//  A bit more about FAD, and some suggestions for other artists to
//  listen to.  Also, the Nitty Gritty ACL special is coming up.  
//
//  Your list manager will be taking a few days off over the holiday.
//  Look for the next Digest early next week.  Everyone have a great
//  weekend!  - MF


From: "John W. Hebeler Jr." (software.process@worldnet.att.net)   
Subject: "From a distance" continued"                                

I have to add my 2 cents on "From a Distance".  I became a fan instantly =
back in 1988 when I saw Nanci sing on David Letterman.  A show I rarely =
watch.  I never heard the song before and had only a remote liking for =
folk music.  To me that song is Nanci and it clearly represents her =
wonderful talent like few others.  She walks the thin line between the =
sincere hope of a child and the seasoned wisdom of an adult.  The two =
together move the world and she honestly pulls it off .  A child-version =
only just sounds sappy because it is not actionable.  An adult version =
sounds cynical and hollow.  And then again there is the Bett Midler =
version... but I won't go into that disappointment.  I find Nanci =
successfully walks that fine line and I see it in many of her other =
songs.    Her voice wavers from the child-like hope in us all to the =
wisdom to see it through.  I think the ugly, cynical side of the world =
attacks songs and talents like this for it reveals the truth of our =
possible contribution to the world if we only believe it can be.  (Sorry =
a little of Viktor Frankl was coming through)  This truth is truly =
threatening for it reveals our many compromises on our life's potential. =
 I am probably making too much out of it.  But I believe!  And I feel =
fortunate that I tuned into David that night!

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Susan Krauss (skrauss@hooked.net)                           
Subject: Nitty Gritty Christmas                                      

According to TV Guide, there's going to be a PBS special called "A Nitty
Gritty Chirstmas."  The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will perform along with
NANCI, Kathy Mattea & Aaron Neville.  It says to check your local PBS
listings for time and place.

Susan Krauss                            Krauss Research
mailto:skrauss@hooked.net               http://www.wenet.net/~skrauss

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Moore,Julie,GLENDALE,NUSA" (julie.moore@us.nestle.com)     
Subject: bits of nanci:  songs for the lost album                    

One of my favorite places to find nanci is on KBCO "The Best of Studio C
- Volume 5" CD (she performs "Flyer" - just Nanci and her guitar) where
all performances are recorded live in their studio in Boulder, CO.  Also
on this CD (which is one of my favorites):  Cowboy Junkies, Boz Scaggs,
Sheryl Crow, Keb Mo, Jay Geils . . . (to name a few) . . .  Pretty good
stuff.

I hestitated to add this to your list, since everyone seems to be on top
of every move she makes. . . (practically).  I was sure this one was
already suggested.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Boxcephus@aol.com                                           
Subject: whose garden is this - the sappy song thread                

A quick note on the "sappy song" thread...

I've always enjoyed the diversity in Nanci Griffiths songs, as well as her
wide range of tastes in cover tunes. Fortunately there should be enough there
to go around and suit everybodys tastes at some point throughout the course
of a musical experience. And the rest buys you a few minutes to go get a
Coke, or Pepsi, whichever you prefer.

I've always loved and admired Doc Watson for the things he says to the
audience about it not being a fancy show, really like a great living room jam
session; and how he hopes that everybody likes the whole show at least a
little bit, and finds some part of the event that they might happen to like a
whole lot. Cheers to that, and to you all. See you at the shows!

Lance

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Lauren J. LeBlanc" (lleblanc@brynmawr.edu)                 
Subject: jonatha brooke                                              

i read someone mentioning jonatha brooke as someone to listen to if you
liked Nanci and this is quite true.  Jonatha Brooke is an excellent singer
whose work, i stumbled upon in my sophomore year of high school when my
best friend gave me a tape of The Story: _Angel in the House_ for
Christmas.  Jonatha was the primary singer and songwriter for this duo
which consisted of herself and Jennifer Kimbell.  If you do not have this
album, i would STRONGLY recommend it for anyone who loves soaring harmonies
and wise lyrics.  It makes you laugh with songs about letting loose and
waxes quite wistfuly recalling a mother's sacrifice and resignment to time.

