// This digest has a couple of concert reviews (yea!), and a few
// more lists.  Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: Good thoughts...
   From: Bill Page (bpage@scctel.com>

Folks, long-time NanciNetter Ed Maier is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Mon,
Nov 30) to repair an abdominal aneurysm. I'm sure he would welcome your
prayers/good wishes/candles.

Bill "more than the music" Page


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Subject: NN: Top Ten--I Love the NanciNet
   From: "Diane B. Wilkes" (diwilkes@erols.com>

>-Thrilled to hear about Lynn Miles new one!!! I've been anticipating it since
>I saw her open for Richard Thompson a couple years ago. I understood it wasn't
>to be released in the U.S. 'til spring of '99... or is this a Canadian
>version? 

I found it today at a cd convention in King of Prussia, PA.  I believe it
is due out in Jan. 99--a label on the cd reads: "Revised Street Date 1/12/99.

I went with a master list of cds that I culled from various sources, but
mainly the NanciNet top ten posts.

I found (for $7 apiece or less):

Lynn Miles: Night in a Strange Town
James Keelaghan: A Recent Future (this was on several NanciNetters' lists a
few years ago)
Buddy Mondlock: Self-titled (I found this and the Keelaghan for $4!)
Allison Moorer:  Alabama Song
Tiny Town: Self-titled
Dixie Chicks: Wide Open Spaces

I got quite a few others I am excited about, and plan to listen to music
all weekend long.

My top ten (in order).

1.  Tracks-Bruce Springsteen.  This is an amazing compilation, surprising
me with the consistent quality of tracks over his career so far.  I have
been less than enchanted with his work in recent years, so I was delighted
to find some of the newer songs as powerful and moving as they are (Trouble
in Paradise, Back in Your Arms Again, Seven Angels).  And the older songs,
many of which I was familiar with via rare recordings, are incredible.
Even as I note the wonderful sound quality, I weep for the days when I used
to rumble through the promised land.

2.  Car Wheels on a Gravel Road-Lucinda Williams.  If Bruce's cd wasn't so
awe-inspiring in breadth and depth, this would be number one with a bullet.
 I've been following Lucinda for quite a few years, and to me, this is her
best cd, bar none.  I was surprised when someone said it hadn't been a good
year.  I think this has been a great year for music. Lucinda's songwriting
is consistently brilliant, but 2 Cool to be Forgotten and Metal Firecracker
may be my favorite songs of hers ever.  

3.  Simple Gearle-Stacey Earle.  This is like Nanci Griffith's earliest
stuff, but with less literary allusions.  This is so powerful and beautiful
and poignant a cd...very pure and a bit raw.  In a lesser year for music,
I'd be proud to call it my numero uno choice.  The songs are compellingly
catchy, and the more you listen to this cd, the better it gets.  Thanks to
Bill Lavery at Village Records for turning me on to this one.  I bought it
for the Steve Earle connection and the Nanci G. comparison in the Village
Records newsletter.  She sounds nothing like Steve, vocally,
instrumentally, or lyrically--she has a unique charm and the cd possesses
the same sterling ring of authentic beauty.  I can't recommend this one
enough, and I was glad to see it on several other NN lists.

4.  Got No Shadows: Mary Lou Lord.  More pop, but a great confection.
There's depth beneath the hooks (which are considerable).  Anyone who
favors Shawn Colvin (who sings on one track, Subway) should like this cd.
Got No Shadows came out much earlier this year, and I thought had the
potential to be number one several months ago.  Another great cd.

5.  OV2: Nanci Griffith.  While I prefer Nanci's songwriting to any cover,
and I prefer hearing Nanci's vocals to anyone else, I think this is quite a
triumph.  While not consistently pleasurable for me personally, the quality
is consistent and some songs (Yarrington Town, Who Knows Where the Time
Goes, etc.) go way beyond pleasurable.  Now I am going to say the
unsayable: I prefer this to OVOR.  It may be that I never gave OVOR the
chance I should have, because I was so bummed about missing her songwriting
I sulked overmuch.  Whereas with OV2, I knew the deal and had several
months to accept the reality of non-Nanci lyrics.  

6.  Painted From Memory: Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach.  I liked the
pairing from the soundtrack of Grace of My Heart, it didn't prepare me for
the fabulous songwriting--lyrics and melody--of this cd.  This is another
superb cd.  This was a GREAT year for music!!!!!  You can tell from E's
vocals that he was totally committed to this project--I think this meeting
of two perfectionists improved the output of both artists. 

For the record: the Grace of My Heart soundtrack was on my top ten  the
year it came out--but less for the EC/BB collaboration than some other songs. 

