The Best Traditional Folk Music on CD or Vinyl 2024

1. Get A Dog

Get A Dog

Get A Dog

2. In Real Time: Live '87

In Real Time: Live '87

In Real Time: Live '87

3. Songs of Love and Hate (CD) by Leonard Cohen

CD. Songs of Love and Hate is one of Leonard Cohen's most emotionally intense albums -- which, given the nature of Cohen's body of work, is no small statement. While the title Songs of Love and Hate sums up the album's themes accurately enough, it's hardly as simple as that description might lead you to expect -- in these eight songs, "love" encompasses the physical ("Last Year's Man"), the emotional ("Famous Blue Raincoat"), and the spiritual ("Joan of Arc"), and the contempt in songs like "Dress Rehearsal Rag" and "Avalanche" is the sort of venom that can only come from someone who once cared very deeply. The sound of the album is clean and uncluttered, and for the most part the music stays out of the way of the lyrics, which dominate the songs. Thankfully, Cohen had grown noticeably as a singer since his first two albums, and if he hardly boasts a range to rival Roy Orbison here, he is able to bring out the subtleties of "Joan of Arc" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" in a way his previous work would not have led you to expect. And while Bob Johnston's production is spare, it's spare with a purpose, letting Cohen's voice and guitar tell their stories and using other musicians for intelligent, emotionally resonant punctuation (Paul Buckmaster's unobtrusive string arrangements and the use of a children's chorus are especially inspired). And Songs of Love and Hate captured Cohen in one of his finest hours as a songwriter, and the best selections (especially "Famous Blue Raincoat," "Joan of Arc," and "Love Calls You by Your Name") rank with the most satisfying work of his career. If Songs of Love and Hate isn't Cohen's best album, it comes close enough to be essential to anyone interested in his work. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Songs of Love and Hate (CD) by Leonard Cohen

4. GOD & THE FBI [019341149828]

GOD & THE FBI [019341149828]

GOD & THE FBI [019341149828]

5. Truth Is Stranger Than Fishin

After years of accumulating original songs and polishing their performance, TFIA was in the first wave of artist-owned lhels when the CD revolution started and they produced Truth Is Stranger Than Fishin'. The three-time Grammy Award nominees were recently chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of the 100 most influential independent artists in the past fifteen years, sandwiched between Phish and Widespread Panic.

After years of accumulating original songs and polishing their performance, TFIA was in the first wave of artist-owned labels when the CD revolution started and they produced Truth Is Stranger Than Fishin . The three-time Grammy Award nominees were recently chosen by Performing Songwriter magazine as one of the 100 most influential independent artists in the past fifteen years, sandwiched between Phish and Widespread Panic. SKU : ADIB000003JX7

6. THE FUTURE [PA] [LEONARD COHEN] [074645322629]

We Carry thousands of out-of-print CD's, DVDs, music and movies. This title as pulled from an online database is CDBOX2068-N-119.7K-B0000028W9-044

THE FUTURE [PA] [LEONARD COHEN] [074645322629]

7. Kate Wolf - Evening in Austin - Folk Music - CD

The companion CD to the concert DVD of the same name. Kate Wolf is dazzling in 1985 at the height of her career, appearing on TV alongside performers Nina Gerber, Ford James, Randy Sabien and more. Nobody had quite the same skill with bringing the California style of folk to the world as Wolf.

EVENING IN AUSTIN Folk Music Rhino

8. Folkways: The Original Vision

Folkways: The Original Vision

Folkways: The Original Vision

9. Illustrated Night

Illustrated Night

Illustrated Night

10. Folk Music In Sweden, Vol. 1

Folk Music In Sweden

Folk Music In Sweden, Vol. 1