Folk music definitely seems to be making a comeback. Even before the recent Bob Dylan biopic, the genre has been attracting attention on the college and alternative music scenes, with popularity charts on college radio now being devoted to folk music. Emerging artists are adding their own spin to the genre, keeping it fresh, but maintaining the usually acoustic-guitar dominated sound with articulate lyrics, which run beyond the usual topics of pop songs. But there are veterans who continue to ply their trade and create worthwhile music. A couple of great examples are Loudon Wainwright III, and John McCutcheon, whose recent 45^th album we reviewed for this series. This week, we have another worthwhile recording in the classic folksinger mode from another veteran artist, though not one not quite as prolific as McCutcheon. It’s C. Daniel Boling, and his new 10^th album is called Love, Dan.

Outside of his music, C. Daniel Boling spent three decades as a Ranger and Criminal Investigator for the National Park Service, and on Public lands in the West. At age 50, he decided to pursue his music full time, and won a songwriting award at the Kerrville Folk Festival. He also tours as a current member of the 1960s-era folk trio the Limelighters. Boling has collaborated with the great 1960s folksinger Tom Paxton, and did an album of songs he co-wrote with Paxton.

On his new album, Boling pens 14 songs that are classic folk in style, including social commentary and protest songs about the toxic xenophobia that is coming from the far-right wing, the backsliding on social justice, along with poignant songs about aging, family relationships, the heroes in the world, as well as a couple of love songs.

The musical setting is quite understated, with acoustic guitar and banjo, and subtle arrangements with some fiddle, mandolin and acoustic bass. He worked with producer Jono Manson, recording in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Opening is the title track, Love, Dan a song about the complicated relationship with one’s parents, at least as a youth. <<>>

Perhaps the most powerful song on the album is something that is very relevant these days. The title pretty much says it all, All of Us Are Immigrants, a timely reply to the purveyors of anti-immigrant demagoguery. <<>>

Boling does two songs about his late father. If I Were You considers his father’s advice to find a different career path than his. <<>>

Following that is Whadya Do Today on feeling the absence of his father, and by extension losing the people we are close to. <<>>

A clever social commentary comes on the song Ever Since I Woke a reply to the racists and bigots who look upon “woke” as a threat. <<>>

Boling pays tribute to the heroes in life in the song Toward the Fire, mentioning specifically firefighters in California, and those trying to save lives in the midst of gun violence. <<>>

Another piece of social commentary comes on For Better or Worse, which is also a kind of affirmation to do good in the world.

One of the more lighthearted songs is a tune for his granddaughter, Maya, I Adore You, which takes the form of a kind of Irish jig. It’s a song he so-wrote with Tom Paxton. <<>>

The album ends with another tune, like the opening track, with a banjo accompaniment, The Sycamore Tree, a kind of love song for the ages, with two kids having a romantic tryst at the tree in question, which they continue into later life. <<>>

C. Daniel Boling’s new tenth recording, Love, Dan is an epitome of a classic folk-style album, with lyrics that often have much to say, including poetic social commentary, done in a tasteful acoustic setting. The production by Jono Manson keeps the focus on the lyrics but adds some nice instrumental textures with mandolin, a bit of accordion, violin, cello and the like. It makes for quite enjoyable listening.

Our grade for audio quality is close to an “A,” with good clarity, a warm vocal sound and proper treatment of the acoustic instruments.

It seems that a folk music revival could not have come at a more appropriate time. C. Daniel Boling has been doing this sort of thing, in relative obscurity for decades now. The time, he has scored a real gem and a timely one at that, with Love, Dan.

(c) Copyright 2025 George D. Graham. All rights reserved.
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<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

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