//  Yet more suggestions for your shopping lists ...  - MF

From: MAUDEENW (MAUDEENW@aol.com)                                 
Subject: Top Ten for 1997                                        

Coming out of lurkdom to give my Top Ten for 1997.  I didn't realize how
difficult this would be until I discovered most of what I bought this year was
from 1996.  Oh well.

These are in no particular order:

1.  So Long, So Wrong -- Alison Krauss & Union Station.  A favorite concert
this year and a favorite CD.  Favorite Cut: Looking in the Eyes of Love

2. Back to You -- Anita Cochran.  Discovered her after seeing her on Grand Ol'
Opry Live, Favorite Cut: The Duet with Steve Wariner - What if I Said

3. Carrying Your Love With Me -- George Strait - Can't really pick a favorite
cut - like 'em all.

4.  Hourglass - James Taylor.  Favorite Cut:  Walking My Baby Back Home - but
can this guy do no wrong??

5. The soundtrack from Traveller - Favorite Cut: Anything by Mandy Barnett -
her self-titled CD was also a favorite listen this year.  Was particularly
pleased to hear her rendition of "Dark Moon" as I was friends with the
daughter of the singer who originally did this, Bonnie Guitar.  If you haven't
tried her yet - run out and do so.  She sounds so much like Patsy Cline that I
thought I had selected the wrong CD.

6. The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers - A Tribute -- Favorite Cuts Iris DeMent (Hobo
Bill's Last Ride) Willie Nelson (Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia)

7. Lee Ann Womack - Self titled.  Favorite Cuts:  Never Again, Again and Make
Memories with Me (duet with Mark Chesnutt).  I hope we hear much more from
here in the coming years.

8.  Sunday Morning to Saturday Night - Matraca Berg.  After waiting years for
a new CD, she doesn't disappoint. Favorite cut:  Back When We Were Beautiful

9.  Love Travels - Kathy Mattea.  Wonderful, wonderful CD.  Favorite cut:
Sending Me Angels

10.  Last, but not least (g)  Blue Roses from the Moons - by that Nanci
person.  Favorite Cut:  Gulf Coast Highway.

Runners up:  Van Morrison, John Fogarty

Even with all these wonderful new CDs, I'll have to admit I listened most to
my Iris DeMent, Mandy Barnett,  Mary Black and Nanci's Other Voices, Other
Rooms CD.

Maudeen from near Seattle

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Susan Krauss (skrauss@hooked.net)                           
Subject: Nitty Xmas in the Bay Area                              

I just got this email:

KQED's current fund-raising drive is going very well,
and we think we'll reach our $1.5 million goal sometime
Sunday afternoon or early evening. If that in fact takes
place, the following programs will be aired without
pledge breaks Sunday evening.

(PS: If you were thinking about calling and joining this week,
don't let this note stop you!! If we don't hit the goal before
7:30p Sunday, the following proposed schedule will end up
altered, and I'll have no time to update you :::smile::: )

7:30p  Overture: A Conversation w/ Lofti Mansouri
           (San Francisco Opera General Director)
8:00p  Great Perfs#2304:
           San Francisco Opera Gala Celebration
9:30p  Denyce Graves: A Cathedral Christmas

10:30p Nitty Gritty Christmas

11:30pm Regular schedule picks up as listed in
            our Members' Guide, etc.

Susan Krauss                            Krauss Research
mailto:skrauss@hooked.net               http://www.wenet.net/~skrauss
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Samantha Allen (sja2@ukc.ac.uk)                             
Subject: ReBonjour Nanicnet!                                         

Don't know if any of you lot remember me, my name is Samantha (Sam),
I've been in France for a yr(Poitiers) and am now in my final yr at
the uni. of Kent at Canterbury, studying French and Drama.
  Bon, Introductions, re-introductions out of the way and all that,
may I be as bold as to express my somewhat belated reactions to Blur
Roses from the Moons?
 Firstly, recording wasn't great, it was muffled, and I missed a lot
of Nanci's narrative nuances through this..
But, Fear not,
After several listenings , I was indeed hooked.
"Wouldn't that be Fine" was/is(?) my fave. track ... Dreamy, melodic,
-

" I saw the weather change, high up on the cap rock,
  It is my sense of place, you were my holiday.."