7.  Spyboy: Emmylou Harris.  I can't imagine Emmy putting out anything
substandard, but this is a truly special live performance.  Buddy Miller's
guitar work is fabulous.  You can read a longer review I wrote of this at:
http://www.oldgreycat.com/emmylou.htm

8.  Taming the Tiger: Joni Mitchell.  I haven't warmed to a new Joni
Mitchell in a while, and since she is one of my all-time favorite artists,
I was delighted this cd finds her in playful, joyful form.  For a review of
this:
http://www.oldgreycat.com/joni.htm

9.  We Ran: Linda Ronstadt.  A very consistent and soulful rock cd,
including a title track by John Hiatt, a Bruce Springsteen cover that I
love (If I Should Fall Behind) and a Doc Pomus heartbreaker (Cry til My
Tears Run Dry), my personal fave from this
accessible-but-not-overly-commercial cd.

10. The Horse Whisperer Soundtrack.  Steve Earle.  Emmylou Harris.  Lucinda
Williams.  Need I say more?  Terrific and consistent soundtrack, positive
enough to make me (eventually) see the movie.
 
Of course, I haven't listened to my stack of new cds yet, so this list
isn't written in stone.

Thanks to all NanciNetters for such good taste.

Diane

P.S. A heads up: Steve Earle has a new, previously unreleased song on the
soundtrack for "Psycho."

http://www.oldgreycat.com


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Subject: NN: Top 10
   From: Klbehrens@aol.com

Hi,
Hans has assured me that it's OK for lurkers to post their top ten  of the
year so here goes.  These are in no particular order with the exception of the
#1 listing.

1. Son Volt  "Wide Swing Tremolo"  I was really pleased to see John Hodges put
this on his list.  A while back on the SV list someone posted an amazing line
by line  interpretation of "Medicine Hat" that sure made a lot of sense at the
time, but don't ask me to explain it now!

2.  Bap Kennedy  "Domestic Blues"  Produced by Twangtrust and includes a
hidden track  with Bap and Steve Earle performing.  Nanci also performs on 2
songs.

3.  E. Harris  "Spyboy"  Wasn't totally won over by this until I saw them
perform  in Santa Barbara, California in Oct.   Buddy Miller is fantastic!
(Thanks, Hans)

4.  Billy Bragg & Wilco  "Mermaid Ave."  I am not a great fan of Wilco,
preferring Son Volt, but on this  they really shine.   Hope to see Billy Bragg
next week in LA.
performing Mermaid Ave. material.

5.  Jones & Leva  "Journey Home"  Exquisite vocals, harmonies and lyrics.  I
love this!

6. Lucinda Williams  "Car Wheels..."  Almost didn't buy it because of all the
media hype but finally relented and am glad I did.

7.  The Horse Whisperer soundtrack

8.  Chris Knight  "Chris Knight"  A good solid performance.  Some good stories
told.

9.  Nanci Griffith   "OV2"

10.  Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys  "Bayou Ruler"  A departure from their
more traditional Cajun music (and many purists have a quarrel with this) but I
have no problem  with the periodic addition of some good old rock 'n roll to
Cajun music.  All the better to dance to!  If File (accent on the e) had come
out with a new cd this year, I'm fairly certain that would have beat out
Riley, but who knows?

Kay 



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Subject: Re: NN: Springsteen covers
   From: Brimpls@aol.com

Dear Diane,

Thanks for your excellent Top Ten list, some were on mine as well.  Special
thanks for mentioning that Linda Ronstadt does a Springsteen cover on her "We
Ran" CD-- the chance to hear her sing one of my fav. Bruce songs, "If I Should
Fall Behind" is enough to make me go out and buy that CD this morning! 

Nanci question:  Has anyone ever heard Nanci do a Springsteen cover?  

A friend and I challenged each other to come up with our all-time favorite
song list.  Mine has 50 songs on it: three were written by Springsteen (If I
Should Fall Behind, Tougher Than the Rest, and Book of Dreams), and the Nanci
quotient includes two of her own songs (More Than a Whisper and Anything You
Need But Me) and several songs by other songwriters which Nanci has recorded
(Goin' Gone, Once In A Very Blue Moon, Across the Great Divide, Two Fires, and
Morning Song for Sally).  

What a wonderful challenge!  Our only parameters were that the song hold up on
its own (ie, we tried not to include songs that we loved because solely
because of the recording) and they had to be true songs with lyrics.

My passion for the project was so contagious that I now see both of my parents
and several of my other friends busy at work on their own lists.  

We're all busy anyway at this time of year, but thinking of favorite songs is
a kind of busy-ness that is pure joy.

Sabrina in Minneapolis


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Subject: NN: Review of "Other voices, too" in Spain
   From: Lluis Sala (diligencia@altavista.net>

Hi everybody,

A review of the latest Nanci Griffith's album "Other voices, too"
appeared last Friday in the Spanish newspaper El Pais. You can see this
review -in Spanish- at the address
	http://www.tentaciones.elpais.es/T/D/exe/discos.asp?codigo=1220. 
The reviewer gives the album 4 stars out of five.

