// Hey! A Nanci concert review! You remember Nanci Griffith? That singer?
// Well, someone saw he in concert last night! And we;ve got the report!
// That, and a couple of top tens and more...Enjoy! [BP]

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Subject: NN: Nanci Live , Dublin 23.11.98
   From: BobbyK (bobbyk@connect.ie>

Hi there fellow Nancinetters ,

Well I haven't posted in quite a while so forgive me if I go on ..but
right now I'm feeling just as happy as any Nanci fan could . Went to
Nanci play last night at the Olympia theatre and I'd just like to let
all our frineds in the UK know that you are all in for a treat . Nanci
was in excellent form , her voice was as strong as it's ever been and
she seemed positively ebullient . I don't want to go into the set order,
and anyway ..I was lost after the first song..I had intended writing
down the whole set as she played it but as I said ..after the first
Nanci song I was lost to her ..just got into the whole atmosphere...I
have a copy of the free programme which was presented on arrival ..it's
a four page simple programme which actually lists the songs to be
performed somewhat like a classical concert performance ..I don't
actually like knowing what's coming next cos I love the whole element of
surprise and while she didn't stick fastidiously to the list it does
pretty much compare to what was performed..so if anyone out there wants
a copy ..just mail me and I'll scan it and send it on to you Lets just
say in overview of the whole performance that if you went looking for
greatest hits you'd probably be disappointed ..but I thought the whole
night was magical and loved every minute of it .
But...and this is the good bit ..what happened after the concert far
outstripped everything else for me ..Seeing that my good wife is
friendly with the people who run the theatre we managed to make our way
to the VIP bar after the show ...now this on it's own is exciting enough
..I mean rubbing shoulders with James Hooker ,Jim Rooney , Pat McInerney
, and the rest of the BMO plus most of the guests who had appeared ..I
was in 7th heaven I can tell ya .Imagine how I felt when Nanci herself
arrived into the fairly small bar ..I was speechless for the first time
in my life ...eventually getting the courage to approach her I asked
would she mind signing my copy of OV2 which she obligingly did and even
engaged in a little banter about her Godson Aaron who was with her at
the time ..off I went back to my seat ..too stunned to even speak ..the
total awestruck fan ..then ..at the end of the evening as we were about
to leave I spotted Nanci sitting chatting with a young man in the corner
of the bar so I couldn't let the chance go to get a photo with her so
..being the big brave man I am I sent my wife over to ask *Blush* I'm a
total coward when it comes to these kind of things ..but anyway ..she
told Nanci that I was a big fan and also that I was a subscriber to the
Nancinet and at this her eyes lit up and she looked up at me and said
she remembered me from earlier and wasn't my name Robbie...well..I
nearly collapsed there and then ...Nanci Griffith ..my musical hero
remembered my name ..then she said that she would be delighted to have a
pic taken with me and would I mind if her friend got in the pic too and
introduced him as John Woodfull ..the guy who painted the picture on the
reverse sleeve of Late Night Grande Hotel ( Okay ..I didn't really
remember his name ..I was too awestruck ..I just looked it up now *L* )
so I was completely stunned ..then she moved up on the chair and asked
me to sit down beside her and then put her arm around me and smiled for
the camera ....Man...I was in total heaven and I haven't stopped smiling
since ..she asked me if I'd be putting the pic on my website ..which is
only in it's infancy ..and I of course said yes and she just laughed..we
said goodbye and I left her alone and ran out of the theatre in total
awe of a complete and beautiful lady ...someone once said to me it's a
mistake to meet your idols cos they inevitably let you down ..but I have
to say that Nanci in person was every bit as genuine and lovely as we
all believe her to be ...Okay ..well that's my story for now ...when I
get the pic developed ( tommorrow ..hoping it turns out fine ..) I'll
let anyone interested know the URL so you can see for yourselves ...I'm
also wondering if other Nancinetters ( apart from personal friends and
aquaintences obviously ) would like to share their stories of meeting
Nanci with the rest of us ...I could go on and have probably gone on too
long now ..and I'm sorry if I come across as a big eyed fan ..but I am
!!