 Quite often when we idealise relationships, We are left feeling that
the good moments , were just a break from the solitude which we have
to face in our daily lives.Thats not to say that it is a negative
thing,
it's just the power of realising the peace which we have to find
within ourselves (whether it be on the "cap rock " or anywhere less
poetic),
before We can enjoy any sustained happiness with another.

 The song seems to me to be an enchantingly nostalgic look at the
conflict between holding on to the concept of a love which wasn't
constuctive - and its special moments, alongside the reality of inner
self preservation.

  In this way, I see " Not my way Home"  , with its equally if not
more
nostalgic meloday, (I love the twinkly bits!) as a progression of this
realisation , and the tranquility of laying a once good thing to rest
, for the sake of the greater good.That with "Move Along" - positive,
more upbeat and proactive , I see a little thematic triad.

 I loved Battlefield - I was bouncing around to it in my bedroom in
France when my Dad , being the brilliant Dad he is, sent me over the
C.D.I had my Spanish housemate indoctrinated , converted my French
landlady, Francine, and even got some german friends 'round to the
idea!!!

 These were my overall first impressions .I got to see the concert in
Brighton, England over summer , came home especially for it, but was
dissapointed with the sound quality.

 I am very open to other musical styles, but to date, despite my
European influences, still hold Nanci as a singer/songwriter/
humanitarian with the subtlety and integrity of someone in a class of
their own.

 Hope I haven't rambled too much,

Sam xxxxx

P.S. I wish I could do the top 10 thing, but I haven't been able to
buy many new albums, 'cause of student hardship!!!!

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Knox (suz0160@bright.net)                                   
Subject: Top 10                                                      

It was with great difficulty that I ranked the order for these and that
would probably change from week to week.

1)  Laura Love - Octoroon.  I haven't seen this mentioned yet.  Is there
anyone familiar with it?  I think it's wonderful.  Wonderful voice,
interesting thought provoking lyrics, unusual arrangements...I'm not
very good at describing.

2)  Poozies- Chantoozies.  Haven't seen this either.  I think this is a
reissue.  I'm guessing it will be difficult to get a hold of also since
I haven't been able to locate my own personal copy yet. Beautiful
voices/harmonies.  Great songs.  I can't imagine a NG lover not taking
to this.  Anyone else heard this?

3)  Mary Black - Shine.  It is definitely a departure for her, but I
love it too.

4)  Nanci Griffith - Blue Roses From the Moons.  I didn't think I was
going to like this the first time I listened to it.  It grew on me
fairly easily.  Still some things that bother me about it though.

5)  Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing.  She continues to be on my list of
favorites.

6)  Kathy Mattea - Love Travels.  Always have liked her.

7)  Catie Curtis - Catie Curtis.  I think that's how it's titled...I
don't own a copy yet.  I listened from my brother's a couple of times &
it made my Christmas list.

8)  Patty Loveless - Long Stretch of Lonesome.  A long stretch of good
work.

9)  Kim Richey - Bittersweet.  I first noticed her name as songwriter on
songs other people sang.  First heard her sing on an awards show.  She
has a good voice too...glad she's doing her own recordings.

10)  Alison Krauss - So Long So Wrong.  Such a beautiful voice.

Something I just came across - Daphne's Flight (Christine Collister,
Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson, and Chris While) it's
dated 1996 or it would have been on my list.  Anyone else heard it?  I
love it.  Great songs/voices/harmonies.

Susie Knox
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Doug Brown (Douggo@prodigy.net)                             
Subject: Top ten list                                                

Hi All,
        It is time for me to come in with my best of '97. The variety in these
lists reminds me that our tastes in music are personal and am surprised
when people are shocked by inclusion or exclusion of certain records.
Since we come from all directions in our appreciation of Nanci's music,
it shouldn't surprise us that some music which we think is the greatest,
is considered unlistenable by others.  This was brought home to me last
year with the Christmas tape exchange.  I put together what I considered
to be a great collection of non-Nanci music and anxiously awaited the
enthusiastic response of the lucky recipient.  Instead, it was so
unremarkable that I didn't even receive a "thank you". With that said,
here are my favorites of this year.

