Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU, 93.1 FM, in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.
This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/73491.html
Theme: My top 10 folk-rooted and folk-branched albums of 2025.
These are always hard choices. I started with a list of about 30 of my favorite albums for the year. I’ve been over the list several times in the past couple of weeks and came up with several similar – but not identical – Top 10 lists. This list is the final one. The order might have been slightly different and there are several other worthy albums that might have been included, had one of the other lists represented the final choice.
The annotated and illustrated version of this top 10 list is available on the Folk Roots/Folk Branches blog at … https://frfb.blogspot.com/2025/12/top-10-for-2025.html
10. Suzy Sings Siebel Volume One by Suzy Thompson
Suzy Thompson- Bride 1945
Suzy Sings Siebel Volume One (Suzy Thompson)
Suzy Thompson- Long Afternoons
Suzy Sings Siebel Volume One (Suzy Thompson)
9. Personal History by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter- Girl and Her Dog
Personal History (Lambent Light/Thirty Tigers)
Mary Chapin Carpenter- New Religion
Personal History (Lambent Light/Thirty Tigers)
8. Field of Stars by John McCutcheon
John McCutcheon- Tikkun Olam
Field of Stars (Appalsongs)
John McCutcheon with Windborne- Blessing
Field of Stars (Appalsongs)
7. Woody At Home – Vol 1 + 2 by Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie- This Land is Your Land
Woody At Home – Vol 1 + 2 (Shamus)
Woody Guthrie- Peace Call
Woody At Home – Vol 1 + 2 (Shamus)
6. Hardscrabble Hope by Maria Dunn
Maria Dunn- Another Year
Hardscrabble Hope (Distant Whisper Music)
Maria Dunn- Leave It All On the Ice
Hardscrabble Hope (Distant Whisper Music)
5. unentitled by John Gorka
John Gorka- First Snow on the Mountains
unentitled (Red House)
John Gorka- Particle Wave (Goodness in the World)
unentitled (Red House)
4. Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith by Anne Hills
Anne Hills- Crazy Mary
Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)
Anne Hills- Sure Has Grown
Every Town: More Songs by Michael Smith (Hand & Heart Music)
3. Bones of Trees by Tim Grimm
Tim Grimm- Broken Truth
Bones of Trees (Vault)
Tim Grimm- Up in the Attic
Bones of Trees (Vault)
2. Dark Ages by Eliza Gilkyson
Eliza Gilkyson- Times Like These
Dark Ages (Realiza)
Eliza Gilkyson- Holy
Dark Ages (Realiza)
1. David Amram Honors Guthrie and Ochs: Old Souls by The David Amram Quintet
The David Amram Quintet- Talking Subway
David Amram Honors Guthrie and Ochs: Old Souls (Guthrie Legacy)
The David Amram Quintet- When I’m Gone
David Amram Honors Guthrie and Ochs: Old Souls (Guthrie Legacy)
Next week: Remembering Raul Malo, Tim Williams, Joe Ely and Steve Cropper.
--Mike Regenstreif