Yours in blissful Nanci Heaven
Robbie Kennedy
Dublin
Ireland

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Subject: NN: Quick glimpse of Nanci...
   From: ChocChippy@aol.com

...on the David Letterman Fifth Anniversary show. If you were watching the
musical guests segment, they showed a moment of "Desperadoes Waiting for a
Train" from earlier this year!

Kathleen W.


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Subject: Re: NN: nanci all strung up
   From: "Robert Pugsley" (RMP6@leicester.ac.uk>

(((bassoons also sound good, but i have to admit, a cackling-elephant-nose
blowing band of brass and woodwind, do scare me.
luv jenny>>>

Dear all,

I'm pretty broadminded when it comes to music genres but I always had a blind
spot when it came to brass bands, used to make me wince, and why do they have to
have march? Just to make to even more difficult on the tuba player? (reminds of
that early Woody Allen film when he joins a marching band as a cellist and has
to drag his chair along every ten yards..).

And then I saw the film Brassed Off.  Beautiful brass playing throughout,
suddenly even brass bands got on my present lists.  Recently the English band
The Beautiful South have been putting brass band versions of some of their hits
on their CD singles and these too are really nice.  I think I can just about
imagine some stuf of LNGH set to a brass band.

Now if I can just hear some good bagpipe music...

all the best

Robert (Pugsley)

// there are those who would say that there's no such thing
// as "good bagpipe music..." (g> [BP]

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Subject: NN: Top Eight
   From: coneill@oaoservices.com

Even though I bought over 100 CDs this past year, most of it was older
stuff.  I managed to eke out a list for 1998, even though some of it is--by
now--repetitive:

In no particular order, except maybe the obvious first. . .

1.  OV2
2.  Lucinda--Car Wheels
3.  Lyle--Step Inside this House
4.  The Horse Whisperer Soundtrack (I haven't seen the movie.  I wonder if
it can live up to the book AND the music)
5.  Kate Jacobs--Hydrangea (She opened for Iris in October and I thought
her voice in concert was vaguely reminiscent of Nanci on OFSE)
6.  Ellis Paul--Translucent Soul (After seeing him live this fall--I bought
this CD there-- I immediately went out and bought the rest of his catalog)
7.  Steve Forbert--Streets of This Town (This was actually released in Nov.
97, but it seemed close enough to count)
8.  The Yellow Balloon--The Yellow Balloon (The best surprise of this year;
the CD was released in 1998 but the album was originally released in 1967.
I had never heard of The Yellow Balloon and bought it based on its
price--$5.00. The group's history is interesting; they were fronted by Don
Grady of My Three Sons fame and included Daryl Dragon--the Captain of
Captain and Tonille.  In addition, the driving force behind The Yellow
Balloon was Gary Zekley who wrote the song "Superman" that REM had a minor
hit with in 1986/87.  It's not EXACTLY folk music--more reminiscent of the
Beach Boys/Turtles/Cyrkle, but it is absolutely wonderful.)

Christina "Digging through the record bins" ONeill

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Subject: NN: Top ten
   From: Susan Peete (suepeete@cruzio.com>

I had to take a different approach this year to pick out my top ten. They
couldn't be just good CDs but had to be played the most. I didn't realize
until I started to put this list together, that I tended to stay away from
the darker CDs. I guess it boils down to the mood I was in, or wanted to be
in. So here is what I came up with:

1.  Johnsmith - Hole In The Clouds
        For soundclips: http://www.songs.com/johnsmith

A new discovery this past summer at the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival. He
puts on a great show. Good writer and very nice voice. He won many of the
"New Folk" contests at festivals around the country this year. Dee
Carstensen sings back-up on several of the tracks. There isn't a bad song on
this album but "Silence The Thunder" is a favorite of mine. This CD will
make your world brighter.