        Bob Dylan               Time Out Of Mind
        Kate Campbell           Moonpie Dreams
        Laura Love              Octoroon
        John McCutcheon         Sprout Wings and Fly
        Nanci Griffith          Blue Roses From the Moons
        Tish Hinojosa           The Best of the Sandia:
                                        Watermelon 1991-1992

        Two albums that I haven't gotten yet (do you hear me Santa?), but from
what little I have heard I expect to include on my all time 1997 list
are:

        Steve Earl              El Corazon
        Greg Brown              Slant and Mind

        That leave two more openings for 1997.  How about:

        Nanci Griffith          Poet In My Window
        Nanci Griffith          Last of the True Believers

        (After all, they are timeless)


                                Doug from LA

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Mary Anne Hansen (alimh@gemini.oscs.montana.edu)            
Subject: Top 10                                                  

I'm so glad to see someone mention Laura Love.  She has a fabulous voice
and incredible vocal technique.  I first heard her when I saw her perform
at a live Prairie Home Companion broadcast a year and a half ago in
Billings, MT.  Octoroon is great, as is anything she's done that I've
heard.  I haven't contributed to the top ten thus far because I haven't
purchased 10 CD's this year.  One wonderful album that I must put in a plug
for is The Montana Rose Christmas album, from which all the proceeds go to
Eagle Mount, a non-profit agency that provides activities for disabled
people.  Claudia Williams, the lead singer in Montana Rose, has a beautiful
voice; she and her husband Kenny (also in the band), lived in Nashville for
awhile.  A few years back, Montana Rose was on the top ten charts for
Independent labels; they're very good.  They just chose a quiet life in
rural Montana after they'd had enough of the Nashville scene.  According to
my husband, who is pals with them, Claudia used to hang with Nanci in her
Nashville days.

Mary Anne

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Shelly Brisbin (sbrisbin@prismnet.com)                      
Subject: Top Stuff                                                   

This was not a great year for albums, IMHO. This year was about seeing
music live. So, here's my batch of 1997 Top Stuff.

Top 5 Concerts of 1997

#5. Sara Hickman@Shady Grove, Austin, TX 6/97

This first concert of the summer, held under a pecan grove featured a very
bouncy, happy Sara and a three-piece band. Now, I know what the NNetters
who were there are thinking. "Shelly, that concert was rained out in the
middle. And Shelly, you got hit in the head by a limb and almost got run
over while sprinting to a pay phone in the rain. How can this make your top
five concert list?" Suffice it to say that half a Sara Hickman show is fun
fun fun, regardless of the weather.

#4. 8 1/2 Souvenirs@the Cows, Austin, TX 8/97
The Souvenirs have a sort of continental gypsy swing sound that's
thoroughly danceable and great fun. Incidentally, they'll be on an Austin
City Limits broadcast sometime this season. The "cows" show was actually
held at a local shoppingplex with cow statues in the middle of an adjoining
park. A whole lotta Austinites spread blankets out under the trees, or
mingled in amongst the trees and swayed in the breeze. What a way to spend
a summer night.

#3. Nanci Griffith@Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX 10/17/97
I have always found myself on the old Nanci side of the old/new Nanci (low
voice/high voice, if you will) debate. In recent years, I've been
disappointed with Nanci's shows because of the degree to which they're
scripted, and the predominance of the wispy-voiced element of her
personality and singing style. The Austin Music Hall show was a pleasant
surprise, and a really good time. Nanci's organization of the show (with
Crickets sandwiched between Nanci's sets) was enjoyable, and so was the
selection of songs. Sound was good, too, and though Nanci stuck to a
script, she seemed fairly relaxed.

