Americana Music Releases for Jan. 31st

Posted on January 30, 2025 by

Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for January 31st, 2025. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading.  A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out.  Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.

 

Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Live In London  (The Last Music Company)

Folksinger Loudon Wainwright III has had a colorful and eventful life, professionally and personally. His more than half-century musical career has embraced dozens of studio albums, countless concert tours, and one unlikely hit single, “Dead Skunk (In the Middle of the Road).” To learn more about these achievements and relationships, you don’t need to read the memoir that Wainwright published in 2017; you just need to listen to his music. To a greater extent than most songwriters, Wainwright has mined his own life for his lyrics, writing variously funny and heartbreaking, often first-person songs about his parents, his kids, his romantic entanglements, and more. The 21-track album includes songs from records as old as 1971’s Album II and as new as 2022’s Lifetime Achievement, his latest studio recording. The program also embraces four covers and a bit of new original material. It’s a solo acoustic set, with Wainwright accompanying himself on guitar, ukulele, and harmonica. (edited from Americana Highways review)

 

Also new this week…

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – The Purple Bird (No Quarter Records)  +
Lilly Hiatt – Forever  (New West Records)
Heather Maloney – Exploding Star  (Signature Sounds Recordings)
Dave Murphy – A Heart So Rare  (independent)
Nefesh Mountain – Beacons  (independent)
Vinnie Paolizzi – Spaghetti Western, Vol. 1 (Gold Rush Records)
David Quinn – Up To Snuff  (independent)
Jim White and Trey Blake – Precious Bane (Fluff & Gravy Records)

 

 

Coming out soon … Christina Vane, Miss Tess, Paul Thorn, Sean McConnell, JD Clayton, Patterson Hood, Ron Pope, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Sunny War, The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell, Kinky Friedman, Chip Taylor, The War and Treaty, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, Pete Mancini, Charley Crockett, Mason Via and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Music Releases for Jan. 24th

Posted on January 23, 2025 by

Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for January 24th, 2025. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading.  A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out.  Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.

Drew and Ellie Holcomb
Memory Bank  (Magnolia Music)

On their first full-length album together, Drew & Ellie Holcomb collaborate on thirteen new songs that celebrate love, hope, the open road, and the resilience of family, and the power of memory. Recorded during a series of live-in-the-studio performances at the legendary Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. The album marks a new chapter for Drew and Ellie Holcomb, who have spent nearly 20 years together. The new album features a rich southern sound that bridges the pair’s solo projects – from Drew’s ongoing success as frontman of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors to Ellie’s triumphs within the CCM industry.  (from press release)

 

Also new this week…

Big Richard – Girl Dinner  (independent)
John Calvin – Greener Fields and Fairer Seas  (independent) +
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart – Looking For The Thread (Lambent Light Records)  +
The Doohickeys – All Hat No Cattle  (Forty Below Records)
Roger Street Friedman – Long Shadows  (The Playroom Records)
Joe Holt – I Love You, Say It Back  (independent)
Larkin Poe – Bloom (Tricki-Woo Records)  +
John McCutcheon – Field of Stars  (Appalseed Productions)
Courtney Patton – Carry You With Me  (independent)
Eric Selby – Starting to Sync In  (Soul Stew Records)
Jim Stanard – Magical  (Manatee Records)

 

Coming out soon … Paul Thorn, Nefesh Mountain, JD Clayton, Patterson Hood, Sunny War, The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell, Kinky Friedman, Chip Taylor, The War and Treaty, Sean McConnell, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters, Pete Mancini and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Music Releases for Jan. 17th

Posted on January 16, 2025 by

Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for January 17th, 2025. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading.  A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out.  Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.

