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George Graham's Best of 2006 Albums List

This is a the list of albums featured during the ten-part Best of 2006 series presented during December on Mixed Bag, heard on WVIA-FM. These albums were selected by series host George Graham from the over 500 CDs featured during the year on the New Releases segments presented daily on Mixed Bag. The Mixed Bag musical styles include rock, folk, blues, reggae, world music, Celtic, electronic, and other varieties presented on the program. The emphasis is on records that received little or no attention in the commercial media. Selection criteria include originality, uniqueness of sound, and quality of musicianship.

The lists are arranged chronologically by month of release.

* designates Homegrown Music Artists.


January
Lester Hirsh: RIVER OF STRINGS (Moveable Spring) *
Harry Manx: MANTRAS FOR MADMEN (Dog My Cat)
Michael McGoldrick: WIRED (Compass)
Tim O'Brien: CORNBREAD NATION (Howdy Skies)
Tim O'Brien: FIDDLER'S DREAM (Howdy Skies)
Kate McDonnell: WHERE THE MANGOES ARE (Appleseed)
Breaking Laces: LEMONADE (Meeka Salise)
Saffire: DELUXE EDITION (Alligator)
Julia Sarr & Patrice Larose: SIT LUNA (No Format)
Soweto Gospel Choir: BLESSED (Shanachie)
Vinicius Cantuario: SILVA (Hannibal)
Bob Malone: BORN TOO LATE (Delta Moon) *
Duncan Sheik: WHITE LIMOUSINE (Zoe)
The Duhks: YOUR DAUGHTERS & YOUR SONS (Sugar Hill)

February
Mark Erelli: HOPE AND OTHER CASUALTIES (Signature Sounds)
Hem: NO WORD FROM TOM (Nettwerk)
Jennifer Kimball: OH HEAR US (Epoisse)
Van Wagner: WALKING THE STREETS (vanwagnermusic) *
Mammals: DEPARTURE (Signature Sounds)
Mick McAuley & Winifred Horan: SERENADE (Compass)
Weepies: SAY I AM YOU (Nettwerk)
Sara Wendt: HERE'S US (City Canyons) *
Varttina: MIERO (Realworld)
Peter Murray: ANTS AND ANGELS (Junction Triangle)
Lisa Moscatiello: TROUBLE FROM THE START (Machine Heart) *
Mountain Heart: WIDE OPEN (Skaggs Family)
Ernie Hawkins: RAGS & BONES (Say Mo')
Feathermerchants: LAST MAN ON EARTH (independent)
Hayseed Dixie: A HOT PIECE OF GRASS (Cooking Vinyl)
Rev. Billy C. Wirtz: SERMON FROM BETHLEHEM (Blind Pig)
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones: THE HIDDEN LAND (Columbia)
Dougie McLean: INSIDE THE THUNDER (Blix Street)
Erin Bode: OVER AND OVER (MaxJazz)
Derek Trucks Band: SONGLINES (Columbia)

March
Ernest Goodlife Band: GOOD TO BE HERE (Dren)
Strunz & Farah: JUNGLE GUITARS (Selva)
Darol Anger's Republic of Strings: GENERATION NATION (Compass)
Bob Brozman: BLUES REFLEX (Ruf)
Howard Tate: LIVE (Shout Factory)
Little Willies: THE LITTLE WILLIES (Milking Bull)
Umphrey's McGee: SAFETY IN NUMBERS (SCI Fidelity)
Elvis Costello: MY FLAME TURNS BLUE (Deutche Gramophon)
Sean Watkins: BLINDERS ON (Sugar Hill)
Bryan Sutton: NOT TOO FAR FROM THE TREE (Sugar Hill)

April
Peter Mulvey: THE KNUCKLEBALL SUITE (SignatureSounds)
Swims: RIDE OF THE BLUEBERRY WINTER (Prison Jazz)
Leslie Clemmons: WAITING FOR MY CONVICTION (Verdict) *
Cassandra Wilson: THUNDERBIRD (Blue Note)
Merrie Amsterburg: CLEMENTINE AND OTHER STORIES (Q Division)
Chuck Brodsky: TULIPS FOR LUNCH (Waterbug)
Chris Orbach: SAFELY THROUGH THE NIGHT (HFM) *
Albert Lee: ROAD RUNNER (Sugar Hill)
Russ Rentler: SCARECROW'S LAMENT (independent) *
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: SPIN (Telarc)
Waybacks: FROM THE PASTURE TO THE FUTURE (Compass)
C.J. Chenier: THE DESPARATE KINGDOM OF LOVE (World Village)
Foremen: THE BEST OF THE FOREMEN (Metaphor)
Lee Feldman: I'VE FORGOTTEN EVERYTHING (Urban Myth) *
SAIL AWAY: THE SONGS OF RANDY NEWMAN [various] (Sugar Hill)
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND (Vanguard)
Animal Liberation Orchestra: FLY BETWEEN FALLS (independent)
Christy Jefferson: WHEN KISSES TAKE PRISONERS (independent) *

