Stewie, do a little research on Afro-American blues ballads. There are a lot of them: some, like Poor Lazarus, originate in worksongs; others, like Delia and Duncan and Brady originate in current events. I believe Mississippi John Hurt sang "Stagolee" and many others were collected from Black singers in Texas prisons. They are often amalgamations of Anglo-American ballad tradition and Afro-American blues, hence the name blues ballads.

Re: Chris Smither: I see him everytime he comes to town -- about once a year for the past several -- and I listen when he talks about other places he has played and what he has played there. I'll start keeping a set list if you like. Record companies often favor songwriting because they think it is more "original" or "creative" than cover work or work in traditional genres. Some non-record company people think this, too. Not me.

Sorry for the thread creep,folks, Just trying to answer questions raised on this thread.

Now, who else should Nic Jones' fans listen to?