Folk Friends - Folk Unforgettable (Remastered) (2026)

More than 45 years ago, Carsten Linde had the brilliant idea of inviting folk musicians from various countries to a joint session at the Stockfisch Studio in Northeim. How Carsten managed to make this gathering a reality in 1979 borders on a miracle. In October 1980, a second gathering of the Folk Friends took place. The recordings from this session exceeded the total playing time of the double-LP format available at the time, which is why many tracks remained unreleased.

45 years later, we rediscovered the analog recordings in excellent quality in the Stockfisch archive. They are thus a document from days gone by and a memento of beloved musicians who have left us. (Günter Pauler, January 2026)

Preparations for the 1980 Folk Friends Sessions dragged on for nearly two years. There was a lot to do: the artists’ tour schedules and long-term commitments had to be coordinated, train and plane tickets booked, accommodations arranged for 15 musicians and 7 guests, and a one-week time slot reserved for making music together at Günter Pauler’s recording studio. Finally, the time had come: the first musicians had already arrived, while others still needed to be picked up.

There were warm greetings and hugs; laughter and lively conversation filled the room. Some hadn’t seen each other in years, while others were meeting for the first time. After initial discussions and brainstorming about song selection, possible arrangements, and collaborative roles, everyone quickly picked up their instruments, and Günter Pauler began recording.

All the Folk Friends listened intently, impressed by his technical skill and his gift for conjuring up tracks with outstanding sound quality at the mixing console. The session further fueled the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and even today—more than 45 years later—we remember those feelings that sustained us all and bound us together forever. We talked and rehearsed together late into the night; everyone was bursting with ideas and gave it their all. The presence of so many musician friends was a huge source of inspiration, and collaborations that had previously seemed almost impossible emerged spontaneously during those days.

Friendship, musical harmony, and technical quality came together that week in a creative process—one thing led to another. In the end, we listened to the recordings together and decided where they would fit on the double album “Folk Friends 2.” Afterward, the Folk Friends scattered to the four winds once more. We met up occasionally at these musicians’ concerts, but we never came together again as a large group. What remained was the bond of friendship, forged in 1980 and strengthened over the years. All the songs from the 1980 session deserved to appear on the album, but space was limited. The outtakes were archived, where they were recently rediscovered by Günter Pauler.

“As with the recordings released on ‘Folk Friends 2’ in 1980, these are handcrafted acoustic songs full of emotional depth. We are releasing them after 45 years as documents and reflections of the music that carried the Folk Friends across Europe. The songs preserve their dreams of friendship, of togetherness, and of a just world without wars. Like them, we believe in the power of poetry and music to bring people together."

"We dedicate these recordings to the late Folk Friends: Derroll Adams, legendary banjo player; Alex Campbell, Scottish troubadour; Guy Carawan, singer of the American civil rights movement; Werner Lämmerhirt, magician on the guitar; Wizz Jones, highly esteemed ‘folksinger’s folksinger’; Dolores Keane, Queen of Irish Female Singers; and Danny Thompson. The Folk Friends and their songs: Too Good To Be Forgotten." (Carsten Linde)

TRACKLIST

1. Folk Friends - Die Gedanken sind frei
2. Folk Friends - Kaffee schwarz, Zigarette
3. Folk Friends - Columbus Georgia
4. Folk Friends - Raindrop
5. Folk Friends - Song for the Fox
6. Folk Friends - The John McLean March
7. Folk Friends - Come ye oèr frae France
8. Folk Friends - Willie Moore
9. Folk Friends - Sugar for Sugar
10. Folk Friends - Voices from the Mountains
11. Folk Friends - King Fareweel
12. Folk Friends - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
13. Folk Friends - Little Old Lady
14. Folk Friends - Yesterday`s People
15. Folk Friends - Garden Song
16. Folk Friends - Take the Children and Run