Top New Bluegrass Songs: Reported March 24, 2013

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 3/24/13

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited

This month, I'm making a predictive vote: The single from the upcoming Dailey and Vincent album due out in May is gonna be a big hit. Like, if I drop my pen it will fall. I'm not claiming that Dailey and Vincent are a force of nature like unto gravity, but their new album, Brothers of the Highway, is likely to be one of the biggest sellers during the 2013 festival season.

There are still a ton of great songs out there. This month, I started off with about 35 songs on my list of nominees. It took me quite a time to listen and juggle things to get it whittled down to a top 12. The more I listen to the Danny Paisley, Steeldrivers, Mark Houser, Kenny and Amanda Smith, and Joe Mullins records, the harder it is for me to pick out a favorite track! And I obviously liked the new song from Rhonda Vincent. And there's more great music coming this spring and summer!

1. Dailey & Vincent, Steel Drivin' Man
2. Rhonda Vincent, I'd Rather Hear I Don't Love You (Than Nothing At All)
3. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
4. The Steeldrivers, Wearin' a Hole
5. Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, I Been Walkin'
6. Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, She Left Me Standing on the Mountain
7. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
8. The Hillbenders, Train Whistle
9. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
10. The Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You
11. Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, A Blue Million Tears
12. Kenny and Amanda Smith, Catch me if I Try

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited, we also report Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs: Reported Feb. 22, 2013

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 2/22/13

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited

I hope I'm not too fickle. A new record comes out and I fall in love it immediately. Then have a hard time figuring out what I think the "hit" will be. Well, The Steeldrivers' Hammer Down is such an album. Great stuff. Love about 5 of the tracks and like all the rest. So I picked "When You Don't Come Home."

Still a lot of great music out there! Support your favorite artists by going to their shows and buying their songs!

1. The Steeldrivers, When You Don't Come Home
2. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
3. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
4. The Grass Cats, The Mountains My Baby and Me
5. Detour, Quarterline Road
6. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
7. The Spinney Brothers, Memories
8. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Catherdral
9. The Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You
10. Kenny and Amanda Smith, Catch me if I Try
11. The Hillbenders, Train Whistle
12. Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, Road into Town

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited, we also report Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs: Period ending 1/22/13

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 1/22/13

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited

There is still a lot of great music out there. I love tracks from Bob Amos' Borrowed Time, Mark Houser's Uneven Road (In fact, I'm voting for two tracks from his album this month!), Chris Brashear's Heart of the Country, and many other great releases. But this month, I'm picking the title track from the Steep Canyon Rangers' Nobody Knows You--a Graham Sharp composition. Gotta love a song written by the "Steep's" banjo player! It's a great song on a very good album.

1. Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You
2. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
3. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
4. The Boxcars, Crawford County
5. The Grass Cats, The Mountains, My Baby, and Me
6. The Spinney Brothers, Makin' a Killin'
7. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, Delilah
8. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
9. Danny Paisley and the Southern Grass, I Been Walkin'
10. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Cathedral
11. Detour, Quarterline Road
12. Kenny and Amanda Smith, Catch Me If I Try

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited, we also report Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs: Period ending 12/23/12

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 12/23/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited

It's Christmas Season. There were a bunch of good holiday songs this year--my two favorite holiday projects were Donna Ulisse's All the Way to Bethlehem and Wayne Taylor's Praise His Holy Name, A Christmas Celebration. Donna's project is an all original telling of the Christmas story; Wayne's is a mixture of sacred and secular holiday songs done up with great cheer by Wayne and a bunch of his musical friends. I particularly like Keith Arneson's banjo work.

I'm picking tracks from both projects at the top of this month's list, with the nod going to.... Donna Ulisse's "You Cannot Stay Here," one of four tracks we played from her project during the holiday season.

1. Donna Ulisse, You Cannot Stay Here
2. Wayne Taylor and Friends, Go Tell It on the Mountain
3. The Boxcars, Crawford County
4. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
5. The Spinney Brothers, Makin' a Killin'
6. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
7. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
8. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Cathedral
9. The Grass Cats, The Mountains, My Baby, and Me
10. Detour, Quarterline Road
11. Steep Canyon Rangers, Natural Disaster
12. Akira Otsuka, Line Drive
    Holiday Honorable Mention: Wayne Taylor and Friends, Dueling Jingle Bells
    Holiday Honorable Mention: The Cockman Family, Maker of the Stars
    Holiday Honorable Mention: Donna Ulisse, All the Way to Bethlehem

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited, we also report Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs Report: WNHU 11/23/12

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 11/23/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

For the second month in a row, I've voted for Mark Houser's "John the Baptist" as the top Bluegrass song this month. Love the new album from him and his band Bluegrass Drive: lot of good tracks on it--"Hard Rain" and "Delilah" are two other favorites. Lots of good music out there!

1. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
2. The Boxcars, Crawford County
3. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
4. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Cathedral
5. The Grass Cats, The Mountains, My Baby, and Me
6. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
7. The Spinney Brothers, Makin' a Killin'
8. Detour, Quarterline Road
9. Loafer's Glory, Milwaukee Blues
10. Audie Blaylock & Redline, A Real Good Way to Lose
11. Lou Reid & Carolina, Carolina Moonshine Man
12. Akira Otsuka, Line Drive
13. Steep Canyon Rangers, Natural Disaster
14. Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers, Bottom of a Mountain
15. Special Consensus, Monroe's Doctrine
16. Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Brand New Silent Partner
17. Freeman & Williams, Wrong Road Again
18. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdon of God
19. The Boxcars, Don't Fall In Love with a Girl Like That
20. Joe Diffie, Rainin' on Her Rubber Dolly

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top 20 New Bluegrass Songs reported by WNHU's Black Diamond Show

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 10/23/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

This month's top song honors go to Mark Houser. Love the new album from him and his band Bluegrass Drive.

1. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, John the Baptist
2. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
3. The Boxcars, Crawford County
4. The Spinney Brothers, Makin' a Killin'
5. The Grass Cats, The Mountains, My Baby, and Me
6. Chris Brashear, Mama's Opry
7. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Cathedral
8. Special Consensus, Monroe's Doctrine
9. Detour, Quarterline Road
10. Joe Diffie, Rainin' on Her Rubber Dolly
11. Freeman & Williams, Wrong Road Again
12. Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Brand New Silent Partner
13. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdon of God
14. Lou Reid & Carolina, Carolina Moonshine Man
15. Audie Blaylock & Redline, Newton's Grove
16. Akira Otsuka, Line Drive
17. Steep Canyon Rangers, Natural Disaster
18. Loafer's Glory, Milwaukee Blues
19. Mark Houser and Bluegrass Drive, Delilah
20. The Boxcars, Don't Fall In Love with a Girl Like That

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top 20 New Bluegrass Songs: Report from WNHU Black Diamond Show 7/22/12

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 7/22/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

I love summer--so many great new CDs come out as artists go on the festival circuit. In particular, two new CDs caught my attention this month: Rhonda Vincent's Sunday Mornin' Singin' and Bob Amos's Borrowed Time. Because when I heard Bob Amos's "Where the Wild River Rolls" I immediately bought the entire CD on line, that song gets my vote as number one this month. Rhonda Vincent's "Blue Sky Cathedral" is a great Gospel song that I've been telling people about all month. Two great songs: getting my vote for number one and number two.

1. Bob Amos, Where the Wild River Rolls
2. Rhonda Vincent, Blue Sky Cathedral
3. Lou Reid & Carolina, Carolina Moonshine Man
4. Dailey and Vincent, Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord
5. Darrin & Brooke Aldridge, Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
6. April Verch, Guide Me Home
7. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Moon Magic
8. Freeman & Williams, When Halley Came to Jackson
9. Steep Canyon Rangers, Reputation
10. Mike Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, Bryan Sutton & BenIsaacs, Road to Columbus
11. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
12. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
13. Ronnie Bowman, The Story in your Eyes
14. Johnny Williams, Jeanette Williams, Adam Steffey, TinaSteffey, SamanthaSnyder, Zeb Snyder, Scott Freeman & Bud Snyder, Chilly Winds(Close Kin)
15. Jim Lauderdale, Cruel Wind and Rain
16. The Boxcars, Don't Fall In Love With a Girl Like That
17. Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You
18. Chris Brashear, Mama’s Opry
19. (tie) The Bluegrass Martins, Don’t Laugh
    (tie) Detour, I’ve Just Seen the Rock of Ages
    (tie) Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdom of God

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimitedand Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today, the FOLKDJ-L email list and folkradio.org, and Roots Music Report.

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and bluegrass and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs: 5/24/12 (WNHU Black Diamond Show)

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today, the FOLKDJ-L email list & folkradio.org, and Roots Music Report.

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 5/24/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

1. Darrin & Brooke Aldridge, Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
2. April Verch, Guide Me Home
3. Crowe Brothers, Southern Moon
4. Jim Lauderdale, Cruel Wind and Rain
5. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
6. Freeman & Williams, When Halley Came to Jackson
7. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
8. Lou Reid & Carolina, Carolina Moonshine Man
9. Steep Canyon Rangers, Reputation
10. Chris Brashear, Mama’s Opry
11. Mike Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, Bryan Sutton & Ben Isaacs, Road to Columbus
12. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdom of God
13. Blue Highway, I Ain’t Gonna Lay My Hammer Down
14. Charlie Sizemore, I Don’t Remember Loving You
15. Ronnie Bowman, The Story in your Eyes
16. Bearfoot, Come Get Your Lonesome
17. Dailey & Vincent, Cast Aside
18. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
19. Jeanette Williams, Adam Steffey, Tina Steffey, Samantha Snyder, Zeb Snyder, Scott Freeman & Bud Snyder, Little Bird of Heaven
20. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Ominous Anonymous

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs: 4/24/12 (WNHU Black Diamond Show)

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the FOLKDJ-L email list & folkradio.org.

