Mara Levine and John McCutcheon had the top albums on folk radio during January 2019 (Facets of Folk and To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger, respectively) and a number of the month’s most-played songs. So say charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
Called one of the best singers of her generation by Christine Lavin, folksinger and jewelry designer Mara Levine has been creating beautiful interpretations of fine traditional and contemporary folk songs for many years. “Layering harmony line on top of harmony line, Levine creates rich tapestries of sound and emotion,” says noted folksinger and activist Si Kahn.
On Facets of Folk, Levine — joined by a number of her talented musician friends – explores some of the different facets of the folk genre. In selecting songs for it, Levine said: “I was inspired by the current political and social challenges facing us today, and thought a great deal about the importance of speaking out against injustice, both societal, and for people in our lives who are being wronged.”
Songs of social conscience – penned by popular contemporary songwriters as well as emerging talents — are prominently featured on Facets of Folk and are set among folk favorites and lesser-known songs. The opening track, Susan Shann’s “You Reap What You Sow,” recorded with several bluegrass luminaries, topped the Folk DJ songs chart in November 2017 when it was released as a single and was the third-most-played song last month. It also spent 22 weeks on the Bluegrass Today Grassicana chart. Levine’s rendition of Tommy Sands’ “Daughters and Sons” (featuring Kim & Reggie Harris and Gathering Time, a folk harmony trio with whom she frequently shares concert bills) was #1 last month, as was the album.
Levine had an official juried showcase at the 2014 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) Conference, after participating in the Suzi Wollenberg Folk DJ Showcase years earlier. Her sophomore release, Jewels and Harmony, was #1 on the Folk DJ chart in January 2013 and sported that month’s two top two songs.
John McCutcheon (Photo: Irene Young)
Of his friend, Seeger had said: “John McCutcheon is not only one of the best musicians in the USA, but also a great singer, songwriter, and song leader. And not just incidentally, he is committed to helping hard-working people everywhere to organize and push this world in a better direction.”
McCutcheon, who has been performing and recording since the mid-1970s, is also a longtime labor and social activist. He is a founder and former president of Local 1000, the traveling acoustic musicians local of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM). He has keynoted conferences for several regional affiliates of Folk Alliance International. His previous release, Ghost Light, was the #2 album on folk radio in 2018 and also features three of last year’s 25 most-played songs (“This Road,” “She Just Dances,” and “The Machine”). McCutcheon’s classic “Christmas in the Trenches” tied for the most-played song on folk radio last December and has been among the most-played songs during the holiday season for years.
The January 2019 Top Albums, Songs and Artists charts are based on 17,689 airplays reported on 736 playlists submitted by 133 different DJs. The number of reported spins is shownin parentheses. The charts are compiled under the auspices of Folk Alliance International (www.folk.org), a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.
The monthly top albums, songs and artists charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.
Top Albums of January 2019
Here’s a link to listen to Artie Martello’s Jan. 26, 2019 Mostly Folk podcast featuring a interview with Mara Levine and songs from her new release, Facets of Folk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9nVsWtjNTs
1. Facets of Folk by Mara Levine (288)
2. To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger by
John McCutcheon (232)
3. What Will We Do by Lula Wiles (109)
4. Unfortunate Point of View by Katherine Rondeau (99)
5. Legacy of Love by Ellen Bukstel (80)
6. Savoir Faire to Spare by Dashboard Hula Girls (70)
7. Tomorrow Will Be Yesterday Soon by Jon Shain and Fj Ventre (59)
8. A List of Names by Karyn Oliver (56)
9. Tides of a Teardrop by Mandolin Orange (54)
10. Father’s Son by Pierce Pettis (51)
11. At Home in the Darkness by Mike P. Ryan (49)
12. When You Go by Tiffany Williams (48)
12. Shout and Shine by Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Sam Gleaves (48)
12. The Longest Night of the Year, Vol. 1 by Various Artists (48)
15. Horrible World by Kathy Kallick Band (47)
16. North Country by Danny Burns (44)
17. Siren by Five Letter Word (43)
18. Ready to Go by Reggie Harris (40)
19. Game Changer by Rachael Kilgour (39)
20. Appleseed’s 21st Anniversary: Roots and Branches by Various Artists (38)
20. Armadillo on a Hot Tin Roof by Vi Wickam and Justin Branum (38)
22. Everyday Street by Lucy Kaplansky (36)
23. Secularia by Eliza Gilkyson (35)
23. If You Can’t Stand the Heat by Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen (35)
25. Last Day on This Earth by David Roth (34)
26. Sing the Winter Away by Naming the Twins (33)
