Hands down - my GRAMMY pick for BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM is Rosalie Sorrel's "Strangers in Another Country". Anyone who likes artists like Pete Seeger, EmilyLou Harris, Wynton Marsalis, Neil Young, Alison Krauss, Joan Baez, BB King, Lucinda Williams, Kathey Matteo is missing out if they haven't become a fan of Rosalie's yet. Look - even Hunter S. Thompson was a fan!

Hunter S. Thompson
"Rosalie's songs are so close to the bone that I get nervous listening to them."

Product Info:
Legendary songwriter, humorist, workers-rights advocate and radical raconteur Utah Phillips is an icon of American folk music whose songs have been covered by everyone from Joan Baez to Tom Waits to Emmylou Harris and Ani Difranco.

Yet for over 50 years his greatest interpreter has been lifelong friend Rosalie Sorrels, a folk legend in her own right. Strangers In Another Country - The Songs of Bruce "Utah" Phillips is a magnificent gathering of song, story and recitation celebrating the genius of Utah, with Sorrels acting as emcee, historian and tour guide, offering rare insight into the man behind the character.

Rosalie recalls songs even Utah had forgotten or never written down, and was working on this tribute before his May 2008 passing. The album features some of his lesser known, rarely performed classics, many of which have only been available on obscure recordings and are only now available on CD.

Backing Sorrels is a stellar cast of special guests, including Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Peggy Seeger, Bryan Bowers, Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, Dakota Dave Hull, Pop Wagner, Peter "Madcat" Ruth, The Sorry Muthas, and Willie Murphy. The gorgeous 16-page booklet features extensive info, commentary and memories from Sorrels with historic archival photos, drawings and material from her personal collection.

An instant classic, Strangers In Another Country represents Rosalie's finest singing, full of the beauty, strength and honesty that has made her one of this century's most important American cultural voices. (via Amazon)

When she spoke of a person she considered very special, my mother would sometimes say, "She creeps into your bones." Rosalie creeps into your bones.

When people find out that I love folk music, so often they say, "Oh, you mean like Peter , Paul and Mary." I answer, "No, like Rosalie Sorrels." I play them a little of "Report From Grimes Creek" or "Last Go 'Round" or "Strangers in Another Country."

Justin Kodner - Princeton Folk Music Society