After this album, Jonatha Brooke broke ties with Jennifer Kimbell and
recorded _Plumb_ as her first solo effort, on an independent label.  It is
rich and a bit more produced than I am apt  to enjoy, but for those who
like Shawn COlvin, this should not be a hindrance. (frankly, i find shawn
colvin too produced)  The arrangements are strongly influenced by world
music which is interesting, because I was drawn to the Story because they
resembled the indigo girls except this album made it all the more clear
that Jonatha Brooke was headed towards more vast musical landscapes.

She just released a new album, _10 Cent Wings_, just a few weeks ago and it
is getting heavy airplay on WXPN -- the University of Pennsylvania's radio
station.  I would suggest for those interested to get _Angel in the House_
first and then branch into her solo efforts which are at times more
profound and sumptuous than her earlier efforts, but, at times lack the
simple clarity of _Angel in the House_. It is a must for any Nanci fan who
is looking for a younger voice which rides parallel to the musical harmony
and the emotion of Nanci's music.  Enjoy!  also, nanci netters who saw
Nanci in New Orleans, did she talk at all about where she went in the city?
Did she talk about how she was influenced by New Orleans, why she wrote, "A
Year Down In New Orleans?"  I'm a transplanted New Orleanian, going to
school outside of Philadelphia.  I saw her at the Tower and it was
wonderful.  If Lee needs a break from singing harmony with Nanci, I want to
be first in line to help Nanci out!  :)  I'm so glad to hear younger
listeners enjoying Nanci.  Two of the kids I babysit for love to listen to
_Blue Roses from the Moons_, especially "Battlefield," over and over.
Nanci is the best.  okay, back to my French translation.....
take care, lauren
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: mitchell (mitchell@gl.umbc.edu)                             
Subject: BMO                                                         

Folks:
Forgive me if the issue I raise has been throughly hashed out in some
positing I missed.  I'm just curious (and not yellow).  Am I the only
person who would be interested in seeing that grand band, the Blue Moon
Orchestra, perform even without Ms. Griffith leading them?  And would I be
the only person interested in any recordings they might make.  With Lee
Satterfield's voice (you should hear her sing lead) and songwriting as
well as Hooker's talent for composition and the occasional vocal himself,
it seems to me that they would be a cookin' band--and I presume with such
real talents that all 5 of them possess, the BMO sans Nanci would not
sound like the BMO sans Nanci--by which I mean that just as they play so
perfectly for Nanci's style and range and preferences, they would change
to express their own material.

Perfessor "no I don't have a 'SAVE THE BMO!' bumper sticker on my car"
Mitchell

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Poetmuse@aol.com                                            
Subject: You know Nanci's famous when...                             

her name is mentioned in a AOL contest!!

hey gang- had to tell you about this... on AOL they are running a contest
every week- for quess the celebrity voice- this week it's a woman with sort
of a Texas drawl... it's not our Angel- but I did a kick out the fact that
she was option number three (it was Reba- oy)... of course they spelled it
NANCY Griffith... but with all of AOL's OTHER problems you wouldn't expect
them to get something as simple as a  name spelled right.
So anyways- I guess there are some people out there who know who she is!!
hehehe

Uninteresting tidbit for the day- I know- but it beats Jello-

lalala Christina );)

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Beth Herron (bherron@asgnet.psc.sc.edu)                     
Subject: Other artists                                               

I've been interested to read about the other artists Nanci Netters hold
in high esteem. I also would place Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Maniacs
on my list (why has that band tried to revive themselves with a pretty
mediocre lead singer), R.E.M., Iris DeMent, Sting, and Paul Simon.  His
"Graceland" album really has to rank up there as one of the greats.  He
was just on "Storytellers" last night, a great VH1 program which has
featured Billy Joel, Sting, Melissa Etheridge among others.  I always
think it would be the perfect venue for Nanci - maybe we should start
campaigning VH1 to include her in the series.

But, Nanci still tops that short list!!!!

