217. Exploring Unfamiliar Albums with Fretted Dulcimer Player Sam Edelston

Send us Fan MailThis is an excerpt from a Bonus Tracks episode published on the You, Me and An Album Patreon on Sept. 25, 2025. You can hear the entire episode, plus all of the other Bonus Tracks episodes, by joining the YMAAA Patreon at patreon.com/youmealbum.Dulcimer player Sam Edelston joins Al to talk about listening to albums that are off the beaten path. Whether we're listening to genres we're unfamiliar with or music that we come across unexpectedly, finding the key that allows us to enjoy that music can be a challenge. Sam and Al talk about their experiences with listening to albums on a list that Sam created, which features artists ranging from Tom Lehrer to Bobby Bare to Kazuhito Yamashita. Sam also discusses how he has discovered and reimagined music through the fretted dulcimer—and he and Al chat about his terrific dulcimer rock album Making Waves.You can keep up with Sam and his music at the following places:https://www.samthemusicman.com/@contemporarydulcimer on Instagram and [email protected] on FacebookBe sure to sign up for the YMAAA Newsletter at youmealbum.ghost.io. To keep up with You, Me and An Album, please give the show a follow on Instagram at @youmealbum.0:17 Introduction: Sharing excerpts from Bonus Tracks2:55 Sam joins the show3:08 Al explains how he is approaching this episode4:36 Sam talks about why he took up fretted dulcimer7:44 “Mellow Yellow” got Sam started on his exploration of rock songs on dulcimer9:20 Sam talks about the advantages of playing a three-stringed instrument11:49 Sam explains how he varies some of the arrangements on his cover songs16:09 Sam aims to take the integration of dulcimer into rock music to another level19:33 Al didn’t connect with some of the music on Sam’s list24:02 Sam found each of the albums on his list in unexpected ways28:03 Hearing a cappella versions of songs sometimes gets Sam to explore the originals35:49 Sometimes record store recommendations fill in the gaps that radio listening leaves37:05 Al highlights some of the music from Sam’s list that he liked the most39:09 Arranging songs for dulcimer enhances Sam’s enjoyment of songs that are new to himOutro music is from “Wild Horses” by Edelston & Dulcimer.Support the show