2.  Nina Gerber's - Treasures left behind: Remembering Kate Wolf
        http://www.katewolf.com/albums/trea.htm

Nina Gerber had been working on this project for 2 years and you can tell
she has put her heart and soul into it. An absolute labor of love, that it
is. If you have ever seen Nina on stage performing her outstanding guitar
work, you would know the perfectionist that she is. She has put the same
kind of care into producing this tribute album. This is a very heartfelt
collection of Kate's most compelling songs by some incredible
singers/songwriters in their own right. And you would not want to miss the
stunning instrumental version of "Back Roads' by Nina on this album. I will
treasure this album right along side with all of Kate Wolf's original albums.

3.  Sara Hickman - Two Kinds Of Laughter
        http://www.sarahickman.com/

Beautiful voice, full of energy and creativity throughout this album. What
can I say, this lady wears the crown.

4.  Nanci Griffith - Other Voices Too, A Trip Back To Bountiful 
        http://www.sover.net/~rschrull/ngriffith/gchpage.html

This would be a perfect album minus 3 songs. I still have a problem with the
way she sings "linger". It gets to me every time. But for the most part, I
enjoy it a great deal. I must, because it spends a lot of time in the player. 

5.  Gove Scrivenor - Shine On
        http://www.cypressweb.com/gove/welcome.html

Another shining album. Nanci only sings the words "Shine on" but it
definitely delivers a nice touch.

6.  Eddie From Ohio - Portable EFO Show
        http://www.efohio.com/

EFO was another discovery a couple of years ago at the Rocky Mountain Folk
Festival. Talk about energy, they never run out of it. They put on a exciting
fun show. And you can be at one of their concerts by just listening to this CD.
Julie Murphy Wells has one of the most expressive and beautiful voices around. 

7.  Kate Campbell - Visions Of Plenty
        http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ac490/kate.html

There are a couple songs, I can take or leave, but it has some real gems on
it. Songs like "Visions Of Plenty", "Crazy In Alabama', "Perfect World" are
worth the CD alone.
And who could dislike that sweet voice, not I.

8.  Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell - Cry, Cry, Cry
        http://www.crycrycry.com/


I have always liked Richard's and Lucy's music. So this album was a instant
keeper. Dar's music has always taken a few listens to grow on me. Although
her last CD never did. But on this CD she really comes through.

9.  Susan Werner - Time Between Trains
        http://songs.com/susan/

One of the most talented musician and singer/songwriter around. You see that
much more in concert than on her CDs. But still, an excellent album.

10. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

It's all been said. It did take me longer to get into than her earlier albums.

* Tanya Savory - Town To Town (late 97)
        http://songs.com/tanya/index.html

I wasn't able to put this on my list last year because it came out after I
posted my top ten. That is problem with doing this before the year is up.
But this CD has stayed fresh throughout the year. She is a real storyteller.
She takes you on a journey from Town To Town across the states. 

Runner ups:
Kate McDonnell - Next
Michael McNevin - Sketch 
Eric Taylor - Resurrect
Emmylou Harris - Spyboy
Chuck Brodsky - Radio
Neal & Leandra - Stranger To My Kin 
Lyle Lovett - Step Into This House
John Gorka - After Yesterday
The Nields - Play

And I haven't even bought Ellis Paul - Translucent Soul yet. Which I hear is
his best to date.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Sue Peete

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Subject: Re: NN: Top Eight
   From: coneill@oaoservices.com

  Mr. CD wrote:  
>Steve Forbert's "Streets Of This Town" Is a great album, however, 
>it was released in 1988.  The most recent Forbert album is "Rocking 
>Horse Head", which was in my top 10 for 1997.  The CD says it was 
>released in '96 even though I never found it until Feb. of '97.  
>Is this the album that you are thinking of?


Whoops!  I don't know what I was thinking...probably a subliminal slip...
Steve rivals Nanci as my favorite artist of all time. . .I wanted him on
the list so badly, my eyes turned that 8 into a 9.  (I was rather surprised
when I looked at the release date).

