RFI: singer/songwriters in the vein of...

Richard Buckner, if you don't mind melisma.
Chris Whitley, if somewhat-bluesy is OK; particularly his new one (_Hotel Vast Horizon_).
Chris Smither, if more-bluesy is OK, too.
Richard Shindell, for folk storytelling.
Luka Bloom, for acoustic grace.
Kings of Convenience, for Drake/S&G hush (but not the remix albums).
Cat Stevens and Simon & Garfunkel, for history.
Steve Earle, because he was friends with Townes.

And that's assuming your sample list was intentionally weighted towards male singers; a mixed-gender list might begin with Ani DiFranco, Melissa Ferrick, Patty Larkin and Patty Griffin...

What do you think of Richard Buckner?

John Squire's new album, "Time Changes Everything" sort of falls in this folky category. It's a good album if you let it sink in a bit. Sounds absolutely nothing like the Stone Roses, by the way.

There's a double cd set which compiles all three of his Capitol albums, and it's outstanding.

If you favor the more British end of the spectrum, Ralph McTell is worth investigating, though I can't make heads or tail of what is still in print by him. Some of his stuff features "orchestration" undergirding his acoustic playing, if you have a problem with that, but it possesses yr contemplative aura. Same deal with Roy Harper (I think you have some of his stuff?) - first album is all acoustic, then he gets into more orchestrated territory.

There's a double cd set which compiles all three of his Capitol albums, and it's outstanding.

If you favor the more British end of the spectrum, Ralph McTell is worth investigating, though I can't make heads or tails of what is still in print by him. Some of his stuff features "orchestration" undergirding his acoustic playing, if you have a problem with that, but it possesses yr contemplative aura. Same deal with Roy Harper (I think you have some of his stuff?) - first album is all acoustic, then he gets into more orchestrated territory.

I agree with the pick of Roy Harper's debut..

Jesse Colin Young - The Soul Of A City Boy

Mickey Newbury's "It looks like Rain" (1969) is great, but i'm not sure how closely that fits your description, or any description for that matter.

A cult favourite worth mentioning here is Perry Leopold's "Experiment In Metaphysics" from 1970. The 8 minute opener is almost worth the price of the cd alone. I'd also say that he sounds (and looks) like Nick Drake possessed by Jim Morrison, but the Doors seems absolutely hated on this board, so that might be a turn off.

Also try Linda Perhac's "Parallelograms" album, although that one might have be more psychedelic than contemplative.

Donovan's "Fairy Tale" (1965) includes some real gems

Davy Graham - amazing british folk guitarist. not the greatest singer, but i don't mind him. could play almost any style with ease. hugely influential (mommy, he just said a dirty word)

Kevin Coyne - quirky english singer, songwriter who's been putting out great records for 30 odd years. his 1973 record, "Marjory Razorblade" is amazing, and i also really like the 1999 "Sugar Candy Taxi."

Tim Buckley. never sure why he's filed in the folk section, really only his first record is straight folk. "Happy Sad" and "Hello Goodbye" fit nicely into the singer/ songwriter (with nice touches of jazz) mold you're looking for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nusw5jwr_9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6pi1JqTK7I&list=PL7D37B154B17940FD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPraACLDjLw

i think this guy is a better songwriter than Townes Van Zant or Fred Neil tbh. Up there for me with Dylan, Cohen, Guy Clark

the bells of san blas are still rung by hand
hand over hand the child climbs the tower
hammer in hand he rings out the hour
and all of the children are called to the rail
are called to the virgin, the cross and the nail
outside of the cathedral, caught in photograph
begins the procession, thy rod and thy staff

a lavender bead was found in the dust
lost from the chain that had crossed the gown
the pride of the family, the pride of the town
at fifteen years old the procession shall move
and fit into the church as the hand fits the glove
and out come the children chasing the rice
if they ever think once, they never think twice

sister anastasia came down from the clouds
from the city of angels to the city of bells
she offered her solace, she offered her help
she taught them the handcrafts, she taught them to smile
to sell to the tourists to help feed the child
the design of the snake caught in the beak
she came every year and stayed for a week

the bells of san blas were all made by hand
and carried by hand they spread 'long the coast
the bells of the missions of longfellow's ghost
the cannon are rusted, the bells have turned green
they traded their gold and their land for the beads
of the spaniards and indians the children remain
they still sacrifice virgins though the altar's renamed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiSSlZLcyPE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx4e2Tvc_k0

why does ilx hate jack hardy?

maybe it's the voice?

I don't hate Jack Hardy. In fact, I think he was a pretty wonderful songwriter. Besides his great songs, Jack has been a tremendous influence in the songwriter world with Fast Folk Magazine and his songwriter-group meetings. I love seeing his videos here at ilx. Thanks, ian, for posting them.

i think jack's got a great voice!