Discography

guthrie
2012

AMERICA COME HOME


On Sale Now!

America Come Home, California songwriter Joel Rafael's eighth album, reflects his unique brand of American Power Folk. The high energy version of "Dance Around My Atom Fire," a Woody Guthrie-Joel Rafael co-write, opens the album and sets the tone of social consciousness that permeates Rafael's writing, while the title track, "America Come Home" (with David Crosby and Graham Nash) conjures a longing to restore the American Dream.

  1. Dance Around My Atom Fire
  2. America Come Home
  3. Dharma Bums
  4. Go Tell The Savior
  5. Indian Summer
  6. Runaway Girl
  7. Meanwhile The Rain
  8. I Can't Feel Your Love
  9. Within Your Graces
  10. Singing In The Streets
  11. Goldmine
  12. Racing And Chasing The Sun

Joel Rafael - guitar, piano, lead vocal
Mark Goldenberg - lead guitar, B3
Kevin McCormick - bass
Steve Distanislao - drums
Beth Fitchet-Wood - background vocals
David Crosby and Graham Nash - Harmony on America Come Home

guthrie
2009

THE SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE, VOL. 1 & 2


On Sale Now - Special Price

Southern California-based singer-songwriter Joel Rafael is celebrated as one of music's foremost interpreters of the work of American folk icon Woody Guthrie. Rafael has previously released two acclaimed compilations of Guthrie's songs. Inside Recordings-the independent label to which Rafael his been signed since 2000-has just reissued these two collections together in a new bundled package. The specially priced 2-disc set, released September 15, 2009, retails for $18.98.

"His ( Joel Rafael's) reading of the works of a true folk legend are themselves outstanding and display the art of the storyteller in fine form."

KCUR - 89.3 FM

Purchase Digitally Here | Purchase Album Here

DISC 1

  1. When The Curfew Blows 0:23
  2. 1913 Massacre 3:40
  3. Don’t Kill My Baby And My Son 3:21
  4. Sowing On The Mountain 4:19
  5. Pretty Boy Floyd 4:40
  6. Danville Girl 4:18
  7. Ramblin’ ’Round 4:08
  8. I Ain’t Got No Home 4:19
  9. Talking Fishing Blues 5:58
  10. Dust Storm Disaster 4:13
  11. Dance A Little Longer 4:20
  12. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt 5:13
  13. Plane Wreck At Los Gatos 4:21
  14. Talking Oklahoma Hills 3:50

DISC 2

  1. Rangers Command 3:19
  2. Stepstone 4:01
  3. Sierra Blanca Massacre 5:56
  4. This Train Is Bound For Glory 3:04
  5. Ramblin' Reckless Hobo 2:52
  6. Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key 4:47
  7. Dance Around My Atom Fire 2:47
  8. Two Good Men 4:07
  9. Circle of Truth 4:19
  10. Your Sandal String 3:39
  11. Heaven My Home 3:31
  12. Love Thyself 3:23
13stories
2008

Thirteen Stories High

Joel Rafael's new album is due out on Inside Recordings on April 8, 2008 - The lead single, "This Is My Country," an instant-classic protest song, features backing vocals from David Crosby & Graham Nash.

Purchase Album Here | Purchase Digitally Here

Download the press Release (PDF)

  1. This is My Country (4:56)
  2. Ball & Chain (3:02)
  3. Rich Man's War (3:09)
  4. I Ought To Know (3:46)
  5. Missing Pages (4:33)
  6. Dancing To The Drum (3:46)
  7. Open Up Your Heart (3:12)
  8. Wild Honey (3:02)
  9. Time Stands Still (4:19)
  10. Song Of Socrates (3:35)
  11. Reluctant Angel (2:45)
  12. Promised Land (4:28)
  13. Rivers And Rain (3:32)
album_woodyboye
2004

Woodyboye

Songs of Woody Guthrie (and tales worth telling) volume II

OUT OF PRINT - Please see: The Songs of Woody Guthrie, Vol. 1 & 2

  1. Rangers Command 3:19
  2. Stepstone 4:01
  3. Sierra Blanca Massacre (5:56)
  4. This Train Is Bound For Glory (3:04)
  5. Ramblin' Reckless Hobo (2:52)
  6. Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key (4:47)
  7. Dance Around My Atom Fire (2:47)
  8. Two Good Men (4:07)
  9. Circle of Truth (4:19)
  10. Your Sandal String (3:39)
  11. Heaven My Home (3:31)
  12. Love Thyself (3:23)
folkscene
2002

