John McCutcheon, a revered folksinger-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, was the most-played artist and had the top album (Bucket List) and the most-played song (its title track) on folk radio during September 2021. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.
Bucket List is the 42nd release by McCutcheon and contains 18 tracks. It is the follow-up to Cabin Fever: Songs from the Quarantine, which was the top album on folk radio for two consecutive months during the summer of 2020, while McCutcheon was the top artist for three consecutive months. McCutcheon, also a longtime labor and social activist, wrote Cabin Fever’s 17 songs while self-quarantined in his north Georgia cabin during the COVID-19 pandemic. McCutcheon has written some 100 new songs since then.
[Click on the link below to listen to “Bucket List,” the title track of John McCutcheon’s new release: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR42XHpM9IU
A performing and recording artist since the early 1970s, McCutcheon was also the most-played artist for three consecutive years (2017-2019) and also had both the top album (To Everyone in All the World: A Celebration of Pete Seeger) and the top song (“Well May the World Go”) on folk radio during 2019. McCutcheon’s classic “Christmas in the Trenches” has been among the most-played songs during the holiday season for years.
The September 2021 Top Albums, Songs and Artists charts are based on 12,893 airplays reported on 448 playlists submitted by 123 different folk DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.
Folk Alliance International (folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.
Top Albums of September 2021
1. Bucket List by John McCutcheon (159)
2. Renaissance by Valerie Smith (98)
3. A Beautiful Sound by Cosy Sheridan (77)
4. The Road Ahead by Ray Lambiase (65)
5. Until Now by Carrie Newcomer (61)
6. I’ll Meet You Here by Dar Williams (57)
7. Sober Again by Jackson Grimm (55)
7. Why Wait! by Kate Taylor (55)
7. Uppity by Laura Love (55)
10. We Just Need Love by Efrat (51)
11. Borrowed Time by Joe Troop (50)
12. Come Around by Rob Lutes (47)
13. A Better Day A-Coming by Robin and Linda Williams (46)
14. Bright Side of a Rainy Day by Sloan Wainwright (42)
14. Tricks of the Trade by Malcolm Holcombe (42)
16. Long Time Coming by Sierra Ferrell (41)
16. Downhill From Everywhere by Jackson Browne (41)
18. Sun and Moon by Trevor Tchir (38)
18. Chimney Swifts by Brad Kolodner (38)
20. That Spell by Andrea Von Kampen (36)
21. Red, White and American Blues (It Couldn’t Happen Here) by Nathan
Bell (33)
21. The Canvas Before Us by Joy Zimmerman (33)
23. The State That We Are In by Rachel Garlin (32)
24. Mean Old World by Gordie Tentrees (31)
24. Between Us by Ana Egge (31)
24. My Bluegrass Heart by Bela Fleck (31)
27. Streamliner by Jesse Brock (30)
27. Grit and Polish by Mark Schatz and Bryan McDowell (30)
29. Family Reunion by Della Mae (29)
29. The River Flows: Vol. 1 & 2 The Complete Sessions by John Hurlbut and Jorma Kaukonen (29)
29. Georgia I’m Here by Joe Crookston (29)
29. Song to a Refugee by Diana Jones (29)
33. Depreciated by John R. Miller (28)
34. First Bird to Sing by Bruce T Carroll (27)
35. He Walked On by Tim O’Brien (26)
35. Better Days (Remastered) by Lili Añel (26)
37. Cold Rain and Snow by Jared Rabin (25)
38. Geography by Rigby Summer (24)
39. Watchhouse by Watchhouse (23)
39. Eden and Her Borderlands by Anya Hinkle (23)
41. Hurricane Coming by Shawna Caspi (21)
41. Ramble in Music City: The Lost Concert (1990) by Emmylou Harris and the Nash Ramblers (21)
43. Up All Night by The Grascals (20)
43. High Tide for Low Time by Doc Carter (20)
