Hear a Replay of Kingston Coffee House 1/6/26
By Michael Stevenson
Our show begins with classic songs from Nick Drake, Rick Danko, “Birthday Girl” Iris DeMent, and vinyl-only cuts from The Staple Singers, Maria Muldaur, and the Chambers Brothers.
Later in the second hour, there’s deep dives into 2001’s A Tribute To John Hartford – Live From Mountain Stage, as well as The Rose Ensemble’s 2025 release, Paying Homage to Nā Mele Hawaiʻi: A Rediscovery of Hawaiian Vocal Music pt 2.
We also feature another “vinyl-only” segment with the Hawaiian slack-key guitar legend Gabby Pahinua.
In the final hour, we hear two unique performers from Glasgow, the late poet Ivor Cutler and the newcomer who goes by the mononym “Quinie”, as well as two classic songs from another January 6th birthday girl, Sandy Denny.
PLAYLIST
Hour One: The Cafe is Open
– Nick Drake “Time Has Told Me” Five Leaves Left, 1969 *
– Nick Drake “River Man” Five Leaves Left, 1969 *
* from the 2025, Island Records released The Making of Five Leaves Left, a four-disc box set-
– Rick Danko “My Love” At Dylan’s Cafe, 1987
– Rick Danko “The Weight” At Dylan’s Cafe, 1987
The Staple Singers (Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Blues Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) LP on VJ 5019
– The Staple Singers “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” (Trad) The Best of the Staple Singers
– The Staple Singers “God’s Wonderful Love” (DW Bradford) The Best of the Staple Singers
– Lucinda Williams “Can’t Let Go” Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, 1998
– Lucinda Williams “Sweet Old World” Sweet Old World, 1982
– Eddie Vedder “Without You” Ukelele Songs, 2011
– Rick Danko “Bartenders Blues” (Taylor) At Dylan’s Cafe, 1987
– Rick Danko “Blue River” (E Anderson) Danko, Fjeld, Anderson One More Shot, 2002
Happy Birthday Iris DeMent
– Iris DeMent “Our Town” Infamous Angel, 1992
– Natalie Merchant with David Byrne “Let the Mystery Be” (DeMent) 10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged, 1993
Hour Two: Take Me to Church … or Take Me to The Grand Ol Opry
– The Chambers Bros “Traveling Shoes” (traditional) *
– Maria Muldaur with the Chambers Bros “Just As an Eagle Stirs Her Nest”(Brewster) *
* from Takoma LP 7084 Gospel Nights: Live at McCabes, 1980
A Tribute to John Hartford, Live from Mountain Stage, 2001
Confusing (!) liner notes from Gabby Pahinui LP
– Tim O’Brien & Kathy Mattea “Gentle on My Mind” (Hartford)
– Gillian Welch “In Tall Buildings” (Hartford)
– Norman Blake “Savannah Rag” (Hartford)
– John Hartford “Me and My Fiddle” (Hartford)
– Ry Cooder “Dark End of the Street” (Dan Penn)
– Gabby Pahinui “Na Ono Ia Na Kupuna”
– Gabby Pahinui “Pua Alani”
The following from:
Nā Mele Hawaiʻi: A Rediscovery of Hawaiian Vocal Music pt 2.
– The Rose Ensemble “Ku’u Pua i Paoakalani
– The Rose Ensemble “Namolokama La
– The Rose Ensemble “Pua Lilia”
– The Rose Ensemble “Liliu E”
– Israel “Iz” Kamakawiwoʻole “Rainbow/Wonderful World” Facing Future,1993
Hour Three: The Hobbledehoy Set / Ivor to Olivia
– Ivor Cutler “Beautiful Cosmos” Jammy Smears, 1976
– Ivor Cutler “The Path” Jammy Smears, 1976
– Ivor Cutler”Barabadabada” Jammy Smears, 1976
– Ivor Cutler “Big Jim” Jammy Smears, 1976
– Quinie “Col My Love”/”In the Chestnut Tree” Forefawk, Mind Me, 2025
Ivor Cutler: “Gone, he kissed the air where she had stood.”
– Fairport Convention “I’ll Keep It With Mine” (Dylan) What We Did On Our Holiday, 1968
– Fairport Convention”Ballad of the Easy Rider” (Dylan/McGuinn) What We Did On Our Holiday, 1968
– This Is the Kit “Two Wooden Spoons” (K Stables) Krulle Bol, 2008
– Olivia Chaney “Art of Losing” Circus of Desire, 2025
Goodnight and Happy New Year
– Rhiannen Giddens “She’s Got You” (H Cochran)
– Rhiannen Giddens “Forever Young” (Dylan)