And, in a tie for second place:
#2. Cheryl Wheeler@Crooked Path Ale House, College Station, TX 1014/97
It was not so much the great performance (though there was one) that makes
this concert memorable. The intimacy of the venue, and the chance to talk
at length with Cheryl were the highlights. Maybe 60-75 people came to The
Crooked Path's upstairs room to hear Cheryl. We wandered in during
soundcheck, and soon I found myself sitting at the bar, chatting it up with
Cheryl. It was sooooo cool.
#2. Susan Werner@Cactus Cafe, Austin, TX 9/18/97
When I first saw Susan Werner play awhile back, I was put off by her slick
presentation style. But I have grown to enjoy Susan's work on record, seen
her a couple more times, and now I'm a fan. At the Cactus this fall, Susan
was thoroughly  polished, but also friendly and relaxed. She has new
material, and I found myself clapping along with the rest of the audience
when she talked about the new album that's somewhere on the horizon. And I
love the Cole Porter covers.

#1. Cheryl Wheeler@Mountain View Center for the Arts, Mountain View, CA 4/6/97
I'm thoroughly biased when it comes to Cheryl Wheeler (Wait, which list am
I posting to?). I've never been disappointed by one of her concerts. And
Cheryl, as they say, is a performer you must see live to appreciate fully.
The Mountain View concert was a true delight because Cheryl came to town
with a bagful of new songs. At the time, she'd spent about a year
recovering from a breakup, and the new  songs in her repertoire had
progressed from abject misery to partial acceptance, to cautious moving-on.
And, as usual at a Cheryl Wheeler show, the new songs came with funny and
touching stories. It was a sublime night of music.

More Top Stuff
Biggest Musical Surprise of 1997
John Fogerty's _Blue Moon Swamp_. Wait, I don't like John Fogerty. Why do I
love this album?

Coolest Musical Discoveries of 97
Richard Buckenr, Anna Egge

Best Compilation/Tribute/Multi-artist Album
_Big League Babe_ I, The Christine Lavin tribute

Album That Makes Me Glad I Live In Austin
KGSR Radio, _Broadcasts Volume 5_

Album I Loved That My Husband Hated
Steve Earle, _El Corizon_

Hype of the Year
Abra Moore, The Derailers

Biggest Musical Regret(s) of 97
Not going to RMFF or Knoxville

Eagerly Awaited in '98
Albums from Cheryl Wheeler, Lucinda Williams, Susan Werner

Shelly Brisbin                                         sbrisbin@prismnet.com
Writer, Editor, Mac Geek for Hire       http://www.rahul.net/frankf/sdb.html

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?herv=E9?= oudet (oudet@club-internet.fr)     
Subject: 1997 albums                                                 

Hello to you all from Paris, France

I'm a newcomer to this list and I like the idea of a Best Albums poll so
that I can discover new stuff.

My favrorites CDs are

1. Dan BERN : this guy is in the folk circuit and has a huge fan base in
the US, according to the very active mailing list. "Bob Dylan was the Dan
Bern of the 1960's" he said once. His music is a mix of Bob Dylan and Elvis
Costello but very distinctive though. Don't miss him. He's going to be great.

2. Tom Russell : The long way around. I especially love the first line Dave
Alvin sings in Blue Wing. I already had Box of Visions which I thought was
too easy music. The Long Way Around made me look back on and change my
hasty judgement. A great artist

3. Guy Clark : Keepers. What another great album.

These are my top three for the year.

Then without any specific order:

Bob Dylan : Time out of Mind
Shawn Colvin : A few Small Repairs
Nick Cave: The Boatsman call
John Prine : Live on Tour
Rice, Rice Hillman & Pedersen : Out of the Woodwork
Phil Cody Sons of Intemperance Offerings (Interscope) another great talent
Mark Eitzel West
Jim White Wrong eyed Jesus
Iris DeMent The way I should

Another one nobody mentioned: The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers  - A Tribute,
with B Dylan, John Mellencamp, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson, Mary Chapin
Carpenter; Iris DeMent, etc.

I was about to forget : Nanci Griffith : Blue roses from the moon. I like
some songs but not all of them.