Christina "left the lights on and stayed up all night" ONeill


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Subject: NN: An omission
   From: nannynan@earthling.net

Dear listmates, 

I haven't put together my top 10 list yet, but I am sort of surprised that
nobody mentioned the *other* long-awaited album that finally came out this year,
Gordon Lightfoot's A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH. This album was much-discussed and
anticipated for over a year on the alt. music.lightfoot newsgroup, and upon its
release there was a discussion that for a NanciNetter was deja vu all over
again, ie, "Oh, no, his voice is gone!" "How dare you dis the Gord!" "What do
you expect the man is almost 60 years old" etc. At any rate, its a good album,
not my all-time favorite Lightfoot but it has another of those, how did he know
songs about my life, called "Much to my surprise." And a wonderful photo of my
other musical hero looking, as one reviewer said, like a "kinder, gentler Clint
Eastwood." BTW, I urge folks to buy it, not only because its great, but because
if it sells really well it might convince Warner records to release the "final
four" Lightfoot Albums that have not been release on CD: SHADOWS, OLD DAN'S
RECORDS, DREAM STREET ROSE and SALUTE.  

Nanci content: I saw Lightfoot this year twice, once in the Grand Opera House in
Wilmington Delaware where I saw Nanci on the Blue Roses tour, and once at the
Keswick in Glenside. The man ages well! 

Nancy with a Y 


>"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."-Unknown 

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Subject: NN: Re: NanciNet #98B23
   From: George Golob (geogo@earthlink.net>

Well, I for one, can't wait to hear Nanci sing with an orchestra...and 
I hope she finally covers Whiter Shade Of Pale when she does.
g

// hey follks, when you reply to the digest, try to put a descriptive
// subject if you can remember...Tom Neff has to remind me over on the 
// Dar list every time.


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Subject: NN: top-ten
   From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@mail.dotcom.fr>

Hi all,

Here is my top ten for 1998:

1/2 Other voices too - Nanci Griffith/Car wheels on a gravel road - Lucinda
Williams

I could not decide which one is the best of the two, they are so different
but beautiful and nearly equal in playing hours.

3 7 days in May - Chip Taylor

This CD from Chip about his 7 day love affair is so beautiful, with
contributions from Lucinda Williams and Guy Clark

4 Wilory Farm - Terri Hendrix

You should all try this CD it is really great CD and a lot of reviews call
her a million sellar within years and from Texas too. Check out:
http://www.terrihendrix.com/">


5 The McGarrigle Hour - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

A real family reunion from these Canadian sisters together with old friend
and longtime interperters like Emmylou and Linda Ronstadt

6 Four Marys - Rebecca Pidgeon

Everybody is thinking Rebecca who.....??? But I had never heard of her too,
I have only seen the CD once. But the music is pure as from the music from
Gillian but in a Celtic form. And with the beautiful Chesky sound.

7 Come back Woody Guthry, come back now - Steve Earle & the Dukes

A live recording from Steve Earle from last year, with one of the best
versions of the Gram Parsons/Chris Hillman song "Sin City".

8 The final concert - Sandy Denny

This year it was 20 years ago that Sandy tragigaly died in a accident and
her last concert was finally released.

9 Visions of plenty - Kate Campbell

With Kate I made a serious mistake, I listened several time to this album
and last year to Moonpie days and didn't like it that much and didn't buy
it. Till Maureen send me a New Country sampler and the best song on that one
was "Crazy in Alabama". Now I'm still waiting for "Songs of the levee".

10 It suits me well - Vikky Clayton

A tribute for Sandy Denny done by a singer with a voice so close to Sandy
that I was shocked the first time. I should have believe it when they told
me that this were the long lost tapes.


CDs that should be in the top ten if there wer more numbers available:
Spyboy-Emmylou. The 7 deadly sins-Marianne Faithfull, Confessions of a
bluessinger-Rory Block, Twistin' in the wind-Joe Ely.
The compilations:

1 Treasures left behind: remembering Kate Wolf
2 Songs from and inspired by the motionpicture the Horsewhisperer
3 Where have all the flowers gone, a Pete Seeger tribute
4 The folkscene collection
A great compilation of live recordings from: Iris DeMent, K & A McGarrigle,
Dar Williams, Maura O'Connell, John Gorka, Tish Hinojosa, Richard Thompson
and Masry Black.

And Robert when you don't show up at the Barbican, we know you are still
counting.

Hans Janssen.


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