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 4/24/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

1. Darrin & Brooke Aldridge, Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
2. Steep Canyon Rangers, Reputation
3. Jim Lauderdale, Cruel Wind and Rain
4. April Verch, Guide Me Home
5. Charlie Sizemore, I Don’t Remember Loving You
6. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
7. Crowe Brothers, Southern Moon
8. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
9. Mike Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, Bryan Sutton & Ben Isaacs, Road to Columbus
10. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdom of God
11. Freeman & Williams, Wrong Road Again
12. Ronnie Bowman,The Story in your Eyes
13. The Gibson Brothers, Just Lovin' You
14. Bearfoot, Come Get Your Lonesome
15. Blue Highway, I Ain’t Gonna Lay My Hammer Down
16. Dailey & Vincent, Cast Aside
17. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
18. Janette Williams, Adam Steffey, Tina Steffey, Samantha Snyder, Zeb Snyder, Scott Freeman & Bud Snyder, Little Bird of Heaven
19. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Greenbrier Hop
20. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Ominous Anonymous

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and traditional country music.

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs (3/22/12): Black Diamond Show WNHU

In addition to submitting top new song reports to Bluegrass Unlimited and Bluegrass Music Profiles, we also report the Black Diamond Show playlists and actual airplay to Bluegrass Today and the FOLKDJ-L email list & folkradio.org.

Top Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 3/22/12

Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited (top 12) and Bluegrass Music Profiles (top 20)

01. Dailey & Vincent, Cast Aside
02. Mike Scott, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, Bryan Sutton & Ben Isaacs, Road to Columbus
03. April Verch, Guide Me Home
04. Charlie Sizemore, I Don’t Remember Loving You
05. Darrin & Brooke Aldridge, Lonely Ends Where Love Begins
06. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
07. The Gibson Brothers, Just Lovin' You
08. Crowe Brothers, Southern Moon
09. Freeman & Williams, Wrong Road Again
10. Bearfoot, Come Get Your Lonesome
11. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
12. Blue Highway, I Ain’t Gonna Lay My Hammer Down
13. Ronnie Bowman,The Story in your Eyes
14. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar
15. Janette Williams, Adam Steffey, Tina Steffey, Samantha Snyder, Zeb Snyder, Scott Freeman & Bud Snyder, Little Bird of Heaven
16. Dailey & Vincent, Living in the Kingdom of God
17. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Greenbrier Hop
18. The Gibson Brothers, I’ll Love Nobody But You
19. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen, Ominous Anonymous
20. Audie Blaylock & Redline, You’ll Find Her Name Written There

Thanks for your continued support of WNHU and traditional country music.

Top New Bluegrass Songs Reported to Bluegrass Unlimited: November 21, 2011

Top 10 Newer Bluegrass Songs for the period ending 11/21/11
As reported to Bluegrass Unlimited
by The Black Diamond Show WNHU 88.7 FM, West Haven, CT

1. Blue Highway, I Ain’t Gonna Lay My Hammer Down
2. Bearfoot, Come Get Your Lonesome
3. John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Consider Me Gone
4. Grasstowne, Anchor in the Storm
5. Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
6. Alison Krauss & Union Station, On the Outside Looking In
7. April Verch, Durang’s Hornpipe (if she counts for BU)
8. Charlie Sizemore, I Don’t Remember Loving You
9. Larry Sparks, Almost Home
10. The Missy Werner Band, I’d Rather Love a Memory
11. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Gone at Last (In case April Verch doesn’t count for BU charting purposes)

We also report actual airplay on the Black Diamond Show to www.folkradio.org and Bluegrass Today.

Top 10 Newer Bluegrass Songs as reported to Bluegrass Unlimited

Top Ten Bluegrass Songs 
as reported to Bluegrass Unlimited by
The Black Diamond Show
WNHU, 88.7 FM, West Haven, CT
Period Ending 9/20/11

1) Grasstowne, Anchor in the Storm
2) The Gibson Brothers, Love Nobody But You
3) Alison Krauss & Union Station, On the Outside Looking In
4) John Reischman & The Jaybirds, Consider Me Gone
5) The Hillbenders, Red Stains
6) Donna Ulisse, Let it Rain
7) Travis Chandler & Avery County, Black Dust Fever
8) April Verch, Durang's Hornpipe (If I'm allowed to list her!)
9) Scott Anderson, Can't you Hear me Calling
10) Audie Blaylock & Redline, Cry Cry Darlin'
11) 23 String Band, Raleigh & Spencer (in case April Verch doesn't count for BU charting purposes!)



The Black Diamond Show also reports actual airplay to folkradio.org and the new Bluegrass Today chart. (Launching soon. This will be a rebranding of the site known as The Bluegrass Blog.)