Originally from Indianapolis, Mary McCaslin (1946-2022) grew up in California and became a stalwart of the California folk scene, carving out a distinctive, rootsy sound that expanded the horizons of contemporary folk music. Fans of Kate Wolf and Iris DeMent may hear in their work an echo of McCaslin's own plaintive tones, while her work with then-husband Jim Ringer still stands as a pillar of the style now known as Americana music. Here's a quick look at her work...
Mary McCaslin "Goodnight Everybody" (Barnaby Records, 1969) (LP)
Her debut album... this was reissued the following year as Blue Ridge Epitaph, on the Piccadilly label.
Mary McCaslin "Way Out West" (Philo Records, 1973) (LP)
Mary McCaslin "Prairie In The Sky" (Philo Records, 1975) (LP)
Mary McCaslin "Old Friends" (Philo Records, 1977) (LP)
Mary McCaslin & Jim Ringer "The Bramble And The Rose" (Philo Records, 1978) (LP)
Mary McCaslin "Sunny California" (Mercury Records, 1979) (LP)
McCaslin's major-label foray... later reissued on the Philo label.
Mary McCaslin "A Life And Time" (Flying Fish Records, 1981)
Mary McCaslin "Broken Promises" (Philo Records, 1994)
Mary McCaslin "Rain: The Lost Album" (Bear Family Records, 1999)
Archival recordings from an unreleased album cut for Capitol Records around 1967-68...
Mary McCaslin/Lacy J. Dalton/Ginny Mitchell "The Girls From Santa Cruz" (Mitchell/Collins, 2002)
A concert album... also available as a DVD.
Mary McCaslin "Better Late Than Never" (Mary McCaslin, 2006)
Mary McCaslin "The Best Of Mary McCaslin" (Philo Records, 1984) (LP)
An eleven-song collection of her work for the Philo label...
Mary McCaslin "Things We Said Today: The Best Of Mary McCaslin" (Philo Records, 1992)
