Various Artists: Sowing the Seeds (Appleseed/Elite)

This moving and sometimes inspiring double-disc celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Appleseed label which is a home to various socio-political folkies such as Pete Seeger, Tom Paxton and others.

But for this, their first sampler, they have also invited in some guests such as Bruce Springsteen and Donovan -- and had Seeger record some excellent new material, notably the opener, a brief poem Oh Sacred World which sets the tone for songs about dignity, freedom and social justice.

Elsewhere here are Lou Reed (with Eric Andersen), Al Stewart (not my favourite interview subject, see My Back Pages!), Jackson Browne with Joan Baez, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, various Irish folkies and Bruce Cockburn.

Songs are about working people and injustices (although not exclusively so) but this is the kind of thing that gives folk music a good name.

Pretty special I think.