43. Stand for Myself by Yola (20)
46. I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself by Colin Hay (19)
47. Outside Child by Allison Russell (18)
47. The Horses and the Hounds by James McMurtry (18)
49. Beneath Still Waters by Courtney Granger (17)
49. Let’s Get Away by Kalinec and Kj (17)
49. What Keeps the Heart Afloat by Garrett Wieland (17)
49. Triage by Rodney Crowell (17)
49. The Blues Never End by Elly Wininger (17)
49. Small Town America by Tracy Walton (17)
55. Other Voices, Other Rooms by Nanci Griffith (16)
55. You, Yeah, You by Tre Burt (16)
55. Treasure of Love by The Flatlanders (16)
55. Hope Street by Brad Colerick (16)
59. Last of the Better Days Ahead by Charlie Parr (14)
59. Cycles by Rachel Baiman (14)
61. Golden Loam by Laurel Premo (13)
61. The Ballad of Dood and Juanita by Sturgill Simpson (13)
61. This Life We’re Livin by Darin and Brooke Aldridge (13)
61. Hourglass by Murray McLauchlan (13)
61. We Shall Stay Here by Paul Kaplan (13)
61. B-Flat Earth by Swamptooth (13)
67. On Solid Ground by Reggie Harris (12)
67. Looking for the Moon by Tom Paxton (12)
67. Vladimir and Irene by David Potts-Dupre (12)
67. Home in This World: Woody Guthrie’s Dust Bowl Ballads by Various
Artists (12)
Top Songs of September 2021
1. “Bucket List” by John McCutcheon (43)
2. “Tuesday Morning” by Joe Crookston (26)
3. “There Are No Words” by Kitty Donohoe (25)
4. “Which Side Are You On” by Efrat (19)
4. “Farmer” by John McCutcheon (19)
4. “It’s Gonna Get Better” by Cosy Sheridan (19)
7. “Today and Every Day” by Dar Williams (17)
7. “That Bird Has My Wings” by Rob Lutes (17)
9. “We Just Need Love” by Efrat (16)
10. “Heartbreak Hill” by Valerie Smith (15)
10. “The Road Ahead” by Ray Lambiase (15)
12. “Like Molly Brown” by Carrie Newcomer (14)
12. “The Bravest” by Tom Paxton (14)
12. “On That Train” by Valerie Smith (14)
12. “Towers of Love” by Stuart Kabak (14)
12. “Higher Love” by Tom Prasada-Rao (14)
12. “A Dollar Looked Mighty Good” by Valerie Smith (14)
18. “Be Still” by John McCutcheon (13)
18. “Time, Be My Friend” by Dar Williams (13)
20. “Hole in the Ground” by Robin Greenstein (12)
20. “I’m Fine Bein’ Me” by Valerie Smith (12)
20. “Two of Us” by Laura Love (12)
20. “Celilo” by Andrea Von Kampen (12)
24. “Bayou” by Laura Love (11)
24. “Beyond the Ash and Steel” by Judy Kass (11)
24. “The State That We Are In” by Rachel Garlin (11)
24. “Sundown” by The McDades (11)
24. “Bright Side of a Rainy Day” by Sloan Wainwright (11)
24. “You Give It All Away” by Dar Williams (11)
24. “Moonshiner” by John McCutcheon (11)
24. “Little Rock Canyon” by Jackson Grimm (11)
24. “Ramblin Round” by Cosy Sheridan (11)
Top Artists of 2021
John McCutcheon (Photo: Irene Young)
2. Valerie Smith (103)
3. Nanci Griffith (99)
4. Cosy Sheridan (90)
5. Ray Lambiase (72)
6. Dar Williams (70)
6. Carrie Newcomer (70)
8. Laura Love (63)
9. Efrat (57)
10. Kate Taylor (56)
11. Jackson Grimm (55)
12. Sloan Wainwright (54)
13. Joe Troop (50)
14. Bob Dylan (49)
14. Robin and Linda Williams (49)
16. Rob Lutes (47)
17. Jackson Browne (45)
18. Malcolm Holcombe (43)
19. Sierra Ferrell (41)
20. Ana Egge (40)
21. Pete Seeger (39)
21. Tim O’Brien (39)
23. Brad Kolodner (38)
23. Trevor Tchir (38)
25. The Everly Brothers (37)
26. Andrea Von Kampen (36)
27. Diana Jones (35)
27. Joe Crookston (35)
29. Joy Zimmerman (34)
29. Nathan Bell (34)
29. Bela Fleck (34)
29. Tom T. Hall (34)
33. Della Mae (33)
34. Kitty Donohoe (32)
34. Rachel Garlin (32)
36. Gordie Tentrees (31)
37. Si Kahn (30)
37. Tom Paxton (30)
37. Mark Schatz and Bryan McDowell (30)
37. Jesse Brock (30)
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