but I'll try to keep it fairly short & to the point.

>I put folk in quotes because I really don't know EXACTLY what
>makes stuff "folk",

one of the things I get from these posts is that 'folk' means all sorts of things to different people; even in the folk music community there's not a clear consensus.

The definition of 'true' (for lack of a better term) folk music is traditional (ie, the composer is not known) music played in a traditional style on traditional instruments. (Unfortunately this definiton ignores the fact that what constitutes 'traditional' instruments and material is itself very fluid.)

I tend to consider 'folk' any music which is based on traditional musics, either in content, style, or instrumentation. But that's so impractical for everyday conversation that it's basically splitting hairs to anyone w/o a relatively in-depth knowledge of folk & roots music's development in the 20th century.

The common use of 'folk' is basically any music that's largely acoustic.


> but in this case I'd be leaning to stuff
>thats like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen etc

Actually, those kinds of singer-songwriters are fairly easy to include under my definition tying to traditional music, since the modern movement sprigs from early Dylan and more importantly Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, and even earlier figures like Josh White, Carl Sandburg, Joe Hill, etc. But the truth of the matter is that the bulk of singer/songwriters of the past 40 odd years don't really show much of that connection, focusingg instead of Joni-style confessionalism. Which is fine by me.

>Anyway, mine would probably be....pretty much any Nick Drake
>record...but if I had to choose one today I'd say Five Leaves
>Left

That's a helluva record, and probably what I'd pick for Nick too; though I may prefer listening to Time of No Reply, we all know it doesn't really constitute an album.

One thing I'm going to suggest, if you love Nick Drake, is that you check out some of the other artists from the same era/scene (British acoustic & folk & roots music, roughly 1967-1973). Joe Boyd, an American who lived in London and was an influential tastemaker thanks to his famed UFO club, produced a lot of these guys, and they worked together in various combinations.

1. The Fairport Convention family tree - they started out as a British Byrds/Airplane-style band, but over their 2d through 4th albums turned their attention increasingly to British traditional music and made some sublime stuff. The 'Liege & Lief' album is widely heralded as seminal. Try 'The Deserter' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-ezy2WaM24

-Richard Thompson - founding Fairport guitarist who went solo after 1970; generally speaking, his albums are more electric than acoustic, but he's one of the greatest acoustic players and songwriters the world has ever known. Obvious pick: '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o

-Sandy Denny - 2d female lead for Fairport, with some really good solo records following. Try 'Blackwaterside' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9RX1b0R0LQ (I prefer the studio version, but can't find it)

-There are plenty of other related bands worth checking out if you get into the scene: Steeleye Span, Albion Band, Matthews Southern Comfort, etc.

2. Other British scenesters of the time
-Vashti Bunyan, also produced by Boyd
-The Incredible String Band, also produced by Boyd, but a *very* acquired taste for most. Wickedly psychedelic acoustic 'world' music.
-John Martyn, you should definitely check out. Another terrific guitarist and a good friend of Nick Drake's. Try 'Parcels,' the first track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t3D3YizqCw and the somewhat more celebrated 'May You Never': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi_wxypeGc
-Drake's guitar playing (as you can hear on some of the bootlegs of his home recordings) comes straight from the British fingerstyle school, particularly guitarists like Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, and the patriarch of the scene, Davey Graham. Jansch and Renbourn later went on to found the excellent Pentangle.

-Nic Jones came along just after after Nick Drake (debut = 1970), but is well worth listening to. For albums, maybe Game, Set, Match; his originals are all out of print except the highly regarded Penguin Eggs, but that may have a few too many trad influences (ie, melodeon) for someone just listening to him. Unbelievable picking & arrangement skills on guitar. Try 'Canadee-I-O' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olplcsNuqyg

>(yes I made this so I could see what yall listening too and
>try out that shit too lol)

Well, my recent purchases are Doc Watson's 'The Vanguard Years' set; Doc Watson & Jean Ritchie Lie at Folk City; Goat Rodeo Sessions; Bascom Lamar Lunsford 'Smoky Mt Ballads,' and Jesse Fuller 'Frisco Blues' compilation. So they all tend toward the traditional side of things, in style/instrumentation and spirit iif not always in content.

But I've got plenty of favorite singer-songwriter records, or records that otherwise may qualify in the same attitude.

-Dick Gaughan 'A Handful of Earth' - Scots traditional guitarist makes a timeless album of almost-contemporary folk; includes the definitive version of 'World Turned Upside Down.' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ynSh5UMN7A

-Chris Whitley 'Dirt Floor' - another album that fits easily into the 'stark' catalog and is frequently considered alongside Pink Moon by its supporters. Title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ughlBC80Iuc

-Bob Mould 'Workbook' - stretching my definition of folk, maybe, but it's a great, emotional workout showcasing Mould at his most subtle. 'Brasilia Crossed With Trenton' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llOksyhZ8Qg

-Alasdair Roberts ' Farewell Sorrow' - Scots singer/songwriter's album of tradition-infused original songs. 'When A Man's In Love He Feels No Cold' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__UaPC2oQV0

That oughtta be enough to get you started... now where has my morning @ work gone?