Since nobody has asked me, let me point out one thing.

When I walk into a music store, I go to the "FOLK" bin (if they have one), and start to browse. The record store doesn't have smaller bins labeled "Traditionalist", "Revivalist", "Interpreters" - they just have one wonderful bin labeled "Folk".

And in it, I find great, and wonderful music - by Pete Seeger, the Clancy Brothers, Bud & Travis, Brownie & Sonny, New Lost City Ramblers, the Weavers, Eric Darling, Doc Watson, Jean Ritchie, and yes, even the Kingston Trio, PP&M, and a host of other wonderful records, and now Frank Hamilton's newest record (small commercial plug).

So am I listening to a "manufactured song"? For the most part, yes. Somebody went into a studio and recorded the music in the hopes of selling records. But is it honest? As far as I'm concerned, it's "Folk Music", because of the intent on the part of the performers to show me songs that they love and may have collected over the years.

Besides, it's in the "Folk" bin, so it must be folk.

--Harvey