 

Early James
Medium Raw  (Easy Eye Sound)

Early James embraces jagged, moaning blues with a writing style that includes whip-smart wordplay, upended clichés, humor both light and dark.  Instead of a typical studio setup, producer Dan Auerbach felt the album needed to be recorded in an old house, like many of his favorite Arhoolie records. Over 100 years old, the house has plaster on the walls, old wallpaper and big oak floors. They brought in all the recording gear themselves – including an old 50’s Universal Audio tube console which was originally built by FAME Studios’ Rick Hall. The album blends blues, rock and folk with an unfiltered edge, capturing Early James’ soulful storytelling and powerful vocals.

 

Also new this week…

Pam Linton – Songs Of The Carter Family  (‎New Folk Records)
Olivia Wolf – Silver Rounds (independent)

 

Coming out soon … Larkin Poe, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, The Doohickies, Paul Thorn, Nefesh Mountain, JD Clayton, Patterson Hood, Sunny War, The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell, Kinky Friedman, Chip Taylor, The War and Treaty, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Ashleigh Flynn & The Riveters and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Music Releases for Jan. 10th

Posted on January 8, 2025 by

Here’s some the best Americana and roots-type music releases for January 10th, 2025. Click the artist or album links to find out more. The artist’s names link to their websites and the CD title links go to either Amazon, iTunes, Bandcamp or the artist’s site for ordering or downloading.  A + sign means although not a featured release, it’s a notable album that’s still worth checking out.  Also, this page will be updated as I find out about other new releases so check back again.

 

Ringo Starr
Look Up (Lost Highway Records)

This is Ringo’s first solo record in six years, and his first country record in 55 years. Most of the songs of Look Up are written by T Bone Burnett. “I’ve always loved country music,” Starr says. “And when I asked T Bone to write me a song, I didn’t even think at the time that it would be a country song—but of course it was, and it was so beautiful. I had been making EPs at the time and so I thought we would do a country EP—but when he brought me nine songs I knew we had to make an album! And I am so glad we did.” The album features Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius, Larkin Poe, and Alison Krauss.

 

Coming out soon …  Olivia Wolf, Larkin Poe, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, The Doohickies, Paul Thorn, Nefesh Mountain, Them Coulee Boys, Heather Maloney, Patterson Hood, The Devil Makes Three, Chip Taylor, The War and Treaty, Gary Louris, Jason Isbell, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Tobacco City and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best of 2024

Posted on December 15, 2024 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2024. As is frequently the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 20! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Happy holidays and here’s to a very happy new year!

Best of 2024


1-5
Melissa Carper – Borned In Ya  (Mae Music)
Johnny Blue Skies – Passage Du Desir  (High Top Mountain Records) 
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland  (Acony Music)
Caleb Klauder & Reeb Wilms – Gold In Your Pocket  (Free Dirt Records)
Billy Strings – Highway Prayers  (Reprise Records)

6-10
Sierra Ferrell – Trail Of Flowers  (Rounder Records)
Keegan McInroe – Dusty Passports and Empty Beds  (independent)
T Bone Burnett – The Other Side  (Verve Label Group)
Laurie Lewis – Trees  (Spruce and Maple Music)
Caleb Caudle – Sweet Critters  (Missing Piece Records)

10-19
Waxahatchee – Tigers Blood  (-Anti Records)
Hayes & the Heathens – Hayes & the Heathens  (BOH Records)
Chris Smither – All About the Bones  (Signature Sounds Recordings)
Jim Kweskin – Never Too Late (Storysound Records)
Kelly Wills, Brennen Leigh, Melissa Carper – Wonder Women of Country  (Bismeaux Records)
The High Hawks – Mother Natures Show  (LoHi Records)
Sweet Megg – Bluer Than Blue (Turtle Bay Records)
John Moreland – Visitor (Old Omens Records)
Various Artists – Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney  (New West Records)

 

Coming out early in 2025 … Ringo Starr, Drew and Ellie Holcomb, Paul Thorn, Nefesh Mountain, Patterson Hood, The Devil Makes Three, Chip Taylor, The War and Treaty, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best of 2023

Posted on December 14, 2023 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2023. As is frequently the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 20! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Happy holidays and here’s to a very happy new year!