May
Bruce Springsteen: WE SHALL OVERCOME (Columbia)
Del Castillo: BROTHERHOOD (Smilin' Castle)
J.E. Borgen: THE GENEARL STORE (Midnight Sun)
k.d. lang: REINTARNATION (Sire)
Jeffrey Foucault: GHOST REPEATER (SignatureSounds)
Glen Phillips: MR. LEMONS (Umami/BigHelium)
Joy Eden Harrison: BLUE VENUS (Astarte) *
Casey Driessen: 3D (Sugar Hill)
Neil Young: LIVING WITH WAR (Reprise)
Capitol Steps: I'M SO INDICTED (independent)
Dee Carstensen: PATCH OF BLUE (Exit Nine)
Irma Thomas: AFTER THE RAIN (Rounder)
Marta Gomez: ENTRE CADA PALABRA (Chesky)
Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint: THE RIVER IN REVERSE (Verve Forecast)
Dr. John: MERCERNARY (Blue Note)
Slaid Cleaves: UNSUNG (Rounder)
Ben Vaughn: DESIGNS IN MUSIC (Soundstage 15)
Gotan Project: LUNATICA (XL)
Ditty Bops: MOON OVER THE FREEWAY (Warner Bros.)
Rhonda Vincent: ALL AMERICAN BLUEGRASS GIRL (Rounder)
Dave Alvin: WEST OF THE WEST (Yep Roc)
Tango No. 9: RADIO VALENCIA (Spiullhouse)
John Cowan Band: NEW TATTOO (Pinecastle)

June
Mick Moloney: McNALLY'S ROW OF FLATS (Compass)
Wailin' Jennys: FIRECRACKER (Red House)
Brookville: LIFE IN THE SHADE (Unfiltered)
Jen Cass: ACCIDENTAL PRILGIMAGE (independnt)
Sam Bush: LAPS IN SEVEN (Sugar Hill)
Cephas and Wiggins: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER (Alligator)
Zero 7: THE GARDEN (Atlantic)
Keb' Mo': SUITCASE (Epic)
David Ross Macdonald: KNUCKLED BRASS AND BONE (independent)
Frank and Joe Show: SUBMARINE BUS (Venture) *
Joe Bonamassa: YOU AND ME (Premier)
Widespread Panic: EARTH TO AMERICA (Sanctuary)
Janis Ian: FOLK IS THE NEW BLACK (Cooking Vinyl)

July
Linda Ronstadt & Ann Savoy: ADIEU FALSE HEART (Vanguard)
Ralph Stanley: A DISTANT LAND TO ROAM (Columbia)
Ramblin' Jack Elliot: I STAND ALONE (Anti)
Bruce Cockburn: LIFE SHORT CALL NOW (Rounder)
John Gorka: WRITING IN THE MARGINS (Red House)
Los Lonely Boys: SACRED (Epic)
John McLaughlin: INDUSTRIAL ZEN (Verve)
Jonathan Beedle: A LONG DAY GONE (independent) *
Tommy Emmanuel: THE MYSTERY (Favored Nations)
Peter James: FOOTNOTES TO FAIRYTALES (Shy Side)
Four Bitchin' Babes: HARMONAL IMBALANCE (independent)
Kaki King: UNTIL WE FELT RED (Velour)
Guy Clark: WORKBENCH SONGS (Dual Tone)
Vienna Teng: DREAMING THROUGH THE NOISE (Zoe)
Ollabelle: RIVERSIDE BATTLE SONGS (Verve Forecast)
Gov't Mule: HIGH AND MIGHTY (ATO)
Richard Thompson: 1000 YEARS OF POPULAR MUSIC (Cooking Vinyl)
Nothin' Fancy: ALBUM #7 (Pinecastle)
Albert Cummings: WORKING MAN (Blind Pig)
Brindley Brothers: FILLED WITH FIRE (AER) *
JPP: ARTOLOGY (Northside)

August
Crooked Still: SHAKEN BY A LOW SOUND (SignatureSounds)
Brooks Williams: BLUES AND BALLADS (Red Guitar)
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder: INSTRUMENTALS (Skaggs Family)
Dakota: 25th REUNION CONCERT (independent) *
John Flynn: TWO WOLVES (Meta Four)
Anthony Hannigan: DOWN THE ROAD (Hickory Project) *
Rory Block: THE LADY AND MR. JOHNSON (Ryko)
Old Crow Medicine Show: BIG IRON WORLD (Nettwerk)
Greg Brown: THE EVENING CALL (Red House)
PF Sloan: SAILOVER (Hightone)
Jerry Lee Lewis: LAST MAN STANDING (Shangi La)
Peter Bradley Adams: GATHER UP (Mouse in Moon)
Carbon Leaf: LOVE, LOSS, HOPE, REPEAT (Vanguard)
Katchafire: REVIVAL (2B1)
Billy Price: EAST END AVENUE (Bonedog)
Sam Pacetti and Gabriel Valla: UNION (Waterbug)
Judith Owen: HERE (Courgette)
Hem: FUNNEL CLOUD (Nettwerk)
Chris Smither: LEAVE THE LIGHT ON (Signature Sounds)
Madeleine Peyroux: HALF THE PERFECT WORLD (Rounder)
Catie Curtis: LONG NIGHT MOON (Compass)