I didn't write to the list when the album appeared and when the
dicussion was on its peak, but in my opinion this second project is not
comparable in quality to the first one. Maybe that's why she included
more "quantity" (more songs, more guests, ...). I can help to feel a
little bit disappointed by this album, but I hope Nanci can regain some
new inspiration for the next one.

Best regards,

Lluis Sala
La Diligencia - Ona Catalana
Girona, Spain
http://ww2.grn.es/genoher/index.htm



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Subject: NN: Nanci at Glasgow
   From: "Michael Snowball" (msnowball@clara.co.uk>

I just thought I'd share my thoughts about the friday night concert in
Glasgow with you. It was a great start with a solo accoustic version of
TROUBLE in the FIELDS  and a great ending  with a haunting solo a cappella
version of ROAD to ABERDEEN but the middle bit was, like the cd, a bit
patchy.

The first half had no continuity and too many personnel changes. Frank
Christian did 2 solo numbers and then 2 with Dave Van Ronk which I could
have done without. Not much Nanci content.

The second half was much better, the highlights being; ACROSS THE GREAT
DIVIDE, CANADIAN WHISKEY, SPEED AT THE SOUND OF LONLINESS, OUTBOUND PLANE,
ITS A HARD LIFE  and a surprising up beat rocking version of WALL OF DEATH
(I can't bear to listen to the mundane cd version anymore) after which Nanci
said exuberantly "that's why I keep on doing this". She really seemed to be
on form and enjoying herself and her voice was much improved from her last
uk tour.

 I know this wasn't supposed to be just a straight forward Nanci concert
but, as the programme put it, " a celebration of traditional and
contemporary folk music" but I could have done with less of the hangers on
and more Nanci. A lot of the show involved people trooping on and off stage
which killed the atmosphere and three songs by the whole "cats choir" was
too much, KUMBAYA, WIMOWEH and I HAD A HAMMER. If she really wants to keep
these songs alive why dosen't she get involved with younger folk musicians
who can give the songs a new perspective (a la Mermaid Avenue) and add to
her tremendous talent, not live off it like some appear to do. It was
nevertheless a great night out and well worth the three hundred mile round
trip.

Michael

msnowball@clara.co.uk


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Subject: NN: Independent on Sunday
   From: I (100451.1006@compuserve.com>

Folks

Brief note ............. large article with colour pic in Independent on
Sunday .. which I onlu bought to read while my plane was late !  :>)

Ian R

// Okay...what'd it say?!?! [BP]

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Subject: NN: CD Release of the Transatlantic Sessions and Other Stuff
   From: "Charlie Macdonald" (charlie.macdonald@virgin.net>

Hi Folks,

Iona records are releasing a double CD of the current series of the
Transatlantic Sessions.  Details of the tracks contained on each disc and
release date information can be found at the following page:

	http://www.lismor.co.uk/new.html

I'm pleased that my personal  highlight of the series, "Passing the Bar"
by Jerry Douglas, has been included.

The US release will be handled by Ricky Skaggs own company, Ceili Music Co

Eric Taylor

I bought Eric's CD "Resurrect" after the Thursday Nanci concert and have
been playing it non-stop since then. This is a wonderful album and will be a
last minute entry to my top ten - his vocal style reminds me very much of
the late Harry Chapin (particularly on "Comanche" and "Louis Armstrong's
Broken Heart").

I obviously knew of Eric through his Nanci involvement, the NN and the Lyle
Lovett connection  -  I apologise to everyone who has posted about how good
this album is (sometimes I don't listen).

Nanci's Glasgow Concerts

Both of the gigs were excellent ( I posted some brief comments after the
Thursday concert) and I agree with James, that Friday's show just edged it
in performance and atmosphere. In defence of the Armadillo, the acoustics
are the best that I have experienced in any UK venue.


Best Wishes,

Charlie

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Subject: NN: You really had to be there!!!
   From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>