 

Iris DeMent – Workin’ on a World  (Flariella Records)
Jason Eady – Mississippi  (Old Guitar Records)
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – City of Gold  (Nonesuch Records)
Brent Cobb – Southern Star  (Ol’ Buddy Records)
Rodney Crowell – Chicago Sessions (New West Records)

Margo Cilker – Valley Of Heart’s Delight  (Fluff & Gravy Records)
Robbie Fulks – Bluegrass Vacation  (Compass Records)
Tracy Nelson – Life Don’t Miss Nobody  (BMG Music Group)
Brennen Leigh – Ain’t Through Honky Tonkin’ Yet  (Signature Sounds Recordings)
Tim O’Brien – Cup of Sugar  (Howdy Skies Records)

Marty Stuart And His Fabulous Superlatives – Altitude  (Snakefarm Records)
Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark  (Warner Records)
Darrell Scott String Band – Old Cane Back Rocker  (Here Records)
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Weathervanes (Southeastern Records)
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley – Living In A Song  (Compass Records)
Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar  (Free Dirt Records)

 

 

Coming out early next year… John Craigie, Chatham County Line, Sarah Jarosz, John Leventhal, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Willi Carlisle, Corb Lund, Hurray for the Riff Raff, The High Hawks, Joe Pug, The Steel Wheels, Anna Moss and more!

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best of 2022 List

Posted on January 8, 2023 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2022. As is frequently the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 20! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Here’s to a very happy new year!

Melissa Carper – Ramblin’ Soul  (MAE Music)
Lyle Lovett – 12th of June  (Verve Records)
Brennen Leigh – Obsessed with the West  (Signature Sounds)
Eli “Paperboy” Reed – Down Every Road  (Yep Roc Records)
Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway – Crooked Tree (Nonesuch Records)

Plains – I Walked With You A Ways Out  (Anti- Records
John Fullbright – The Liar  (Blue Dirt Records)
Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco  (Son of Davy Records)
Vince Herman – Enjoy the Ride  (LoHi Records)
Bonnie Raitt – Just Like That… (Redwing Records)

2nd 10

Cristina Vane – Make Myself Me Again  (self-released)
Harley Kimbro Lewis – Harley Kimbro Lewis
Sweet Megg – My Window Faces The South  (Turtle Bay Records)
Wilco – Cruel Country  (dBpm Records)
Adeem The Artist – White Trash Revelry  (Four Quarters Records)

Peter Rowan – Calling You From My Mountain  (Rebel Records)
Jake Blount – The New Faith  (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Various Artists – Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson   (Easy Eye Sound)
Miko Marks & The Resurrectors – Feel Like Going Home  (Redtone Records)

 

Coming out soon… Whitehorse, Margo Price, Mile Twelve, Erik Vincent Huey, The Milk Carton Kids, The Mother Hips, The Gibson Brothers, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Matt Hillyer, Doug Paisley, Pony Bradshaw, Eddie 9V, Mark Erelli and more!

 

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best of 2021 List

Posted on December 22, 2021 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2021. As is frequently the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 20! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Here’s to a much better new year.

1. Sierra Ferrell – Long Time Coming
2. Tim O’Brien – He Walked On
3. Melisa Carper – Daddy’s Country Gold
4. The Flatlanders – Treasure of Love 
5. James McMurtry – The Horses and the Hounds
6. Bill & the Belles – Happy Again
7. Allison Russell – Outside Child
8. Jackson Browne – Downhill From Everywhere
9. John Hiatt with The Jerry Douglas Band – Leftover Feelings
10. Margo Cilker – Pohorylle

And 10 more great ones!

