If I play an oldtime song on my Tu ba Phone and sing it even vaguely well I get an instant audience - But if I play a record of folk music with Banjo and singing I get no reaction at all.

Could it be that 'folk' has to be live to deliver the goods?

Saw a little band at Winfield playing Old Timey dance music - live - it was a treat. The sun shining a big crowd of happy people and a warm atmosphere. If I play a recording of Tommy Jarel/friends here at home it seems as if something is missing.

Perhaps folk music played live for so long has that element built in. It is supposed to be live, DUH. Perhaps Pop music is the product of 'recorded' performance etc., and everything about it has been cultured to suit - eg Mastering - mixing - market surveying - and so on.

There are few mistakes in recorded music, it has to be byond that to sell.