Herve, http://www.mygale.org/03/murphy, home of the great Elliott Murphy
who did not put out any album in 1997 but has major projects for 1998! You
can enroll Fanmail, Elliott's e-letter by subscribing at :
oudet@club-internet.fr

Once an Elliottnik, always an Elliottnik
 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Hans Janssen (hjanssen@mail.dotcom.fr)                      
Subject: Top stuff again                                             

Hi all,

Here are my 5 best concerts of 1997

1 Tish Hinojosa Februar in Rotown in Rotterdam(NL). This was a very fine
concert in a smokey bar in Rotterdam. she was accompanied by Marvin Dykhuis
and Chip Dolan.

2 Kate & Anna McGarrigle in July in Bruges(B). The second time I saw the
two sisters live on stage after nearly 25 years. Now it was in the old city
of Bruges in the innercourt of very old(fifteen century) church and museum.
During diner we heard the band sound checking. And than the concert starts
and what a good sound and even a real grand piano, playing songs of the 25
years of their career. And that all with sounds of the city, such as
churchbells etc..

3 Fairport Convention in November in the Arsenaaltheater in Vlissingen(NL).
This was a very big surprise, again after 25 years. I aspected nothing, it
could very good or very bad. I think you never who is coming with Fairport.
But this was a acoustic FC with: Simon Nicol-guitar, vocal, Dave Pegg-bass,
vocal, Rick Sanders-violin, vocal and Chris Leslie-violin, mandolin and
vocals. They played songs from 68 till 97.

4 Tish Hinojosa at the Lokerse Feesten in Lokeren(B). Again Tish now in
great open air festival in small town. Tish's concert was after Catharina
and the Waves, winners of the European songcontest. This time Tish was with
a complete band, guitarand mandolin, acoordeon and keyboards, drum and
bass. In the beginning the balance in the band was not so good but that was
getting better but the quality members of the band was not equal to get
good result. But Tish was as good as in Rotterdam.

5 Mary Black at the Chass=E9theater in Breda(NL). This was a small
disappoinment, because the sound in this brandnew, very beautiful theater
was pour, crackling speakers, violin sounded not as a violin and sometimes
too loud. But Mary was good singing but she has to do someting at her
performance.

So 1998 I hope to visit again a lot of concert and I go to the Lokers
Feesten again.

met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Rachel Strain (rjs@mail.utexas.edu)                         
Subject: Other Nanci stuff                                           

Most of you have probably heard this one already, but when I was visiting
my dad this weekend, he played me an old Maura O'Connell cd (from 1989).
Sure enough, Nanci sang background vocals for "Western Highway."  I think
I had known that before but never really listened to it.

What struck me on that particular cut was the clarity of Nanci's voice.
It was sung in a much higher key than anything else I've heard her
tackle, and it really didn't sound like her.  But there it was, in the
liner notes:  Nanci Griffith!  It was truly beautiful, though I would
have liked to hear more of her on the album!

Happy Finals week! (well... it's MY finals week, anyway!)

Rachel :)

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: MAUDEENW (MAUDEENW@aol.com)                                 
Subject: 5 Best Concerts of 1997                                     

Wow!  Another difficult job but here goes:

1.  Emmylou Harris with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Iris DeMent. Seattle
Waterfront (outdoors) What more can I say - two of my favorite singers on the
same bill.  This was about my 10th Emmylou concert but my first (and not last)
Iris concert.  Going backstage afterwards and being able to meet both Emmylou
and Iris was more than I could  have asked for.

2.  Nanci Griffith with the Crickets - Seattle, Opera House,  My first Nanci
concert and oh so wonderful. Great seats.

3.  Iris DeMent - Roslyn, WA.  Held in conjunction with the first annual Moose
Fest (gathering of Northern Exposure fans).  Sitting in the front row and next
to Barry Corbin (aka Maurice Minnifield from NX). Even the poor quality sound
couldn't dampen my enthusiasm.

4. Alison Krauss and Union Station - Seattle, Moore Theatre.  A great concert
all around.

5. Dan Fogelberg - Seattle Waterfront.  No band - just Dan and his guitar (and
piano).  Hadn't seen him perform for 17 years and I wasn't disappointed.
Great setting for a concert.

 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: dgrant@eden.com (David Grant)                               
Subject: Top 10 of 1997 (long)                                       

Hi y'all.