September
Bob Dylan: MODERN TIMES (Columbia)
Chris Thile: HOW TO GROW A WOMAN FROM THE GROUND (Sugar Hill)
Kennedys: SONGS OF THE OPEN ROAD (Appleseed) *
Duhks: MIGRATIONS (Sugar Hill)
Jonatha Brooke: LIVE IN NEW YORK (Bad Dog)
Julien Kasper Band: THE NEW IMPERIAL (Nugene)
Wes Hawkins: POSSIBLE (independent)
Bruce Hornsby: INTERSECTIONS (Boxed set) (BMG)
John Ginty Band: FIRESIDE LIVE (Shark Rhythm) *
Sandi Thom: SMILE... IT CONFUSES PEOPLE (Columbia)
Marisa Monte: UNIVERSO AO MEU REDAR (Metro Blue)
Ray LaMontagne: TILL THE SUN TURNS BLACK (RCA)
Medeski Scofield Martin Wood: OUT LOUDER (Indirecto)
Gunnar Madsen: FALL OF TROY (G Spot) *
Deanna Bogart: REAL TIME (Blind Pig)
Al DiMeola: CONSEQUENCE OF CHAOS (Telarc)
Amos Lee: SUPPLY AND DEMAND (Blue Note)
John Mayer: CONTINUUM (Aware/Columbia)
Ben Kweller: BEN KWELLER (ATO)
Greg Klyma: DRIVER (klyma.com) *

October
Old Ceremony: OUR BIG MISTAKE (Sonic Blast)
Stanton Moore: III (Telarc)
Duke Tumatoe: YOU'VE GOT THE PROBLEM (Blind Pig)
Kellylee Evans: FIGHT OR FLIGHT (Enliven)
Paul Mark and the Van Dorens: TRICK FICTION (Radiation) *
L.E.O.: ALPACAS OGLING (Cheap Lullaby)
Jim Weider: PERCOLATOR (Moon Haw)
Natalie MacMaster: YOURS TRULY (Rounder)
Ron Noyes Band: COME HELL OR HIGH WATER (independent)
JP Jones: MAGICAL THINKING (Vision Company) *
John Popper Project: FEATURING DJ LOGIC (Relix)
Weird Al Yankovic: STRAIGHT OUTTA LYNWOOD (Volcano)
Kenny Young & the Eggplants: ARRR! (Cheese Thing) *
E.G. Kight: LIVE AND NAKED (Blue South) *
Strunz & Farah: FANTASEO (Silva)
Scott Kinsey: KINESTHETICS (Abstract Logix)
Tally Hall: MARVIN'S MARVELOUS MECHANICAL MUSEUM (Quack)
Nellie McKay: PRETTY LITTLE HEAD (Hungry Mouse)
Idan Raichel Project: IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT (Cumbancha)
Michael Leonhart: BALLAD OF MINTON QUIGLEY (independent) *
Dave Isaacs: OLD KING CROW (Shadow Brook) *

November
Roy Zimmerman: FAULTY INTELLIGENCE (Metaphor)
Smash Palace: BEST OF 99-06 (Zip) *
David Celia: THIS ISN'T HERE (Seedling)
Tony Furtado: THIRTEEN (Funzalo)
Devon Allman's Honeytribe: TORCH (Livewire)
Mor: DURAN (2112)
David Knopfler: SONGS FROM THE SIREN (Paris)
Van Wagner: ONLY PASSING THROUGH (vanwagnermusic) *
Grayson Capps: WAIL & RIDE (Hyena)
Rayito: RAYITO (Southbeat)
Yusuf (Cat Stevens): AN OTHER CUP (Atlantic)
ONE WORLD MANY CULTURES: [various artists] (Putumayo)
Jim Lauderdale: BLUEGRASS (Yep Roc)

December
Willie Nelson: SONGBIRD (Lost Highway)
Bryan Scary: THE SHREDDING TEARS (Black and Green)
Lee Ferris: INTRODUCING LEE FERRIS (independent)
Cadillac Sky: BLIND MAN WALKNG (Skaggs Family)
Tom Waits: ORPHANS (Anti)
Hoven Droven: JUMPING AT THE CEDAR (Northside)
Divine Comedy: VICTORY FOR THE COMIC MUSE (Parlophone)
Sterling Koch: STEALIN' HOME (Full Force) *
Keller Williams: DREAM (SCI Fidelity)

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This page last updated August 03, 2014