To start things off squarely within the folk tradition, I`d like to suggest this album :
Irish Heartbeat by Van Morrison and the Chieftains (1988)
After building up a huge following in their own right, the Irish folk band, The Chieftains, finally teamed up with fellow country-man Van Morrison to produce an album that should have a wide appeal.
Eight of the ten tracks are fresh and powerful reworkings of traditional songs; the lyrics do not disappoint and Van Morrison`s unique delivery will send a chill down the most jaded of spines. Add to that the full range of the Chieftains` fiddles, pipes and bodhràn, and you have an album that succeeds on many levels. You can play it loudly and be swept away by the swirling music, or play it softly and it still sounds great. There are moments of joy, nostalgia and mystery, and a heartfelt version of Carrickfergus in which VM pulls out all the stops.
VM also contributes two of his own more reflective compositions (including the title track) that fit well into the album although I consider the traditional material much stronger. Well, give the album a listen and you can decide for yourself !