classic Albums
It’d be hard to do honour to all the fine folk guitar that’s been waxed over the years in just one article, but here’s our pick of 20 essential albums that’ll enrich any guitar player’s feeling for the genre – and have you yearning for hearthside acoustic
Vintage vinyl that should be in every folk guitar aficionado's collection
Bob Dylan The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)
From the moment Blowing In The Wind kicks off until the end, Dylan’s second is a masterclass in minimalism framing lyrical genius. Just listen to that hammer-on refrain in Masters Of War. He was 21! Download: Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
Bert Jansch & John Renbourn Bert And John (1966)
This 26-minute gem shows just how huge a loss these two supreme players are. Largely a co-written instrumental set, with some classic numbers in there, such as Charles Mingus’s Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, the album was recorded simply, with just the two playing and its purity comes across fully on each song. The pair would later go on to play together in Pentangle, and both are sorely missed. Download: How can you pick one? Just download them all!
Davey GrahaM Folk, Blues & Beyond (1964)
Considered as one of the original geniuses of acoustic guitar playing, this slice of wonder is as good an introduction as any to the Davey Graham canon. A visionary musician and technical inventor within the genre, this is one album to really savour. Download: Maajun
John Martyn London Conversation (1967)
A quick cut, this set took two evenings and cost the label £158 to make. His most ‘folk’ album is a modest and engaging work that Martyn summons up goblins on and even plucks a sitar and blows a recorder. What’s not to like? Download: Fairy Tale Lullaby
Fairport Convention Liege And Lief (1969)
Fairport’s gutsiest album reinvented the folk wheel. Liege is the fruit of the first sessions the band recorded after the tragic accident that killed drummer Martin Lamble and Jeannie Franklyn. It is a thunderously colourful recording that’s both brave and emotive. Download: Tam Lin
Nick Drake Five Leaves Left (1969)
Drake’s first record is a beautifully subtle set of songs from start to finish. River Man and Cello Song are the two most well known tunes here, but none deserve to be ignored, and the whole thing hangs together seamlessly and gorgeously. Download: Thoughts Of Mary Jane
Joni Mitchell Blue (1971)
Joni’s third album is a lonely affair that has since become commonplace in many living rooms. The tales of lost love and failed hopes are arranged sparingly, which is entirely apt, as Mitchell’s guitar melodies form a complex weave in themselves. Download: Carey
ralph Mctell Not Till Tomorrow (1972)
After being ‘seduced by strings’, on this his fifth studio album, Ralph decided to pare it down and let his Gibson J-45 do the job of accompanying his voice. It is a charming effort that delights in its simplicity and the effectiveness of that unpretentious fingerpicking style. Splendid. Download: Gypsy
Bert Jansch LA Turnaround (1974)
This superb Anglo-American flavoured album is testament to Bert Jansch’s immense talent as a musician and songwriter. The sound of an artist having lived within many different styles of music, LA Turnaround saw Jansch incorporating Red Rhodes’ steel and slide guitar playing style. This came courtesy of Jesse Ed Harris, who used his own, by now fully-realised, weave of fingerpicked guitar chords to surround Bert’s now familiar low vocal. Download: Needle Of Death
Martin Carthy Crown Of Horn (1976)
With his dextrous playing on his iconic Martin 000-18 pushed to the forefront here, Crown is audibly a very guitar-strong set, with just some subtle synthesizer added to two tracks. This combined with a very strong set of songs deems it a decent example of Martin’s best work. Download: Geordie
Nic Jones Penguin Eggs (1980)
This was Jones’s last album before the serious car accident that damaged his body and career almost beyond repair. Indeed, the only thing involved that wasn’t heavily damaged was the Fylde guitar. A wonderfully innovative player whose style won him many fans, this one is monumental. Download: The Humpback
Gillian Welch Time (The Revelator) (2001)
Time took Welch’s deep-rooted Americana down to the fundamentals on this entrancing recording. Dave Rawlings followed Welch’s strumming and songs such as Everything Is Free and the epic closer I Dream A Highway appeared. Magic. Download: Everything Is Free
Martin Simpson The Bramble Briar (2001)
Celebrating his return to the UK after living in the States for many years, this record of mostly traditional songs is a career highlight. As expected, the guitar playing on display is tremendous and accompanied sparingly by Martin Carthy on some tracks plus a small handful of other guests. Download: Fair Annie
seth Lakeman Freedom Fields (2006)
Also recorded in his Dartmoor kitchen, a la Kitty Jay, this album saw Seth’s Martin tenor guitar come to the fore on many of the songs and gave the set a punchy melodic sound. Full of hooks, tracks such as King And Country and Setting Of The Sun linger. Download: King And Country
ry Cooder My Name Is Buddy (2007)
Alongside his own utterly distinctive guitar playing, Ry enlists the help of Mike and Pete Seeger and a whole host of players familiar to his work to create this generous tapestry of genre-crossing treats. One Cat, One Vote, One Beer? Sounds great with some good music. Download: Hank Williams
Chris Wood Trespasser (2008)
This album is best known for The Cottager’s Reply, but let’s not forget the epic England In Ribbons or the beautiful atheist hymn, Come Down Jehovah. Simple melodies performed unpretentiously on his Oddy guitar, this is a must for lovers of English acoustic music. Download: Come Down Jehovah
lau Arc Light (2009)
The pioneering trio’s second studio album is more acoustic than their later work, with Aidan O’Rourke’s violin, Martin Green’s accordion and Kris Drever’s Atkin guitar flowing together beautifully. God only knows how they both stay with O’Rourke on Horizontigo. Download: Horizontigo
three Cane Whale Holts And Hovers (2012)
These were recorded in different spots in the south of England and Wales, from churches to allotments, and each holds its own mini-tale, explained in the sleeve notes. Set to Paul Bradley’s subtle guitar, Alex Vann’s mandolin et al, and Pete Judge’s trumpet. Proper folk! Download: The Trendle
phillip henry & hannah Martin Mynd (2013)
‘Mynd’ is the old English word for ‘remembrance’ and this set of songs is built up from stories borrowed from many different generations all across that green and pleasant land. These songs are then set to dynamic musical arrangements that encompass a variety of instruments, including dobro, fiddle, tenor guitar and banjo. Phillip Henry’s playing is superlative throughout the 13 tracks here, while Martin’s vocals are gorgeously evocative. Download: Silbury Hill
Willie Watson Folk Singer Vol 1 (2014)
This completely solo and analogue set of 10 traditional American songs on guitar and banjo is a perfectly crafted joy, and the old-fashioned design of the disc finishes it off. Watson’s voice is powerful and rich and the minimal playing is exemplary throughout. Download: James Alley Blues
False Lights Salvor (2015)
This is exciting stuff and exhilarating to boot, with both creators, Jim Moray and Sam, Carter crafting some dynamic loud and electric arrangements built around mostly traditional narrative songs. It is done with care, skill, intelligence and, most importantly, originality. Download: Polly On The Shore