WFMT's "Midnight Special" Favorites of 2007

 (This is written for my listeners and Website and simply copied to this
 list.)

 First, an explanatory note:

 I refrain from calling these "The Best of 2007" because the following
 list is but one listener's biased opinion. I have culled these from the
 many good recordings that crossed my CD player this year. I'm sure I
 forgot to include a few notable recordings. All told, I estimate The
 Midnight Special received at least 700 new recordings, and I listened to
 about 400 new recordings, of which about 250 made it into the WFMT
 library, and about 150 received airplay. I do not include reissues and
 most compilations among these favorites. As the cut-off date is
 November 15, some of the newest recordings will not be considered until
 next year.

 Once again, this year failed to overwhelm me with exceptionally great
 new releases, so there are just nine recordings on the list. There was
 plenty of good music, but only these grabbed me. While I thought about
 these choices long and hard for several weeks, if not most of the year,
 had I made the list a day earlier or a day later it might have been
 slightly different.

 If a good friend visited from out-of-town with only an hour or two to
 spare, and asked me to play my favorites from 2007, I would play the
 following. Actually, I have purchased quantities of several of them to
 give to friends for the holidays.

 By way of explanation, I have annotated the CDs on the list,
 arranged alphabetically. Recordings marked with an asterisk are truly
 exceptional. (The playlist for this show will follow on December 1.)


 RANI ARBO & DAISY MAYHEM:  Big Old Life (Signature Sounds SIG 2005)

 This eclectic recording infused with energy, passion and variety
 includes originals and covers, each treated with a fusion of old-time
 stringband and contemporary performance with fine harmonies by this
 quartet. After wandering in the wilderness in their first two recordings,
 Arbo & Co. found their groove in this refreshing and highly musical
 recording.


 JOEL MABUS: The Banjo Monologues  (Fossil 1707)

 Joel Mabus doesn't record ordinary CDs; they range from good to great.
 This one is outstanding. While some listeners may run from an entire
 banjo CD, Mabus gives the instrument plenty of color and richness.
 However, it's the monologues that stand out, stories the deserve to
 become eternal, whether his convoluted family heritage or the story of
 coal miner turned musician "Leonard Lively." Mabus invests a dramatic
 amount of his soul lightened with subtle humor in this CD.


 ANAIS MITCHELL:  The Brightness (Righteous Babe RBR053D)

 This young singer-songwriter's sophomore outing lives up to her growing
 reputation and potential. Exquisitely produced and sequenced, this CD of
 finely crafted songs with layered nuances and enticing melodies
 guarantees Mitchell a place in the upper echelon of contemporary
 singer-songwriters.


 NERISSA & KATRYNA NIELDS:  Sister Holler (Mercy House 80336 00458)

 The motto of this release is: "Good artists borrow; great artists steal."
 The sisters Nields aspire to greatness with this recording. They base
 every song either lyrically or melodically on a traditional song, or
 even Pachelbel's oft-used "Canon." The new stories or the twists on old
 ones they make up for these songs are intriguing and sometimes
 compelling. "The Water Is Wide" becomes "We'll Plant an Oak."
 The production is mostly upbeat and catchy.


 *GARNET ROGERS: Get a Witness (Live) (Snow Goose SGS1133CD)

 Garnet Rogers' live performance qualifies as a force of nature although
 it did not always transfer to his recordings. His energy and passion
 often obscured the details. "Get a Witness" is his first recording that
 captures the subtlety and nuance of his performance, his fragility as
 well as his power. This recording mixes old and new songs, all of which
 are first rate, with an absolutely superb band that demonstrates perfect
 telepathy in their accompaniment.


 *MARTIN SIMPSON: Prodigal Son (Compass 7 4466-2)

 I think of Martin Simpson, in the most complimentary way, as the
 Frank Sinatra of folk music. He knows how to delve inside a song,
 consider its every essence and sing it with unerring sensitivity.
 However, Sinatra couldn't play guitar and Simpson is one of the finest
 living guitarists, who gives as much thought and feeling to his guitar
 work as to his singing. Prodigal Son is a superb collection of
 traditional and original tunes, plus a Randy Newman song, with great
 variety and interest.


 UNCLE EARL: Waterloo, Tennessee (Rounder 11661-0577-2)

 Mix four young women possessing different instrumental talents,
 eclectic taste, and an appreciation of old string band tradition
 with modern sensibilities and you have Uncle Earl, which finally
 came of age with their third CD. Abigail Washburn, who has an active
 solo career, is the emerging star of the group, but she does not eclipse
 her talented band mates.


 SUSAN WERNER: The Gospel Truth (Sleeve Dog 37101 30261)

 The eclectically unpredictable Susan Werner strikes again with this
 agnostic gospel album. She spent considerable time at black gospel
 services in Chicago before creating this CD. Thus, the recording contains
 the passion of gospel with her own questioning of superficial and
 insincere piety. The recording is anything but anti-religious,
 but rather points the way to truer and more honest faith.
 Werner's powerfully expressive voice carries some of her best songs on
 this recording.


 WILDERNESS PLOTS:  Wilderness Plots (Rosehill RH-111)

 If Edgar Lee Masters had been a singer-songwriter rather than poet and
 attorney, he might have created Wilderness Plots instead of the Spoon
 River Anthology. In order to understand the CD Wilderness Plots it's
 essential to understand its genesis. Singer-songwriter Tim Grimm came
 across a small book full of very short stories, each based on at least
 a kernel of history, part truth, part folktale. He immediately saw songs
 in them and took the book to his songwriting group, who each wrote songs
 based on stories in the book. That group, Krista Detor, Tim Grimm,
 Carrie Newcomer, Tom Roznowski and Michael White wrote and recorded the
 19-song CD Wilderness Plots. There are no bad songs or performances on
 this CD, only good ones and brilliant ones.


 And for humor. . .

 MODERN MAN: Assisted Living (Inverted Turtle 003)

 David Buskin, Rob Carlson and George Wurzbach finally produced a very
 funny CD most of which can be played on the radio. It ranges from inane
 to insane. Most of the writing is clever, witty and on-target.


 Other 2007 CDs that might please you:
 Battlefield Band: Dookin'
 Lou & Peter Berryman: The Universe: 14 Examples
 Ben Bradford: Lincoln's Man
 Girlyman: Joyful Sign
 Terri Hendrix: The Spiritual Kind
 Anne Hills: Ef You Don't Watch Out
 Emily Kurn: Things Change
 Doug McArthur: Thunder Into Heaven
 John Roberts: Sea Fever
 Carly Simon: Into White
 Linda Thompson: Versatile Heart
 LisaBeth Weber & Maggie Marshall: The Firetower Sessions


 Rich Warren
 "The Midnight Special" and "Folkstage"
 WFMT Radio - 98.7 FM / syndicated and on XM Satellite Radio
 5400 N. St. Louis, Chicago, Illinois 60625
 Please send CDs to: P.O. Box 58, Mahomet, Illinois 61853