A Buyer's Guide To... Nanci Griffith
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When a 23 year old kindergarten relatively little known in the UK teacher from a small town outside (certainly she’s never bothered the of Austin, Texas gave up her job to singles chart compilers), it’s hard record and promote her delicate, to underestimate her influence country-tinged folk songs in 1978, on a generation of women singer- she could scarcely imagine that she songwriters. Griffith has shown would become an icon. Yet here we an incredible level of consistency are nearly thirty years later, and it’s over her fifteen studio albums; the fair to say that Nanci Griffith has fact that she’s never really pro- earned herself a special place in the duced a below-par album that’s not hearts of those for whom country crammed full of interesting words means more than tasselled shirts, and melodies makes the job of com- ten-gallon hats and terrifically naff piling a buyer’s guide both simple lyrics. She’s even managed to coin and very difficult. Simple because her very own musical genre with you’re tempted to say, “Oh, just buy her self-styled ‘folkabilly’ – a per- any of them! All of them!”; difficult fect description of her unique blend because the task requires the differ- of folk storytelling flavoured with entiation and ranking of her music. the best of country – all impecca- Oh well, in for a five and dime, in bly delivered. Although she’s still for a dollar serenade... a buyer’s guide to... Nanci Griffith and gentle guitar. There’s none of the have become long-time fan favourites. CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT bombast of the Bette Midler version Standout tracks include the brilliant or the overbearing saccharine produc- title track, Love At The Five & Dime’s tion of Cliff Richard’s rendering. Other poignant tale of young lovers, More standout tracks include the title track, Than A Whisper, Love’s Found A Shoulder the beautiful depression-era ballad and The Wing & The Wheel. And, yes, Trouble In These Fields and a re-record- that is Lyle Lovett waltzing with mega- ing of the title song from her debut, platinum songwriter, Diane Warren, on There’s A Light Beyond These Woods the front cover. Stranger things have (Mary Margaret). happened. my friends. PRETTY DARNED SPECIAL WORTH A POP Flyer Elektra, 1994 Arguably her best album, Flyer is chock full of beautiful songs that, even at their most melancholic, are infused with hope and strength of spirit. Released after Griffith’s flirtation with a more mainstream sound on Storms and Late Night Grande Hotel, and though unmis- takeably contemporary sound (thanks to the production of Peter Collins, bet- Other Voices, Other Rooms Storms ter known for his work with the likes Elektra, 1993 MCA USA, 1989 of Rush and Gary Moore) it retains the As a collection of covers paying tribute country-folk essence that Griffith ex- to her songwriting heroes, Griffith’s first cels with. The album also includes some album after moving to Elektra was an stellar contributions; Emmylou Harris unusual but inspired choice, and a wel- and the Indigo Girls guest, as do Adam come return to her folkabilly sound. The Duritz of Counting Crows, U2’s Adam choices take in a diverse range of artists, Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., REM’s Pe- from Bob Dylan and Ralph McTell to ter Buck, The Chieftains, Mark Knop- John Prine and Emmylou Harris. Where fler and Tony Levin. Other Voices... succeeds is the palpable sense of Griffith’s enjoyment of the ma- terial. In fact, so infectious is this feeling that even the more peculiar choices, like Late Night Grande Hotel album closer Wimoweh, seem charming MCA USA, 1991 rather than odd. The lack of support (or even apprecia- tion) afforded to her Lone Star State Of Mind and Little Love Affairs albums by the Nashville music press and country music radio prompted a move to MCA’s pop division in Los Angeles. This led to the two most atypical, mainstream albums in the Nanci Griffith canon. Lone Star State Of Mind Whilst their sound is markedly differ- MCA USA, 1987 ent from her earlier works, there’s no Griffith’s first album with MCA proved dearth of great songs; It’s A Hard Life to be her real breakthrough. As the Wherever You Go and Listen To The Radio title suggests, the approach is firmly Last Of The True