Solo Troubadour Albums

Harvey Reid's new book "The Troubadour Chronicles" was published in May 2020, celebrating the solo troubadour. The albums listed here are some examples of what a single musician has done in making an album without backup musicians, multi-tracking or overdubs. Please feel free to suggest others. [CPL] indicates a compilation album.

means a highly-recommended album.

STUDIO ALBUMS (chronological order):

Merle Travis “Folk Songs of the Hills” (1947) [also called “Back Home”]

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Woody Guthrie's Blues" (1956)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Jack Takes the Floor" (1958)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Ramblin' Jack Elliott in London" (1959)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Songs by Woody Guthrie and Jimmie Rodgers" (1960)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Songs to Grow On by Woody Guthrie" (1961)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Country Style" (1962)

Robert Johnson “King of the Delta Blues Singers” (1961) [CPL]

Bob Dylan “Bob Dylan” (1962)

Frank Proffitt "Frank Proffitt Sings Folk Songs" (1962)

Dave van Ronk "Folksinger" (1962)

Bob Dylan “The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan” (1963)

Bob Dylan “The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964)

Jesse Colin Young “Soul of A City Boy” (1964)

Fred McDowell “My Home Is In the Delta” (1964)

Dave van Ronk "Just Dave van Ronk" (1964)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Bull Durham Sacks & Railroad Tracks" (1970)

Stompin’ Tom Connors “On Tragedy Trail” (1973)

Steve Gillette “Alone & Direct” (1979)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “Kerouac's Last Dream" (1981)

Stompin’ Tom Connors “Northlands Zone” (1987)

Harvey Reid "Steel Drivin’ Man" (1992)

Bob Dylan “Good as I Been To You” (1992)

Bob Dylan “World Gone Wrong” (1993)

Kelly Jo Phelps “Lead Me On” (1994)

Johnny Cash- "American Recordings Vol 1" (1994)

Charley Patton “Pony Blues” (1995) [CPL]

Ramblin' Jack Elliott “South Coast (1995)

John Lee Hooker “The Legendary Modern Recordings" (1948/1995) [CPL]

Paul Geremia "The Devil’s Music" (1999)

Ray Bonneville “Rough Luck” (2000)

Hank Williams "Alone With His Guitar (2000) [CPL]

Jeff Hickey “Loose Ends” (2003)

Joyce Andersen “Swerve" (2011)

Cosy Sheridan “Solo Songbook" (2013)

Richard Thompson “Acoustic Classics" (2014)

LIVE SOLO ALBUMS:

Tom Lehrer “An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer” (1959)

Pete Seeger “We Shall Overcome” (1963)

Joan Baez "From Every Stage- Disc 1" (1964)

John Hurt- "The Best of Mississippi John Hurt" (1965)

Townes van Zandt “Live at the Old Quarter” (1973)

Leo Kottke "My Feet Are Smiling" (1973)

Townes van Zandt “Live & Obscure" (1989)

Leo Kottke “Live” (1995)

Shawn Colvin “Live 88” (1995)

John Lee Hooker “Alone” (1995)

Lauryn Hill “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” (2002)

Ani DiFranco “Carnegie Hall 4.06.02” (2002)

Jackson Browne “Solo Acoustic Vol 1 & Vol 2” (2005)

Trina Hamlin "One Nightstand Seattle WA" (2008)

Travis Tritt “A Man and His Guitar” (2016)

NEARLY-SOLO ALBUMS:

Patty Larkin “In the Square” (1990) [w/ bass player]
Eric Andersen “‘Bout Changes and Things” (1966)
Rory Block “When a Woman Gets the Blues” (1995)

Patty Griffin (1996) “Living With Ghosts” (other guitar players on 2 cuts)

Kelly Jo Phelps “Shine Eyed Mister Zen” (1999) one track w/ harmonica player

Steve Tallis “Jezebel Spirit” (2006) [percussionist ]