Have a great Thanksgiving out there -
Beth Herron
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Zeoli, Stephen" (ZEOLI@CHAMPLAIN.EDU)                      
Subject: RE: Other artists                                           

Beth and all,

I have to take exception to one thing you said here.  I like the new
lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs better than Natalie Merchant, whose voice
never really did anything for me--of course, this is a completely
personal opinion that we'll never agree on.  But why shouldn't the
members of 10K Maniacs try to revive themselves?  Just because Natalie
wanted a solo career doesn't mean that the rest of the band should give
up performing, does it?  And I think they made a great choice in their
new lead singer.

Just a couple of cents worth of useless opinion...

Steve Zeoli
zeoli@champlain.edu

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: RussOverby@aol.com                                          
Subject: which nanci CD should i buy next?/other artists:kelly willis

NanciNetters:

my entry for the other great artists list is KELLY WILLIS.  Her self-titled
CD is one of my favorites, and she puts on a great live show if you get a
chance to see her.  A few years ago, I saw her at the Great American Music
Hall in San Francisco.  She introduced the song, "whichever way the wind
blows" by telling the story of her ex-husband, who got married almost
immediately after their recent divorce was final.  To make it worse, he
specifically got married on Kelly's birthday..(that's cold!).  She put a lot
of energy into that performance!

On a Nanci note, i am in the sad or enviable position (depends on how you
look at it), of only owning 6 of nanci's cds.  The sad part is that i only
have 6; the happy part is that i have all the rest to look forward to.
 Here's my question: in what order do you suggest that i acquire the
others?..how would you rank the ones i don't have on quality? (i know this
might be tough for such intense nanci fans who have everything she's ever
recorded, but it would help me cause i like to build my cd collection slowly
and savor the new entries for a while before getting the next one).

Here are the ones I have (in the order i got them for no particular reason):

Lone Star State of Mind
Storms
Little Love Affairs
Once in a Very Blue Moon
Flyer
Other Vocies, Other Rooms

Thanks for your ideas.

Russ Overby
email:russoverby@aol.com
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Linda Oliver (loliver@flash.net)                            
Subject: other favorites                                             

Hi everyone,
        I've been lurking out here for about a month, but the query regarding
other artists got me to thinking.  I was lucky enough to see Nanci at
the Warfield in San Francisco recently.  Great show!  I see a lot of
music, but she really stands out of the crowd.  I took my new husband to
see her, and he was blown away.  I think he plans on getting me all the
CDs of hers that I don't already have for Christmas.
        Two other artists that I never miss are Victoria Williams and Shawn
Colvin.  Victoria has a somewhat quirky voice that some people don't
like much, but I have friends who say the same about Nanci.  Her work
was featured on the first "Sweet Relief" album.  I've been a fan of
Shawn Colvin's for a long time, and I'm glad to see that she is finally
getting the recognition that she deserves.
        I hope to meet some of you at Telluride next summer!  Linda Oliver

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Ed Maier (eddie@flash.net)                                  
Subject: re: nominations for the Nancisphere                     

Okay......I'll budge and give Iris DeMent another listen since so many of
you list her as one of your favs.  I have seen her on ACL in addition to a
couple of other shows and I COULDN'T STAND      the whiney nasal quality of her
voice.... but it's been a few years.  I DO, however, like her as backup to
Nanci.  BUT, I'm willing to listen to Iris again and see if I can
appreciate what all of you other Nancinetters find so appealing about her
voice.  I've always felt the same way about Neil Young's voice, too -- too
much of a whiney quality for me.  But, because one of my dear friends is a
big Neil Young fan, I have put up with it on more than one occasion.  These
are the only two musicians that I couldn't stand to listen to.  My
favorites, after Nanci, of course, include Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt
(whom I get to see in concert Dec. 15!), Michelle Shocked, Greg Brown,
Shawn Colvin, Kate Bush, Carly Simon, The Indigo Girls, Aaron Neville,
Michelle Wright, Linda Davis, and yes, Natalie Merchant (I LOOOOVVVVEEE her
voice!).  Funny how taste can differ so much among people, eh?