Woodeye

Songs of Woody Guthrie

OUT OF PRINT - Now titled: "THE SONGS OF WOODY GUTHRIE, VOL. 1 & 2"

  1. When The Curfew Blows 0:23
  2. 1913 Massacre 3:40
  3. Don't Kill My Baby And My Son 3:21
  4. Sowing On The Mountain 4:19
  5. Pretty Boy Floyd 4:40
  6. Danville Girl 4:18
  7. Ramblin' 'Round 4:08
  8. I Ain't Got No Home 4:19
  9. Talking Fishing Blues 5:58
  10. Dust Storm Disaster 4:13
  11. Dance A Little Longer 4:20
  12. Dear Mrs. Roosevelt 5:13
  13. Plane Wreck At Los Gatos 4:21
  14. Talking Oklahoma Hills 3:50
hoppercd
2000

Hopper

Lyrics

Purchase Album Here

  1. Train Yard 0:23
  2. As I Move Along 3:40
  3. China Basin Digs 3:21
  4. Learning To Love 4:19
  5. Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key 4:40
  6. Still Alive 4:18
  7. Beside You 4:08
  8. One More Smile 4:19
  9. Solo Pasando 5:58
  10. Me And My Child 4:13
  11. Light And Thunder 4:20
  12. Crossroads 5:13
  13. So Fast 4:21
  14. Mi Amigo 3:50
owbcd
1996

Old Wood Barn

Old Wood Barn This CD is no longer available, but can be digitally downloaded at iTunes for $9.99
  1. Ballad of Bellingham
  2. Meanwhile the Rain
  3. String of Pearls
  4. Never Not Enough
  5. Coal Mining Town
  6. Survivor Song
  7. Separate Directions
  8. Horse Thief Creek
  9. I'll Be Traveling
  10. Lemon Grove
  11. Time Stands Still
jrbcd
1994

Joel Rafael Band

Joel Rafael Band This CD is no longer available, but can be digitally downloaded at iTunes for $9.99
  1. Solo Pasando
  2. America Come Home
  3. Two Wood Boxes
  4. My Father's Son
  5. One Vote One Name
  6. I Can't Feel Your Name
  7. I Don't Know & I Don't Care
  8. Saturn Return
  9. Goldmine
  10. Reluctant Angel
  11. The Truth Cannot Abide
  12. Flash In The Night

Compilations

Border Songs featuring Joel Rafael
2012

Border Songs


On Sale Now

Border Songs--a new compilation album to benefit the southern Arizona humanitarian group No More Deaths - was released to a capacity crowd in Flagstaff, AZ. The purpose of the album is to raise awareness and provide aid to migrants who suffer and die in Sonoran desert. Joel Rafael contributed his song "Sierra Blanca Massacre" to this album.

Purchase Album Here

DISC 1

  1. Sweet Honey in the Rock: Are We a Nation? 3:48
  2. Lilo González Y Los De La Mount Pleasant: Ningún Ser Humano Es Ilegal 3:58
  3. Amos Lee: El Camino 4:02
  4. Charles Bowden: Excerpts from an Interview By Scott Carrier 1:20
  5. Cyril Barrett: Coyotes of Sasabe 4:07
  6. Tom Russell: Who's Gonna Build Your Wall? 3:46
  7. Margaret Randall and Glenn Weyant: Offended Turf / Excerpt from Droneland Security 6:51
  8. Pachuco and Classik: Somos Mexicanos 4:23
  9. Robert Neustadt: Voluntary Return 4:05
  10. Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta: La Cucharita 4:24
  11. Giant Giant Sand: Detained 3:13
  12. m. henry: What Coyote Brought 7:10
  13. Scott Ainslie: the Land That I Love 5:24
  14. Ted Warmbrand: Who's the Criminal? 3:41
  15. Mario Bencastro: Arizona 1:01
  16. Christa Sadler: Sublime Gracia 0:38