26. Woven Waters by Tellico (33)
26. The Tree of Forgiveness by John Prine (33)
29. Whistle Down the Wind by Joan Baez (32)
29. Wings by Zoe Speaks (32)
31. Kid Bayonne by Ray Lambiase (31)
32. Roses in November by Tret Fure (30)
33. Just Keep Going by Joanne Rand (29)
33. The Man I’m Supposed to Be by Rod Abernethy (29)
33. A Good Dog Is Lost: A Collection of Ron Hynes Songs by Ken Tizzard (29)
33. Invisible Forces by Whispering Tree (29)
37. Hudson Harding Happy Holidays, Vol. 12 by Various Artists (28)
38. She Remembers Everything by Roseanne Cash (27)
38. Your Reflection Will Kill You by Todd Burge (27)
40. March Through Storms by House of Hamill (26)
40. Evermore by Smithfield Fair (26)
42. Damn Sure Blue by Kate Campbell (25)
42. Dead Reckoning by Jellyman’s Daughter (25)
42. The Hermit’s Spyglass by Ben Bedford (25)
42. Sweet Old Religion by Pharis and Jason Romero (25)
42. Tex by Terry Klein (25)
42. Ghost Light by John McCutcheon (25)
42. Sing Louder by Meghan Cary (25)
49. Somethin’ Special by Noel Paul Stookey (24)
49. Love Hard, Work Hard, Play Hard by Deanie Richardson (24)
49. Jewels and Harmony by Mara Levine (24)
49. Heart Songs by Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles (24)
49. Time Is Everything by Vivian Leva (24)
54. The Forgotten by Joe Jencks (23)
54. See You Around by I’m With Her (23)
54. Rising Tide by Taivi (23)
54. Twas the Night Before Christmas by Vi Wickam (23)
54. Keepsake by Gathering Time (23)
54. Spaghettification by Christine Lavin (23)
60. Jonathan Byrd and the Pickup Cowboys by Jonathan Byrd and the
Pickup Cowboys (22)
60. Reflections by Andy and Judy (22)
60. Pretty Bird by Kathy Mattea (22)
63. Black Cowboys by Dom Flemons (21)
63. Live at Bound for Glory by Larry Kaplan (21)
63. Tennessee Moon by Ray Cardwell (21)
66. Little Beast by Lucy Wainwright Roche (20)
66. A Startle of Wings by Noah Zacharin (20)
66. The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder (20)
66. Wasted Love Songs by Bob Sumner (20)
66. Queen City Jubilee by Slocan Ramblers (20)
66. Riverland by Eric Brace, Peter Cooper, Thomm Jutz (20)
66. Hot Jazz, Cool Blues and Hard Hitting Songs by Barbara Dane (20)
66. River’s Rising by Nancy Cassidy (20)
Top Songs of January 2019
Here’s a link to hear John McCutcheon’s rendition of Pete Seeger’s “Well May the World Go” featuring the bluegrass group Hot Rize: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VE05enOBXA
1. “Daughters and Sons” by Mara Levine (57)
2. “Well May the World Go” by John McCutcheon (41)
3. “You Reap What You Sow” by Mara Levine (36)
4. “Be the Change” by Mara Levine (34)
5. “If I Had a Hammer” by John McCutcheon (31)
6. “By My Silence” by Mara Levine (30)
7. “Sailing Down My Golden River” by John McCutcheon (25)
8. “Coming Soon (If Not Today)” by Katherine Rondeau (24)
8. “Turn, Turn, Turn” by John McCutcheon (24)
10. “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” by Mara Levine (22)
11. “Shaking as It Turns” by Lula Wiles (20)
12. “Bitter Green” by Mara Levine (19)
13. “Good Old American Values” by Lula Wiles (18)
13. “What’s That I Hear” by Katherine Rondeau (18)
15. “Song for an Old Friend” by Jon Shain and Fj Ventre (17)
15. “Song for the Asking” by Mara Levine (17)
17. “God Bless the Grass” by John McCutcheon (16)
17. “Tree of Life” by Mara Levine (16)
17. “Child of Mine” by Mara Levine (16)
17. “About Enough” by Karyn Oliver (16)
17. “Hometown” by Lula Wiles (16)
22. “Guantanamera” by John McCutcheon (15)
22. “Golden Embers” by Mandolin Orange (15)
22. “How Can I Keep From Singing” by John McCutcheon (15)
25. “Left Behind” by Mike P. Ryan (14)
25. “54 Miles” by Dashboard Hula Girls (14)
25. “To Everyone in All the World” by John McCutcheon (14)
Top Artists of January 2019
1. Mara Levine (326)
2. John McCutcheon (282)
3. Lula Wiles (112)
4. Katherine Rondeau (102)
5. Ellen Bukstel (80)
6. Dashboard Hula Girls (72)
7. Joan Baez (69)
8. Bob Dylan (64)
9. John Prine (63)
10. Mandolin Orange (61)
11. Jon Shain and Fj Ventre (59)
12. Smithfield Fair (57)
13. Karyn Oliver (56)
13. Pete Seeger (56)
15. Pierce Pettis (54)
16. Bill Staines (53)
17. Joel Mabus (52)
18. Mike P. Ryan (50)
19. Kathy Kallick Band (49)
20. Tiffany Williams (48)
20. Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Sam Gleaves (48)
22. Joe Jencks (45)
22. Danny Burns (45)
24. Eliza Gilkyson (44)
25. Five Letter Word (43)
26. Lucy Kaplansky (42)
27. Rachael Kilgour (41)
28. Reggie Harris (40)
28. Christine Lavin (40)
30. Tom Russell (39)
31. Gathering Time (38)
31. Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen (38)
31. David Roth (38)
31. Vi Wickam and Justin Branum (38)
35. Naming the Twins (37)
35. Lorrie Newman Keating (37)
35. Tellico (37)
38. John Gorka (36)
38. Nancy Cassidy (36)
38. Kate Campbell (36)
Editor’s Note: I was attending the annual Folk Alliance International Conference in Montreal, Canada when these charts were initially released on February 16. A FAI board member, I also serve as president of the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) board of directors. Although I serve on FAI’s folk radio charts task force, I am not involved in compiling the charts.
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