: Undone, Sean McConnell [Rounder, 9/17] (17)
57: On That Other Green Shore, John Reischman And The Jaybirds [Corvus, 6/17] (16)
57: Singin’, Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio [Vessel, 6/17] (16)
57: Voices Of Winter, Herdman, Hills And Mangsen [Gadfly, 1997] (16)
60: Christmas, Bruce Cockburn [Columbia, 1998] (15)
60: Edge Of America, Crowes Pasture [crowespastureduo.com, 9/17] (15)
60: Freedom Highway, Rhiannon Giddens [Nonesuch, 2/17] (15)
60: King Of The Boogie, John Lee Hooker [Concord, 10/17] (15)
60: Folksinger, Vol. 2, Willie Watson [Acony, 9/17] (15)
65: Against All Tides, Harpeth Rising [harpethrising.com, 5/17] (14)
65: Further Down The Line, Scott Cook [scottcook.net, 3/17] (14)
65: Hark The Dark, Claudia Schmidt [Self, 11/17] (14)
65: Long Hot Summer Days, Jim Byrnes [Black Hen, 11/17] (14)
65: Manna, Shelley Posen [Well Done, 2003] (14)
65: Sonny And Brownie’s Last Train, Guy Davis And Fabrizio Poggi [M. C., 3/17] (14)
65: Traveling Circus, No Fuss And Feathers [Roadshow, 1/16] (14)
65: Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 8: Happy Holidays, Various Artists
[Hudson Harding, 2013] (14)
65: Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 11: Happy Holidays, Various Artists
[Hudson Harding, 12/16] (14)
Top Songs of December 2017
Noel Paul Stocky had the most-played song on folk radio during December 2017 (Photo: Sarah Farr)
by Noel Paul Stookey
from Summerfallwinterspring (EP)
also Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
2. “Strangest Christmas Yet” (18)
by Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
from The Long-Awaited Album
3. “Christmas In The Trenches” (17)
by John McCutcheon
from Live At Wolf Trap
3. “Joy To The World” (17)
by Rachael Sage
from Joy!
3. “Tchatchkes And Latkes” (17)
by Rachael Sage
from Joy!
6. “Christmas In Bethlehem” (16)
by Mark Stepakoff
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
7. “Longest Night Of The Year” (15)
by Joe Jencks
from Poets, Philosophers, Workers And Wanderers
also Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 10: Happy Holidays
7. “This Great Old Christmas Night” (15)
by Sofia Talvik
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
also When Winter Comes
9. “Hanukkah In The Village” (14)
by Rachael Sage
from Joy!
10. “Celebrate The Holydays” (13)
by Sultans Of String
from Christmas Caravan
10. “River” (13)
by Joni Mitchell
from Blue
12. “American Noel” (12)
by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
from American Noel
12. “Wildflowers” (12)
by The Wailin’ Jennys
from Fifteen
14. “Christians And The Pagans” (11)
by Dar Williams
from Mortal City
also Out There Live
14. “I Will Stand” (11)
by Noel Paul Stookey
from Summerfallwinterspring (EP)
14. “Impeachable” (11)
by Noel Paul Stookey
from Summerfallwinterspring (EP)
14. “Mary’s Boy Child” (11)
by Andrew John And Lissa
from Mary’s Boy Child
also Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 11: Happy Holidays
18. “Christmas In Prison” (10)
by John Prine
from Sweet Revenge
18. “Light The Lamp” (10)
by Emily Kurn
from I’m Just Like You
also Christine Lavin Presents: Just One Angel v2.0
18. “December In Aleppo” (10)
by Montgomery Delaney
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
21. “Django Christmas” (9)
by Sultans Of String
from Christmas Caravan
21. “Gonna Be Great” (9)
by Tim Grimm And The Family Band
from A Stranger In This Time
21. “Quiet Christmas” (9)
by No Fuss And Feathers
from Traveling Circus
21. “Love Comes Down” (9)
by Emma’s Revolution
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
21. “Noel Y’all” (9)
by Young And Rusty
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
21. “You Reap What You Sow” (9)
by Mara Levine
from Facets Of Folk (preview)
27. “Boulder To Birmingham” (8)
by The Wailin’ Jennys
from Fifteen
27. “Girl From River Run” (8)
by Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
from The Long-Awaited Album
27. “Happy Christmas” (8)
by Fred Gillen Jr
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
27. “Happy New Year” (8)
by Robin Greenstein
from Tears And Laughter
27. “If I Could Make You My Own” (8)
by Dori Freeman
from Letters Never Read
27. “If We Make It Through December” (8)
by Laurie Lewis And Tom Rozum
from Winter’s Grace
27. “In The Dark” (8)
by Katie Dahl
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
27. “Keep Me In Your Heart” (8)
by The Wailin’ Jennys
from Fifteen
27. “Light One Candle” (8)
by Peter, Paul And Mary
from Holiday Celebration
27. “On The Last Day Of The Year” (8)
by Cathy Fink And Marcy Marxer
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
also “On The Last Day Of The Year” – Single
27. “Over The Divide” (8)
by Bela Fleck And Abigail Washburn
from Echo In The Valley
27. “Sing Louder” (8)
by Meghan Cary
from Sing Louder
27. “When It Rains On Christmas Day” (8)
by Sofia Talvik
from When Winter Comes
27. “Why I Love These Holidays” (8)
by Chris Lavancher
from Hudson Harding Sampler, Vol. 12: Happy Holidays
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