Agreeing on music is difficult in any household. Kami and I get along musically when weâre holding instruments, but our tastes diverge when it comes to what we listen to in our downtime. Elvis vs PJ Harvey, jazz vs metal, my extensive vinyl collection vs Kamiâs beaten-up CDs from the 90s etc. But we agree on a few things, and the artists weâve chosen for this list represent our sliver of common ground.” — The Rails (James Walbourne and Kami Thompson)
FROM JAMES WALBOURNE:
The Pogues â âThe Old Main Dragâ
Where does one start with The Pogues? They are a band that has influenced me so much over the years itâs hard to know where to begin. Their blend of trad, rock, punk, country and balladry mixed with the singing and lyrics of Shane MacGowan is a force to behold. Sticking two fingers up at the trad/folk establishment (Ewan MacColl was none too impressed with their version of âDirty Old Townââ) their music spoke to me. I think this song is perfect, hard-hitting and still relevant. I spent some time playing guitar in The Pogues and I feel blessed to have done so.
Tim OâBrien with Paul Brady â âMick Ryan’s Lamentâ
I used to go and watch Tim OâBrien play at The Weavers Arms in London and have always loved the way he would mix Irish and bluegrass music. His singing with Paul Brady on this track is stunning.
The Kinks â âVillage Greenâ
Maybe not the most obvious choice for a roots music playlist but I think it valid. I come from a place called Muswell Hill in North London and it just so happens The Kinks come from there too. On the same road the Davies brothers grew up on, a few doors down, is a house called âFairportâ where Fairport Convention started. It was also an old doctorâs surgery where I used to go as a kid. Just behind that is my old school. I like to think there might be something in the water up there. This song is from the classic Kinks record The Village Green Preservation Society and tells of someone longing for the little country village they came from. An English folk song if ever I heard one.
Derek Bell â âCarolanâs Farewell to Musicâ
Traditional music played on the harp by Derek Bell of The Chieftans. Itâs beautiful.
Nic Jones â âThe Humpback Whaleâ
This record blew my mind when I first heard it on the radio a number of years ago. Just when you thought youâd heard your last great guitar player something like this comes along. Every guitar player should hear it. Tragically, Nic was involved in an automobile accident some years ago which left him unable to play anymore.
The Everly Brothers â âCathyâs Clownâ
Weâre both huge fans of harmony singing in general (all the bluegrass brothers, Stanley, Louvin, Delmore, etc) but perhaps our favourites will always be The Everlys. Perfect mix of pop and country.
Son Volt â âTear Stained Eyeâ
One of my favourite songs from the Jay Farrar canon. Another musician who can blend folk, rock, country and blues into something unique. This particular track is classic country-sounding but there is something other worldly about it that makes it timeless and haunting. This lineup of the band was a huge influence on me and we even had the great Jim Boquist playing bass on our most recent record, Other People.
Nick Drake â âTime Has Told Meâ
I think we both had a go at playing Nick Drake songs long before we met. I for one could never work out the tunings but Kami had them all figured out, which left me begrudgingly impressed. This track is the opening song from Five Leaves Left. Itâs a great antidote for homesickness as I find youâre immediately transported back to an English garden the moment you put it on.
FROM KAMI THOMPSON:
Lal and Mike Waterson â âThe Scarecrowâ
This album is a masterpiece of oddball Britishness. The songs are exceptional and the singing is sublime – Mike is one of my Favourite Ever Singers. Iâm lucky enough to know and sometimes sing a tune with Lalâs daughter, Marry, who is also a gifted songwriter.
Martin Carthy â âThe Trees They Do Grow Highâ
Martin and my mum, Linda, used to share a flat off the Archway Road in the â60s or â70s. So Mum says, anyway. The Waterson/Carthys are the undisputed First Family of Folk. James picked up an old Martin Carthy vinyl at a record store near our old flat, a short walk from the Archway Road, and this song was on it. Itâs mesmerising. We learnt it from Martinâs album and put our version on the Australia EP we put out a couple of years back.
Richard and Linda Thompson â âDid She Jump or Was She Pushedâ
My mum and dad. I love mumâs vocal on this and itâs one of Richardâs poppiest, ear-worm choruses. Love it. Maybe theyâll put it all behind them and get back together!
Alasdair Roberts â âThe Cruel Motherâ
Alasdair is a Scottish folk musician of enormous critical acclaim who, he probably wonât mind me saying, hasnât exactly bothered the charts. Heâs far too clever to be popular. His songs are intricate, academic, beautiful. I often make notes at his shows – reminders to self, scratched on bar mats, to read more books.
Max Jury â âChristian Eyesâ
I donât know anything about him, and havenât heard of any releases since this came out, but this song is pretty much perfect. Whenever it pops up on shuffle I listen to it two or three times.
Kate & Anna McGarrigle â âTell My Sisterâ
Kate and Anna were always on the stereo when I was a kid, both of my parents would play their records. Maybe the records they both played was one of the few strands of continuity I felt moving between their respective homes as a child. I love the McGarriglesâ music still and now I get to listen to (and love) Rufus and Marthaâs music through a prism of assumed familiarity.
Cathal McConnel â âScotland-Ireland / The Hangover / Fermanagh Curvesâ
This song is so evocative, it hurts. I feel the Celtic blood surge in my veins as the tune soars and soothes. It brings my heart almost to bursting every time I hear it. Also, Cathal seems to almost never stop for breath, which is a marvel in itself.
Photo credit: Jill Furmanovsky