John Prine had the top album (The Tree of Forgiveness) and four of the five most-played songs on folk radio during April 2018. So say charts compiled from radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in all folk-based music on the radio.

The April 2018 FOLKDJ-L charts are based on 14,528 reported airplays on 581 playlists submitted by 140 different DJs. The number of reported spins is shown in parentheses. The top albums and songs charts had been voluntarily compiled for some 20 years by Richard Gillmann, a former folk DJ, and, as of this year, are now being compiled by others under the auspices of Folk Alliance International, a nonprofit organization that aims to nurture, engage and empower the international folk music community – traditional and contemporary, amateur and professional – through education, advocacy and performance. The monthly top albums and songs charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.

Top Albums of April 2018

John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness1. The Tree of Forgiveness by John Prine (159)
2. Get Us Out of Fearland by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (106)
3. The Forgotten by Joe Jencks (104)
4. Armadillo on a Hot Tin Roof by Vi Wickam and Justin Branum (97)
5. Black Cowboys by Dom Flemons (92)
6. The Invisible Comes to Us by Anna and Elizabeth (72)
7. Last Man Standing by Willie Nelson (68)
8. Rabbit in the Moon by Sparrow Blue (64)
9. North of Despair by Wood and Wire (63)
10. Sometimes Just the Sky by Mary Chapin Carpenter (61)
11. Whistle Down the Wind by Joan Baez (60)
12. For Real by Rita Hosking (59)
13. Voices by Tom Rush (58)
14. Time Is Everything by Vivian Leva (55)
14. See You Around by I’m With Her (55)
16. In City and Country by The Young Novelists (54)
17. Natural by Jesse Terry (53)
18. Hot Jazz, Cool Blues and Hard-Hitting Songs by Barbara Dane (52)
19. Low Tide by Tracy Grammer (45)
19. Songs of the Mountains, Songs of the Plains by The Roe Family Singers (45)
21. Songs From the Deluge by Western Centuries (44)
21. Ghost Light by John McCutcheon (44)
23. Live From the Art Farm by The Fretless (42)
24. Edges Run by Mipso (41)
24. Old Freight by Alan Barnosky (41)
24. True in Time by John Gorka (41)
27. Southland by Lindsay Lou (40)
27. Illinois 14 by John Linn (40)
29. 10,000 Days Like These by Low Lily (39)
29. Rise Up by Belle of the Fall (39)
31. Sweet Old Religion by Pharis and Jason Romero (37)
31. Call Me Lucky by Chris Smither (37)
33. Motel Bouquet by Caitlin Canty (36)
34. When the Sun Comes Up by Lonesome Ace Stringband (34)
35. Live at Club 47 by Doc Watson (33)
35. Prophets on the Boulevard by Rob McHale (33)
37. Rifles and Rosary Beads by Mary Gauthier (32)
38. Sunshiner by The Mammals (31)
38. The Next Chapter by Connla (31)
38. Avant l’Orag by Genticorum (31)
41. Volunteer by Old Crow Medicine Show (30)
41. Idaho by David Robert King (30)
43. Carter Stanley’s Eyes by Peter Rowan (29)
44. No Pressure by Hot Club Sandwich (27)
44. Crown of Jewels by Randy Scruggs (27)
44. The Gap of Dreams by Altan (27)
47. Ginkgo by Johnsmith (26)
48. Fifteen by The Wailin’ Jennys (25)
48. A Heart Never Knows by The Price Sisters (25)
48. Open Road, Broken Heart by True North (25)
51. Rivers and Roads by Special Consensus (23)
52. Little Flower by Fred Raimondo (22)
52. American Folk (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Various Artists (22)
52. The Canadian River by James Lee Baker (22)
55. The Essential Eric Andersen by Eric Andersen (21)
56. Arkansas by John Oates (20)
56. Wishes on a Neon Sign by Abbie Gardner (20)
56. Letters Never Read by Dori Freeman (20)
59. The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder (19)
59. Out Past the Wires by Rod Picott (19)
61. Broken Heart of Everything by David Francey (18)
61. Front and Center by Sideline (18)
61. Big Fat Love by Chris LaVancher (18)
64. Ukulele Crimes by Joel Mabus (17)
64. Freedom Highway by Rhiannon Giddens (17)
64. Accomplice One by Tommy Emmanuel (17)
64. Love in Wartime by Birds of Chicago (17)
64. Spirit to the Sea by Trout Steak Revival (17)
64. Lord of the Desert by 3hattrio (17)
64. Tearing at the Seams by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats (17)

Top Songs of April 2018

1. “Knockin’ on Your Screen Door” by John Prine (29)
2. “The Lonesome Friends of Science” by John Prine (23)
3. “When I Get to Heaven” by John Prine (19)
3. “Why Are the Guns Still Firing” by Joe Jencks (19)
5. “Caravan of Fools” by John Prine (18)
5. “Get Us Out of Fearland” by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (18)
7. “Back to the Hard Times” by The Young Novelists (17)
8. “The President Sang Amazing Grace” by Joan Baez (16)
8. “Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad” by Dom Flemons (16)
10. “Whippoorwill” by Sparrow Blue (15)
11. “I Don’t Need No Glasses” by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (14)
11. “A Hundred Miles” by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (14)
13. “Who Will Speak for Me” by Joe Jencks (13)
13. “I Wish the World Knew Why” by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (13)
13. “Soar” by Banjo Nickaru and Western Scooches (13)
13. “God Only Knows” by John Prine (13)
13. “Jeano” by Anna and Elizabeth (13)
18. “Kingpin” by Wood and Wire (12)
18. “Egg & Daughter Nine” by John Prine (12)
18. “Boundless Love” by John Prine (12)
18. “Hey Baby Blues” by Sparrow Blue (12)
18. “Time Is Everything” by Vivian Leva (12)
23. “Earthly Justice” by Western Centuries (11)
23. “Pretty Fair Maid in the Garden” by The Roe Family Singers (11)
23. “Whiskey Before Breakfast” by Vi Wickam and Justin Branum (11)
23. “I Have Met My Love Today” by John Prine (11)
23. “Texas Easy Street” by Dom Flemons (11)
23. “Mother in the Graveyard” by Anna and Elizabeth (11)
23. “The Canadian River” by James Lee Baker (11)
23. “Last Man Standing” by Willie Nelson (11)
23. “Hundred Miles” by I’m With Her (11)
23. “Whistle Down the Wind” by Joan Baez (11)
23. “Voices” by Tom Rush (11)
23. “Going Down the Road” by John Linn (11)