There's A Light Beyond These Woods

Philo Records, 1983. Originally released by B.F. Deal Records, 1978 and reissued by Featherbed Records in 1982.

Tracks

I Remember Joe (4:16)

Alabama Soft Spoken Blues (3:42)

Michael's Song (3:57)

Song For Remembered Heroes (3:20)

West Texas Sun (3:37)

There's A Light Beyond These Woods (Mary Margaret) (4:31)

Dollar Matinee (4:46)

Montana Backroads (4:54)

John Philip Griffith (4:00)

Running Time: 37:03

Credits and Notes

Producers: Mike Williams and Nanci Griffith

All songs by Nanci Griffith, except "Dallas Matinee" (Eric Taylor), "Montana Backroads" (Bruce Carlson). Nanci co-wrote "Alabama Soft Spoken Blues" with Maggie Graham.

Notable Participants: Eric Taylor (lead vocals on "Dollar Matinee"), Mike Williams (12-string guitar and wind chimes), Tom Pittman (banjo).

Trivia: Each of the three releases of the album features a different cover

Reviews & Commentary

Mark E. Ferguson, manager of the Nanci Griffith Mailing List

This is a pure folk album, with a set of quiet yet powerful and evocative songs in the West Texas tradition. Nanci's voice sounds strong, mature, and confident - but a bit generic; the tender vocal quality that sets her apart had yet to surface. The production is rather primitive, but it's not a bad-sounding record. Overall, it's a strong debut, featuring "West Texas Sun," "Song for Remembered Heroes," "Alabama Soft Spoken Blues," and the title track, which has become something of a signature song of Nanci's.