David's Top 10 of 1997

My top ten list is going to have more than ten CDs on it, simply because
I've had to divide it into different categories.  I'll limit my selection
of favorite single-performer/band CDs to ten, however, just to be fair.

In retrospect, it seems that the theme of this years' list is _variety_.
Artists that released albums with a wide range of sounds tended to hold my
attention better than artists who released albums of songs that all sound
alike -- that was my main complaint about John Jennings' BUDDY; it wasn't
varied enough in its production.

Favorite CDs from a single performer or band (in alphabetical order):

Joan Baez -- GONE FROM DANGER
        Joan Baez has never been at the top of my list of favorites, mainly
because I tend to listen more to artists who write most of their own
material (Mary Black and Maura O'Connell being notable exceptions).  But I
have great respect for her as a performer, and this album contains the best
collection of material I've seen in a long time.  She sings songs by such
singer-songwriters as Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Betty Elders, Sinead
Lohan, and others.  However, the real reason this CD is on my top ten list
is because of the special version of the CD that Border's put out -- it
contains a second disc with two bonus tracks recorded live; duets with
Betty Elders and Dar Williams.  Baez really knows how to pick 'em!

Andrea Bocelli -- VIAGGIO ITALIANO
        This is a stunning collection of opera arias and traditional
Italian songs sung by the sensational Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.  He
made more of a splash in the U. S. this year with his album ROMANZA, a
collection of pseudo-classical pop songs, but the brand-new VIAGGIO
ITALIANO is a much more serious effort.  Bocelli has an absolutely stunning
sound (even if his technical accuracy isn't always perfect), especially
when he gets into his upper range.  And the songs are really damned good,
too.  The composers of the music include Puccini, Verdi, Donizetti, Franck
and Schubert, along with the traditional Italian songs "O Sole Mio," "Santa
Lucia luntana" and many others.  The CD closes with a brilliant version of
"Adeste Fideles," performed live.

Nanci Griffith -- BLUE ROSES FROM THE MOONS
        I'll admit that I considered not including BLUE ROSES on my top ten
list; I frankly haven't listened to it very much since about April.  But in
reviewing 1997's CDs for this list, I popped it in the CD player and
realized that while I don't like the WHOLE album, I really like some of the
songs.  So Nanci will get included based on the strength of her collective
body of work, of which this is an important part.

Sara Hickman -- MISFITS
        Since this list isn't in order of preference, I'll just tell you:
This was my favorite CD of 1997.  It is a totally fabulous collection of
odds and ends spanning most of Sara's career (and beyond, with her
childhood recording of "Grandma's Featherbed").  The songs run the full
spectrum from highly-produced to stripped-down, slow and beautiful to
rockin' and loud.  And, of course, the CD ends with "Radiation Man," which
is one of my very favorite songs ever by any artist.

Christine Lavin -- SHINING MY FLASHLIGHT ON THE MOON
        This is the first time that Christine Lavin has made my top ten
list (I only started three years ago, though).  I wasn't very fond of
PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME TOO HAPPY (her last CD), but FLASHLIGHT took me by
surprise.  It is full of typical Christine style -- funny, serious, and
always thought-provoking.  With this album, Christine proves once again
that she can take ANY subject and make it into a great song (much to Cheryl
Wheeler's chagrin, see below).

Dougie MacLean -- RIOF
        It is about time we got another CD from Scottish
folksinger-songwriter Dougie MacLean; it's been quite a few years since his
last Cd of all-new material.  This album is a bit different from his
previous; he combines vocal and instrumental music together on one CD
(there are a couple of instrumental compositions on this album).  I
especially like the opening track, "Stepping Stones;" it ranks as one of my
very favorite Dougie MacLean songs ever.  His use of Kathy Mattea as a
backing vocalist on a couple of tracks doesn't hurt, either.

Kathy Mattea -- LOVE TRAVELS
        When I picked up this CD in the store and saw that it was produced
by Ben Wisch, I knew I was going to love it.  Wisch has produced some of my
very favorite albums, and I love his style.  Plus, I already liked Kathy
Mattea (her version of "From a Distance" is the only one I can still
tolerate), although I hadn't much cared for her last album.  But this album
blew my socks off!  "Love Travels" is an amazing song.  As I've said
before, the variety of different sounds here is what made me love the CD so
much; the styles range from celtic to gospel to '70s electric piano, and
songwriting by Cheryl Wheeler and Gillian Welch means that the selection of
songs is great, too.