DISC 2

  1. Calacas Blues: Nada Que Llorar 3:06
  2. Michael Franti and Spearhead: Hello, Bonjour 4:50
  3. Sierra Blanca Massacre 5:55
  4. Raul Zúrita: Desiertos 4 0:58
  5. Dúo Guardabarranco: Canción Pequeña 3:15
  6. Los Románticos: Los Mandados 2:40
  7. Eliza Gilkyson: Vayan Al Norte 6:00
  8. Óscar Sarmiento: El Oficio De Coyote 1:004:19
  9. Calexico: Across the Wire 3:26
  10. Chuck Cheesman: Uphill (American Dream) 3:40
  11. Lakesigns: Sunset Limited 5:49
  12. Denise Chávez: Rosaura Muñoz: I.D. #595, Excerpt from the King and Queen of Comezón 4:00
  13. Eric Skye: Cowgirl Blue 3:26
  14. Pete Seeger: My Rainbow Race 3:43
  15. Christa Sadler: Amazing Grace 0:41
spain_large
2003

Spain In My Heart

Songs of the Spanish Civil War

Purchase Album Here

The idealistic appeal of "fighting the good fight" against the fascist troops of General Francisco Franco as he warred against Spain's democratically elected government drew more than 45,000 volunteer soldiers from over 50 countries during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). This influx created a canon of war-related songs sung by the freedom fighters and revived during the American folk boom of the Fifties.

SPAIN IN MY HEART presents new recordings of vintage and recent songs inspired by the conflict and performed by an international roster of musicians. The United States is represented by folk's activist icon, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, master instrumentalist/vocalist John McCutcheon, bluegrass singer/fiddler Laurie Lewis, East L.A.'s Quetzal, multicultural singer/songwriter/actress Michele Greene, and Joel and Jamaica Rafael of the Joel Rafael Band. From Mexico and Nicaragua come vocalist Lila Downs and Duo Guardabarranco, respectively. The Irish volunteers are solo artist Aoife Clancy, formerly of Cherish the Ladies, and Shay Black of The Black Family. Spain itself is represented by two of its leading contemporary singers, Eliseo Parra and Ux'a.

The songs here, acoustic-based and many in Spanish, form a surprisingly delicate mosaic. Rather than emulating the strident chaos of battle, the CD conveys more subtle aspects of the conflict — yearning for simpler times ("Asturias," "En La Plaza De Mi Pueblo"); longing for distant loved ones ("The Bantry Girls' Lament"); the equal significance of life, love and death ("Lleg' Con Tres Heridas"). The war and the bravery of the anti-fascist forces are addressed in such songs as "Jarama Valley," "El Quinto Regimiento," "Taste of Ashes," and "The Abraham Lincoln Brigade."

No matter in what language the songs are performed, the bravery, pain and loss felt by soldiers and civilians alike are rendered with a conviction and feeling that transcends words and forges an aching link with the listener.

  1. "Jarama Valley" - Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger
  2. "En La Plaza De Mi Pueblo" - Michele Greene
  3. "The Abraham Lincoln Brigade" - John McCutcheon
  4. "Asturias" - Guardabarranco
  5. "El Quinto Regimiento" - Lila Downs
  6. "The Bantry Girls' Lament" - Aoife Clancy
  7. "Garcia E Galan" - Uxia
  8. "Los Cuatro Generales" - Joel Rafael & Jamaica Rafael
  9. "Llego Con Tres Heridas" - Eliseo Parra
  10. "Noche Nochera" - Guardabarranco
  11. "Viva La Quinte Brigada" - Shay Black & Aoife Clancy
  12. "Si Me Quieres Escribir" - Quetzal
  13. "Tu Que Brillas" - Michele Greene
  14. "Los Marineros" - Uxia
  15. "Peat Bog Soldiers" - Laurie Lewis
  16. "Viva La Quince Brigada" - Quetzal
  17. "Taste Of Ashes" - Laurie Lewis
folkscene
2001

Folkscene

Purchase Album Here
  1. Music in My Room (Cheryl Wheeler) 3.39
  2. Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key (Joel Rafael Band) 4:35
  3. Kiss Me Before I Die (Laurie Lewis) 3:57
  4. See Me When You Can (Guy Davis) 4:46
  5. Clearing in the Forrest (Kate Wolf) 2:44
  6. Ghost in this House (Michael Johnson) 3:25
  7. Lucky One (Bryndle) 3:32
  8. Last Chance to Dance (The Alpha Band) 3:41
  9. At Seventeen (Janis Ian) 4:10
  10. Crow on the Cradle (Jackson Browne) 3:56
  11. Walkin' on the Moon(Katy Moffatt & Rosie Flores) 4:13
  12. Minglewood Blues (David Wadley & Wally Ingram) 4:53
  13. Huron OBeltane' Fire Dance (Loreena McKennitt) 5:57