Billy Strings – Renewal
John R. Miller – Depreciated
Malcolm Holcombe – Tricks Of The Trade
Mike And The Moonpies – One To Grow On
Watchhouse – Watchhouse
Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days
Charles Wesley Godwin – How The Mighty Fall
Los Lobos – Native Sons 
Oliver Wood – Always Smilin’
AJ Fullerton – The Forgiver and the Runaway

 

Coming out in 2022…Punch Brothers, Eliza Gilkyson, Aoife O’Donovan, Eric Brace & Last Train Home, Whitmore Sisters, Greensky Bluegrass, North Mississippi Allstars, Julie Christensen, Maya De Vitry, Janis Ian, John Mayall, Shovels & Rope, Jamestown Revival, The Del McCoury Band, The Cactus Blossoms, The Band of Heathens and many more …

Check out Americana Boogie Radio station!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best Music of 2020

Posted on December 23, 2020 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2020. As is frequently the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 15! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Here’s to a much better new year.

Brent Cobb – Keep ‘Em on They Toes
Dirk Powell – When I Wait for You
Sarah Jarosz – World On The Ground
Otis Gibbs – Hoosier National
Arlo McKinley – Die Midwestern
Shemekia Copeland – Uncivil War
Charley Crockett – Welcome To Hard Times
Sturgill Simpson – Cuttin’ Grass – Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions)
Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Reunions
The Two Tracks – Cheers To Solitude

Jim White – Misfit’s Jubilee
Tessy Lou Williams – Tessy Lou Williams
John Craigie – Asterisk The Universe
Kristen Grainger & True North – Ghost Tattoo
Two Bird Stone – Hands and Knees

Check out Americana Boogie Radio!

Bill Frater

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Americana Boogie Best Music of 2019

Posted on January 2, 2020 by

Here’s Bill Frater’s picks for the best music releases of 2019. As is usually the case, my Top 10 ends up being more of a Top 20! Please send me your picks for best music and I’ll post some here. Here’s to a Happy New Year.

1. Tyler Childers – Country Squire (Hickman Holler Records/RCA Records
2. Yola – Walk Through Fire  (Easy Eye Sound/Nonesuch Records)
3. Chris Knight – Almost Daylight   (Drifters Church Productions)
4.  J.S. Ondara – Tales of America (Verve Forecast)
5. Gary Nicholson – The Great Divide  (Blue Corn Music)
6. The Highwomen – The Highwomen  (Low Country Sound/Elektra Records)
7. Hayes Carll – What It Is  (Dualtone Music)
8. Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley – World Full of Blues  (Compass Records)
9. Kelsey Waldon – White Noise/White Lines   (Oh Boy Records)
10. Josh Ritter – Fever Breaks (Pytheas Recordings)

Plus ten more….

Our Native Daughters – Songs of Our Native Daughters  (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Rodney Crowell – Texas  (RC1 Records)
Mandolin Orange – Tides of a Teardrop (Yep Roc Records)
Mike and the Moonpies –  Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold  (Prairie Rose Records)
Mavis Staples – We Get By  (Anti/Epitaph Records)
Ian Noe – Between The Country  (National Treasury Recordings)
Charley Crockett – The Valley  (Son of Davy Records)
Dori Freeman – Every Single Star  (Blue Hens Music)
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings – Arguably OK  (Mama Bird Recording Co.)
Karen & the Sorrows –  Guaranteed Broken Heart  (Ocean Born Mary Music)

Here’s Bill’s Best of 2019 Freight Train Boogie podcast…

Freight Train Boogie Show #459 (Best of 2019 Show)

Coming out soon…  Marcus King, The Secret Sisters, Dustbowl Revival, Della Mae, Terry Allen and the Panhandle Mystery Band, Last Train Home, The Wood Brothers, Drive-By Truckers, The Mastersons, Annette Wasilik, Bart Budwig, Supersuckers, Aubrie Sellers, Michael Doucet, John Moreland, Christopher Paul Stelling, Will Sexton, James Hunter Six, Darrell Scott, The Third Mind…

Check out Americana Boogie Radio station!

Bill Frater

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