FAI Folk Radio Charts – June 2022

Singer-Songwriter Deidre McCalla had the most-played album (Endless Grace) and song (“Shoulder to the Wheel”) on folk radio during June 2022, while Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink &Marcy Marxer edged her out for the month’s most-played artist. 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.

A performing songwriter for nearly 50 years, Deidre McCalla was a pioneer on the women’s music circuit and a rare Black face during the early years of that genre. Roulette Records, better known for pop-rock 45s, released her first album in 1973 while she was still a student at Vassar College, although her career as a solo folksinger-songwriter really took off when the “dreadlocked troubadour” released several albums for Olivia Records beginning in 1985. After spending the last 17-plus years as a single mom raising her son, McCalla has returned to the airwaves – with her recent release, Endless Grace. Judging by the airplay that the album has been getting — including two of the month’s top three songs — McCalla is still going strong as she confidently claims her place in the world and relentlessly affirms the power and diversity of the human spirit.

{Here’s a link to listen to Diedre McCalla’s song, “Shoulder to the Wheel”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxJG_NSyRNs}

The June 2022 Top Albums, Songs and Artists charts are based on 13,626 airplays reported on 457 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 June 2022

1. Endless Grace by Deidre McCalla (120)
2. All New by Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (114)
3. Dark Enough to See the Stars by Mary Gauthier (99)
4. What Are They Doing in Heaven Today? by Kathy Kallick & Friends / Dodi
Kallick (92)
5. Tell ‘Em You Were Gold by Pharis and Jason Romero (88)
5. Dobrosinger by Abbie Gardner (88)
7. Lilygild by Hilary Hawke (76)
8. A Tickle in My Soul by Jack Williams (69)
9. 12th of June by Lyle Lovett (68)
10. Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows by Rod Picott (57)
11. Steel and Wood by Kim Beggs (52)
12. Dirt Does Dylan by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (51)
13. Gravity, Wings, and Heavy Things by Chuck Brodsky (50)
14. Narrow Line by Mama’s Broke (49)
15. Jabberwockies by Wes Collins (48)
16. Cosmic Dreamer by Barney Bentall (45)
17. Don’t Be Discouraged by Peter Lehndorff (44)
18. Seasons by Graeme James (40)
19. The Veil by Edie Carey (37)
19. Crooked Tree by Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (37)
21. Truth Is by Vanessa Lively (34)
22. A Beautiful Time by Willie Nelson (32)
22. Calling You From My Mountain by Peter Rowan (32)
24. Evermore by David Olney (30)
25. Jerry Jeff by Steve Earle and the Dukes (29)
25. Tucson by Amy Speace (29)
25. Last Days of Summer by Lucy Kaplansky (29)
28. Extrovert by Mr. Sun (28)
29. From the Ground Up by Jim Hurst (26)
30. Songs From the River Wind by Eliza Gilkyson (25)
30. Leap Year by Barry Oreck (25)
30. Bullet in the Cabin Wall by Cheryl Cawood (25)
30. Impressions by James Lee Baker (25)
34. Blossom in the Sun by Kirsten Manville (23)
34. Across the Hemisphere by Marianne Flemming (23)
34. Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt (23)
37. 8 String Sketches by Mike Mullins (22)
37. All Is Quiet by Susan Cattaneo (22)
37. 20 Printemps by Le Vent Du Nord (22)
40. Renewal by Billy Strings (21)
40. Tape by Patty Griffin (21)
42. The Spaces in Between by Amanda Rheaume (20)
42. Time Out Session # 2 by The Accidentals (20)
42. Mississippi Son by Charlie Musselwhite (20)
42. On Solid Ground by Reggie Harris (20)
42. Make Myself Me Again by Cristina Vane (20)
42. House to House by Matt Andersen (20)
42. Going the Distance by Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus (20)
49. The Time Is Now by Jim Page (18)
49. Kindness by Linda Marks (18)

Top Songs of June 2022

1. “Shoulder to the Wheel” by Deidre McCalla (31)
2. “12th of June” by Lyle Lovett (26)
3. “I Do Not Walk This Path Alone” by Deidre McCalla (24)
4. “Jack of Diamonds” by Hilary Hawke (20)
4. “Dark Enough to See the Stars” by Mary Gauthier (20)
6. “Put My Little Shoes Away” by Kathy Kallick (19)
6. “Don’t Be Discouraged” by Peter Lehndorff (19)
6. “Amsterdam” by Mary Gauthier (19)
9. “We’re All Alike” by Jack Williams (17)
10. “Cannot Change It All” by Pharis and Jason Romero (16)
10. “Jenny and James” by Wes Collins (16)
12. “Steel and Wool” by Kim Beggs (15)
12. “Fall Apart World” by Mary Gauthier (15)
14. “Happy Hollow” by Hilary Hawke (14)
14. “Whiskey Jack (Home)” by Barney Bentall (14)
14. “It Takes Two Wings” by Chuck Brodsky (14)
14. “When the Ground Shifts” by Deidre McCalla (14)
14. “Crossing Borders” by Diana Jones (14)
14. “Born in the City” by Abbie Gardner (14)
14. “Souvenir” by Pharis and Jason Romero (14)
21. “Only All the Time” by Abbie Gardner (13)
21. “The Things You Think You Know” by Chuck Brodsky (13)
21. “What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?” by Kathy Kallick (13)
21. “If My Eyes Were Blind” by Jack Williams (13)
21. “How It Ends” by Mama’s Broke (13)
21. “Truckers and Troubadours” by Mary Gauthier (13)
21. “When the Big Bad Books Go “Boo!” by Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink & Marcy
Marxer (13)

Top Artists of June 2022

1. Tom Paxton, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer (122)
2. Deidre McCalla (120)
3. Mary Gauthier (103)
4. Pharis and Jason Romero (96)
5. Abbie Gardner (89)
6. Hilary Hawke (76)
7. Kathy Kallick (75)
8. Jack Williams (71)
9. Lyle Lovett (70)
10. Rod Picott (59)
10. Chuck Brodsky (59)
12. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (57)
13. John McCutcheon (53)
14. Kim Beggs (52)
15. Wes Collins (50)
16. Mama’s Broke (49)
17. Bob Dylan (46)
18. Eliza Gilkyson (45)
18. Barney Bentall (45)
20. Peter Lehndorff (44)
20. Willie Nelson (44)
22. Kelly Joe Phelps (43)
23. Lucy Kaplansky (41)
24. Graeme James (40)
25. Edie Carey (39)
26. Amy Speace (37)
26. David Olney (37)
26. Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (37)
29. Vanessa Lively (34)
30. Bonnie Raitt (33)
30. Peter Rowan (33)
32. Johnsmith (32)
32. Steve Earle and the Dukes (32)
32. Patty Griffin (32)
35. Mr. Sun (29)
36. Barry Oreck (27)
37. Reggie Harris (26)
37. Le Vent Du Nord (26)
37. James Lee Baker (26)
37. Nanci Griffith (26)
37. Jim Hurst (26)