Richard Shindell -- REUNION HILL
        I've seen a lot of people mention this album in their top 10 lists,
so I won't say too much more about it.  This is a captivating album.  It is
not for passive listening; you have to pay attention to it, and it demands
that of you.  Richard's storytelling abilities are top-notch, and having
Lucy Kaplansky as a harmony vocalist sure adds a lot to the texture of the
sound.

David Wilcox -- TURNING POINT
        David Wilcox is one of a number of singer-songwriters who has sort
of drastically altered his sound recently (Mary Black and Dar Williams
being others).  TURNING POINT is *not* the acoustic-guitar-and-vocals David
Wilcox that we're used to; it's a plugged-in, percussive album that is much
more produced than any of his previous recordings.  However, the songs are
as strong as ever, and the new sound really works with him.  Every song on
this album is a real winner, but my personal favorite is the title track --
it's a compelling song that I just keep coming back to.  One of the things
I like best about this album is the variety in the sound; some tracks are
really rockin', and other tracks are quiet and acoustic.  It's a
complicated tapestry of sound that is woven together into seamless work of
art.

Dar Williams -- END OF THE SUMMER
        Dar Williams shocked many this summer with END OF THE SUMMER, a
wildly varied collection of new songs ranging from the traditional acoustic
Dar ("If I Wrote You") to the grungy electric Dar ("Teenagers, Kick Our
Butts").  In between we get some amazingly powerful songs, such as "Are You
Out There" and "What Do You Hear In These Sounds."  Dar proves once again
that she is capable of writing songs that are *much* deeper than just about
anyone else's.  There's some fun stuff, too, like "Party Generation," which
just might be my favorite track on the album (I love the very large chorus
of backing vocalists all singing "Hey-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah" with her).  And
there's some really depressing stuff here ("The End of the Summer").  As
with David Wilcox's latest, this album is blessed by a real variety in the
sound from track to track, which serves to keep it interesting for me after
multiple listenings.
        A corollary to this is the Dar EP "What Do You Hear In These
Sounds."  This is almost better than the new album; we get the single and
album versions of "What Do You Hear," some really killer acoustic live
stuff, and a new (for Dar) track called "Wilder Than Her," which is
country-er than her usual stuff.

The "Almost Made the List" stuff:
Bill and Bonnie Hearne -- DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
Janis Ian -- HUNGER
Robert Earl Keen -- PICNIC
Bruce Robison -- WRAPPED

Favorite Reissues/Greatest Hits Compilations:

John Denver -- THE COUNTRY ROADS COLLECTION
        Strangely, my two favorite "best of" collections of the year were
both released shortly *before* the deaths of the artists.  John Denver's
COUNTRY ROADS COLLECTION is truly a splendid assortment of his best work.
I had been a fan of John Denver when I was a child, but hadn't paid too
much attention to him (aside from a couple of albums that I liked in the
mid-'80s) until this year, when I bought this box set.  What I admire most
about him is his vocal ability; it is so rare to hear a singer-songwriter
sing so WELL and support their sound as much as John Denver did.  I find
myself playing "Dearest Esmerelda" and "Spirit" repeatedly, just to listen
to those sustained high notes.

Laura Nyro -- STONED SOUL PICNIC: THE BEST OF LAURA NYRO
        Usually I find that "best of" collections are never collections of
my favorite songs by an artist, but this is a real exception.  Disc one of
this collection is almost perfect (if it had included "Once It Was
Alright," "Map to the Treasure" and "Time and Love," I would call it
perfect).  The real gem in this collection is the single version of "Save
the Children," which is a totally different version from the one on NEW
YORK TENDABERRY.
        Of all the CD's I bought in 1997, I probably played this one the
most of all.