Mary Anne (jumpin' for joy because it's snowed 8" in the last 12 hours!)
Hansen

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Mary Anne Hansen (alimh@gemini.oscs.montana.edu)            
Subject: re: nominations for the Nancisphere                     

I forgot to mention a favorite, too -- Mary Chapin Carpenter.  She is
wonderful, in my eyes/ears!!!  I first heard Linda Davis on a Reba McIntyre
special when they sang a song together (don't know the title), but it was a
fabulous duet.  Linda has just gotten out a bit on her own, but Reba helped
her to a good start, I think (I like some of Reba's stuff, too, and some of
Wynona Judd -- the less country-twang sounding stuff).  I haven't heard of
Matraca Berg, but will keep my ears open for her.  Yes, Roseanne Cash is
great, too.  She did an outdoor concert here in Bozeman, MT, a couple of
years ago at our annual Sweet Pea Festival (quaint, isn't it?  a fun
tradition that was revived about 20 years ago from an early 1900's
tradition); 'twas great fun!  I'll have to listen for Gail Davis, too.  Oh,
another I like is Janis Ian....

Mary Anne (so many musicians, so little time) Hansen
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Blake Marshall (bmarshall@worldnet.att.net)                 
Subject: RE: One Fair Summer Evening Video

))Hi.  Does anyone have any idea where I can order the OFSE Video?  Thanks in
advance.  deanie((

Probably any record store can get it for you.  I don't have it yet,
but I checked with the local store, and they said they could get
it for $16.95.

I'll probably order a copy for myself in the next couple of weeks.

If you have trouble getting one, I can order one for you if you'd like.

I have the OV/OR video. It's great.  I'd really like to get a copy
of the old Austin City Limits shows if anyone out there has one. :)

Blake

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com)                           
Subject: Name That Disk                                              

Hey NanciNet,

Say, something just occured to me.  We didn't really know the name of
Nanci's last album until about a month before it was released.  We got
the "Blue Roses" part but "moons" caught most of us by surprise.  So,
what's this next album called?  I've heard several titles including:
Other Voices Too, The Trip To Bountiful
Other Voices Other Rooms Too
Other Voices Other Rooms II
Other Voices Too
Other Voices II

Also, how shall we abreviate it? OVORIITTBTB, OVORT, OVORII, OVOR2, OVT,
OVII, OVIRAPTOR?

And if an EEG is an electroencephalogram, and an EKG is an
electrocardiogram, what's an EGG?

Microcephalously,
    -Shawn

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Terrence P. Chouinard, MFA" (TCHOUIN3@slism.slis.ua.edu)   
Subject: Re: other nancis                                            

Okay, so I've been saving everyone's postings (all made on the N-net
and those sent to me privately) regarding our "other
nanci's" those particular artists whose music reaches deep within our
souls are draws forth the best in us...except for that one guy who
went on for pages and pages about Journey, but I won't
mention any names....(glancing over at Jonathan Harwell, information
specialist)

So I'll post a general census of "other Nanci's" in a few days. The
point of this e-missive of mine is to chime in myself. When I asked
the N-net about the "others" I just put a question out there without
really considering it myself. REal quick I gotta agree with everyone:
Iris Dement has it going on
I'm voting for Michelle Shocked (her and Nanci, both of whom I cannot
live without), and Jane Siberry is quicky rising in
my regards (Bound by the Beauty & and her new Christmas LP "CHILD"
are just great, really!!!), to round out this all ladies category, I have to 
declare a tie between Emmylou and Kate Wolf. Jonathan Harwell is correct when
he writes

> I've been debating answering this thread, since I didn't want to have
> to explain Victoria Williams.  Now a kind lady has saved me the
> trouble.  Besides, I knew that Terry Chouinard would bring her up
> soon anyway.

Victoria is the runner up, miss congeniality if you will. Check out
her Live in Toronto album and see what I mean. Someone wrote once
"her voice curdles cows." I'm gonna find that jerk and punch his
lights out.

