They have done it again.

The 49th Annual Grammy nominees have been announced. While the mass media focuses on the pop stars who have been nominated, there are a few categories that are of interest to old folkies like me.

While I’m not a fan of “awards” for folk and traditional music, I do feel that recognition should be paid to the artists who have been working the trenches. A Grammy Award for a folk artist is more than just receiving a fancy paperweight or doorstop. The award CAN draw eyes and ears to the work of artists who focus on folk and acoustic music. I am all for helping these artists gain recognition.

Except, the Grammy jury doesn’t see it that way. Once again, the popular names (read “crossover”) are populating the lists while some worthy artists go unrecognized.

For the record – here are the nominees in the two major categories –

Best Traditional Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
I Stand Alone Ramblin’ Jack Elliott[Anti]
Gonna Let It Shine Odetta[M.C. Records]
Adieu False Heart Linda Ronstadt & Ann Savoy[Vanguard Records]
We Shall Overcome — The Seeger Sessions Bruce Springsteen[Columbia]
A Distant Land To Roam Ralph Stanley[Columbia/DMZ]

Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 Jackson Browne[Inside Recordings]
Black Cadillac Rosanne Cash[Capitol]
Workbench Songs Guy Clark[Dualtone Music Group]
Modern Times Bob Dylan[Columbia]
The Roadrunning Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris[Warner Bros./Nonesuch]

The nominees represent artists who released recordings from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.

I am very glad that Odetta and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot were nominated in the traditional category. Both issued exceptional recordings that are deserving of this award. These two icons deserve to share the award.

Ralph Stanley’s CD was also wonderful, except that the CD represents music of the Carter Family. I don’t want to get into an argument about the definition of “folk”, but I would put an asterisk next to this CD because the author is known. Sure, A.P. Carter did use traditional sources for many of the songs, but when the category says “traditional folk” I would like to see other recordings represented.

Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy recorded a lovely CD, but does it deserve to be among the five BEST CD’s for consideration? I feel the name recognition certainly played a role in this choice.

As much as I enjoyed Springsteen’s experiment with folk music, I would be hard pressed to consider it a “traditional” recording. I realize that I argued that Springsteen WAS following in the footsteps of Pete Seeger by interpreting traditional songs through his own consciousness, but to me that gives it a contemporary flavor.

The contemporary category is where I really start to scratch my head. Take note that this year the official title is “Contemporary Folk /Americana”. Once again it appears that when an artist won’t neatly fit into the country, rock or pop categories – they lump them into “folk”. I would have loved to see names like Antje Duvekot, Greg Greenway, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Chuck Brodsky, Lynn Miles, Anne Hills or dozens of other deserving artists who proudly consider themselves part of the folk scene, not just a record labels promotion attempt to garner a Grammy. Watching Mark Knoplfer and Emmy Lou pick up the award will not do much for all the artists who keep “folk” alive.

Award ceremonies are usually jokes when it comes to the actual award, but I do feel artists deserve to be recognized for their accomplishments. It is a shame that the Grammy Awards fail to recognize true talent.

My predictions – Springsteen wins Traditional, Knopfler & Harris win Contemporary.