Favorite Various-artist Compilations:

BIG LEAGUE BABE: THE CHRISTINE LAVIN TRIBUTE ALBUM, VOL. 1
        Talk about variety!  This is the most varied of any collection I
own, I think.  Some of my very favorites are represented here:  David Roth,
Susan Werner, Barbara Kessler, David Wilcox, Megon McDonough, Richard
Shindell, etc.  Each artist on this CD adds their own personal touch to an
already great song, and almost none of it sounds anything like Christine
Lavin's versions of the songs.  But the real reason to own this CD is for
the only non-Christine-Lavin track: Cheryl Wheeler's "Christine Lavin Could
Do It."  The song is great, but it's actually the introductory story that
is the best part ("grouchy folksingers, grouchy folksingers").  I can't
wait for Vol 2, expected sometime in 1998.

HERITAGE
        This was a quiet little CD that snuck up on me; I bought it because
it had Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dar Williams and John Gorka on it, but I
was surprised by what I heard.  This is real, old-time American folk music,
interpreted in a new and different way.  It sometimes gets a little
new-agey, but overall it's very nice.  I think the real reason I like it so
much, however, is because it includes "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow," one
of my very favorite tunes (which at least two lucky people on the NanciNet
got to hear me perform in concert last weekend...).

KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL: THE EARLY YEARS
        This is a 10-CD set which is a follow-up to another 10-CD set
released two years ago.  THE EARLY YEARS covers the first 10 years of the
Kerrville Folk Festival, compiling the material from each years' highlights
album onto CD for the first time.  It's no secret that the real reason I
love it so much is because it contains the two earliest live recordings of
Nanci I've ever found, but it's also a great picture of what was going on
in the folk scene in the 1970s.  There's some classic, classic stuff here.

Favorite non-1997 Discoveries:

GRACE OF MY HEART soundtrack
        I bought this CD almost immediately upon its release (not early
enough to get the version with Joni Mitchell, alas).  It had a new song
from Shawn Colvin on it, so I *had* to get it.  Then it sat on my shelf for
a year, until I sat down one night this fall and watched the movie on
cable.  When the character Denise Waverly stood in that recording studio
and sang "God Give Me Strength," my mouth fell open!  I pulled out the CD
and realized that I was holding the best pop song to have been written in
the past 20 years -- since Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick had stopped
producing hits, basically.  Listening to the rest of the CD, I realized
that Larry Klein is a genius, because these songs are perfect!  In terms of
writing, each song sounds like it could have been written during the period
in which they are set, and the production of each track is perfect as well.
If only Kristen Vigard's version of "God Give Me Strength" were on the
soundtrack album...
        This CD was my first introduction to Elvis Costello, and my life
hasn't been the same since.  Read on:

Elvis Costello -- BRUTAL YOUTH
        In the months following my discovery of GRACE OF MY HEART, I have
purchased approximately a dozen Elvis Costello CDs.  I sort of started at
both ends of his career and have been working my way inward (I have his
earliest albums and his most recent albums, and not much in between yet).
So far, BRUTAL YOUTH is the standout.  It's his 1994 album of catchy pop
tunes, and boy, does that guy know how to write pop songs.  We're not
talking fluff!

And finally, the year's biggest disappointments:

Mary Black -- SHINE
        I kinda liked this one when it first came out.  But it got old very
quickly.  Mary Black is not Shawn Colvin, which is what I think this album
was trying to make her be.  Funny, I just called Larry Klein a genius, but
I think he missed the mark here.

INDIGO GIRLS -- SHAMING OF THE SUN
        With the exception of "Shame on You" and "Get Out the Map," I
really don't care for this album.  I haven't been able to pin it down;
maybe it just hasn't grown on me yet.  But since I've liked every other
Indigo Girls album immediately, it's odd for this one not to strike me that
way, too.  Can't really explain it otherwise.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: ncassel@IDT.NET                                             
Subject: OFSE video                                                  

Dear folks,

A couple weeks ago I got my act together enough to search on Amazon.com for
the One Fair Summer EVening video tape, and it was there and I ordered one
and have just received notice that its been shipped so I should have a new
Nanci fix for myself by next week!  I highly recommend Amazon.com for
searching for books, cds, et. al.

Nancy with a Y.

the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls: and Benjamin
Sisko is the emissary of the Prophets.

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