The guys side of the aisle is easy
Johns: Prine, Mellencamp, Gorka, and Wesley harding,plus Los Lobos (the whole b
nd or just David Hildago by himself).

I'd vote for Woody Guthrie (my ultimate hero) & Hoagy Carmichael if we weren't
all focussed on live performers.

terry "one blade shy of a sharp edge" chouinard
more later
the census results soon!!!

 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: RussOverby@aol.com                                          
Subject: kelly willis and nanci connection                           

Hi NanciNet:

I recently posted that my addition to the great artists list would be kelly
willis.  After hearing back from another kelly fan on the nancinet, i decided
to check out kelly's web page and bio.  Here is the third paragraph of her
bio:

"It did not take long for Kelly to get noticed in Austin, One night while
playing the Continental Club, Nanci Griffith wandered in near the end of the
set. After hearing Kelly sing, Griffith headed for the phone and dialed MCA
producer Tony Brown, who had signed Griffith as well as Lyle Lovett and Steve
Earle. A few months later, a record deal was done and work on her debut album
"Well Travelled Love" began."

This nanci stuff is spooky...is she connected to everything musical and
great?

russ overby

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "smoyd" (smoyd@fastrans.net)                                
Subject: Our "other Nancis"                                          

I'm surprised no one on the Nancinet mentions John Gorka.  He is a
fantastic, clever, funny wordsmith and songwriter, and he has a beautiful
voice.  Nanci played guitar and contributed background vocals on at least
one of his CDs, Temporary Road.  She sings background vocals on four of the
songs, Lee sings on one, and the liner notes credit Nanci for "The Gypsy
Life":  *I thought Nanci Griffith would understand what I was trying to do
with this song, and she came up with the vocal arrangement to prove me
right.*

Like Nanci, Gorka hasn't produced even one CD I could live without (though
some are weaker than others).

I saw Gorka at a small venue in Chicago years ago.  He's a great performer
and so much fun.  His songs are very deep and well written.  I HIGHLY
recommend the Jack's Crows CD.  No Nanci, but such excellent songwriting,
especially "The Mercy of the Wheels," Houses In the Fields," and "Night Is
A Woman."  Another excellent song is "Semper Fi," which Mary from Peter,
Paul and Mary performed as her solo during their recent tour.  Gorka has an
outstanding sense of narrative.  He's as selective as a poet should be.

Also amongst the great artists--Sally Rogers who collects and writes good
songs.  A true folkie and very Irish, Rogers has a voice and delivery that
remind me of movie scenes where Irish women are singing for company in a
parlour (Joyce's/Houston's "The Dead").  She often sings with Claudia
Schmidt, and they produce enjoyable harmonies.

Carla Sciaky (Canadian, I think) is also worth gathering.  She writes
strong narratives, often with an interesting sense of humor or an ironic or
psychological twist.  Like Rogers, Sciaky is a great collector of songs.
One CD (don't have it handy) is entirely songs about weaving, from
different authors and cultures--a good holiday gift for women who weave,
quilt, knit or otherwise love that stuff.

Don't forget Bruce Cockburn--his newest CD, The Charity of Night, is very
worthwhile, as is Nothing But a Burning Light, from a few years ago.  Also
a phenomenal songwriter.

And, last . . . , does anyone listen to Anonymous 4?  Four musicologists,
who record a cappella treats from centuries past?  Their English Ladymass
CD (subtitled, I think, Medieval Chants and Polyphony) pieces together
portions of musical works composed for then-practiced masses to the Virgin
Mary.  This CD will help you to clean your house, grieve, wrap presents,
meditate and relax, overcome despair, drive a long journey, or just about
anything.  It may be an acquired taste, but their work (quite a good
Christmas CD and some ancient French love songs, and more) astounds me.  It
is simply beautiful.

I second the Sandy Denny, Indigo Girls (great lyricists), Emmylou, Iris (a
storyteller), Michelle Shocked.  MUST include Ronnie Gilbert.  Stop me.
stop me.

Amy I just saw Nanci in St. Louis, and can't stop breathing music" Smoucha

_________________________________________________________________
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