Believers are particular highlights. Storms em- rooted in the country sound she’d been Rounder/Philo, 1986 ployed Eagles producer Glyn Johns and developing since Once In A Very Blue featured guest spots from former Eagle, Moon. Lone Star State Of Mind stands This last album before her move to Bernie Leadon, Phil Everly and legend- out for its memorable tunes and world- MCA shows all the hallmarks of an ary country guitarists Jerry Donahue class performances. It also features artist growing in confidence and matu- and Albert Lee. Late Night Grande Ho- the original and best recording of the rity. Again, it’s full of great bluegrass- tel moved even further from Nashville much-covered, From A Distance. Here, tinged country-folk tunes performed in both sound and geography, with the the song glides along with tender piano by Nashville’s best, many of which main recording sessions being held in 36 NANCI GRIFFITH the UK. The mainstream AOR produc- both good, workman-like sets of songs tion by Rod Argent and Peter van Hook and, while there’s nothing wrong with seemed to almost completely divorced them, don’t seem to hold the magic of many of the songs from Griffith’s the earlier discs. trademark country sound, save for unmistakeable Texas twang of the vo- A TOE IN THE WATER cals. Still, the album stands on its own merits and features contributions from Tanita Tikaram and Phil Everly. ALSO RECOMMENDED Winter Marquee Rounder, 2002 These two live records are quite differ- ent prospects. The more recent Winter Marquee canters through the back cata- logue with able musical muscle from Griffith’s usual band, the Blue Moon Orchestra, and conveys her live show well. One Fair Summer Evening sees the singer in a more exposed setting, with only keyboards, double bass and har- There are numerous compilation al- mony vocals as backing. This wonder- bums out there, all of which mine simi- fully intimate experience is added to lar areas of Griffith’s catalogue – no- even further by Griffith’s sometimes tably the MCA years. But whilst many rambling musings and twanging Texas of these are a good starting point and narration. Perhaps not one for the un- great value for money, The Complete initiated, but a little gem of an album MCA Studio Recordings (MCA/Univer- for those more accustomed. sal, 2003) narrows the options to one. This 2CD collection, available in many FOR THE FANS places at single album prices, gathers together the complete Lone Star State Poet In My Window (Rounder/Phi- Of Mind, Little Love Affairs, Storms and lo, 1992), Once In A Very Blue Moon Late Night Grande Hotel albums with (Rounder/Philo, 1994) and Little Love some rare tracks and B-sides, all of Affairs (MCA USA, 1988) for classic, which are generously remastered. For early country-flavoured Griffith. In anyone looking to dive into the oeuvre addition, Other Voices Too: A Trip Back of Nanci Griffith, there can’t be a better To Bountiful (Elektra, 1998) is a worth- buy. Snap one up before MCA comes to while second set of folkabilly cover its senses and realises what it’s doing! tunes and The Dust Bowl Symphony Others are: The Best Of Nanci Griffith (Elektra, 1999) is a nice retrospective (MCA, 1993), Wings To Fly & A Place collection of songs re-recorded with To Be: An Introduction To Nanci Griffith the London Symphony Orchestra. (MCA/Universal, 2000) and From A Distance: The Very Best Of Nanci Griffith LIVING IT UP (MCA, 2002). < Griffiths’ debut, There’s A Light Be- yond These Woods (Rounder/Philo, Download these: 1978), is a fine set of tunes that is only 1. From A Distance overshadowed by the quality of what 2. Trouble In The Fields came immediately after, but should be 3. Last Of The True Believers checked out afterward. Blue Roses From 4. These Days Are An Open Book The Moons (Elektra, 1997) is an album 5. This Heart which, with the collaboration of Buddy 6. Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness Holly’s backing band The Crickets and 7. From Clare To Here the Blue Moon Orchestra, should be 8. It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go amazing but somehow falls short. The 9. Listen To The Radio two most recent albums, Clock With- 10. Gulf Coast Highway One Fair Summer Evening out Hands (Elektra, 2001) and Hearts In 11. Outbound Plane MCA USA, 1988 Mind (New Door/Universal, 2004), are 12. Love At The Five & Dime (live) 37.