   Nanci walked off stage an hour and a half ago to a standing ovation, 
having climaxed a totally overwhelming performance, with her solo a 
capella rendition of "Road To Aberdeen". It has been a great day, the sun 
has shone and one of our leading Sunday newspapers featured Nanci in 
their weekly essay feature. The headline read, "It's a hard life wherever 
you go for the last, great, folk heroine"
   In Londons' Barbican, the house lights dimmed shortly after 7.30, and out 
strode the figure of BBC radios' Mike Harding, to inform us that the show 
was being recorded for transmission on December 16th, on his weekly Folk 
Roots programme. (Fear not amigos Day, Kimbro and Little, your taped 
copies of said show will be in the mail!).
   Out came Nanci, alone, in a blue/grey wool crew neck sweater, with black 
string overtop, black scarf, black velvet mini skirt and white tights 
(enough detail for y'all?). She strapped on her royal blue Taylor 
acoustic, and treated us to a solo rendition of "Trouble In The Fields". 
She then introduced Frank Christian, who gave us "Smile & Show Some 
Skin", which he said was about a waitress, followed by "From My Hands". 
He's a wonderful musician, but his songs leave me a little cold. The Blue 
Moon Orchestra then joined Frank for "Three Flights Up" with Nanci taking 
the lead vocal, it wasn't the best version they've done of this, buy it 
was early. Then out came the large, imposing figure of Dave Van Ronk, he 
was joined on electric resonator guitar by Frank Christian, they did a 
fabulous love song, who's title I missed, but had the line "I'd trade my 
place in heaven to spend just one day with you", it was gorgeous. His 
sweet, yet ageing voice hitting the notes perfectly. They then performed 
a blues number by Brownee McGhee, Dave was having problems with his 
guitar, but said he'd identified the out of tune string and would soon 
have the rest tuned to it!!!! A whole host of people then wandered on 
stage for "He Was A Friend Of Mine", and they then backed Carolyn Hester 
on "Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound". Odetta then took the lead for 
the first half finale, "Kumbaya". Nanci announced that they would all be 
back after taking in some cold beverages. So far so good, and the feel 
good factor on stage was certainly making it a night to remember.
   25 minutes later and Nanci, backed by the BMO and an Irish fiddle player, 
the diminutive Mary Custy, returned with the tribute to Kate Wolf, 
"Across The Great Divide", Frank Christian played a staggering solo on 
the electric resonator. Tom Russell and Andrew Hardin were introduced, 
and the next song was dedicated to a fan, decked in a Kerrville t shirt 
in the front row. Tom said he first met Nanci when she was 15, at 
Kerrville, and he'd been knocked out ever since, "Canadian Whiskey" 
followed, then Nanci reminisced about writing this at her kitchen table 
with Tom, and we were treated to the greatest "Outbound Plane" I've ever 
heard. The lights soared and flashed the singing took us higher as the 
acoustic guitars chimed away. The concert had reached a new plane (no pun 
intented) for me, and everyone was in synch with the feel and atmosphere 
now being generated. "Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness", was next, then 
Eric Taylor came out and Nanci told how when they were married they 
wanted an adopted son, but he was only three years younger than Nanci, 
he'd come to the house and sing, and watch Eric play guitar, he was such 
a fixture Nanci often forgot he was there and would inadvertantly sit on 
him when he was asleep on their couch. He was Lyle Lovett and she 
dedicated "Dress Of Laces" to Lyle. It was formidable, a truly beautiful 
song, packed with emotion. Eric followed with his own "Four Great White 
Feathers" and the stage was really rocking to some great interplay 
between Eric's acoustic and Frank's resonator. Ian Matthews took his turn 
at duetting with Nanci on "Wall Of Death", again some great interplay 
between Frank and, this time, Clive Gregson. Dolores Keane joined Nanci 
for "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" and then treated us to her own, 
"Never Be The Sun". By now all 18 musicians and singers were on stage, 
and we got the full works on "Hard Times Come Again No More". Then the 
song Nanci's grandmother said was her best, only because it proved that 
she had been listening as a child, and a huge version of "It's A Hard 
Life Wherever You Go" followed. Nanci then told us about the McCarthy 
years and how America was still spawning the same type of politician, 
only now his name was Kenneth Starr. She told how Pete Seeger was 
blacklisted, and we got a rockin, rollin' version of "If I Had A Hammer", 
the 18 musicians took their bow and were gone. Rapturous applause brought 
them back for "Wimoweh", and they then left Nanci alone, for "Road To 
Aberdeen". Two and a half hours after coming on, it was all over. 
   There were too many musicians coming on and off for me to remember exact 
details. I didn't have a pen and paper, live music is spontaneous, as is 
this review, it comes from the heart, and memory. It was a truly 
wonderful night, the 17th or 18th time I've seen Nanci, and up there with 
the best. The sound was perfect, Pat McInerney's drumming the least 
obtrusive you're ever likely to hear, James Hooker provided wonderful 
splashes of texture, while Ron De La Vega's bass and harmony vocals were 
spot on. Lee Satterfield was wonderful as ever. Apart from those already 
mentioned, Brian Willoughby (one of the founding members of The Strawbs) 
played some fine acoustic guitar on a variety of songs and Jim Rooney 
came out to offer vocal harmonies on three or four.
   My abiding feeling was that I had been treated to a momentous night, 
celebrating the evolution of folk music, a music Nanci feared was dying 
due to radio's apathy toward it (reading about the demise of the Acoustic 
Edge tonight reinforces the point). If "Other Voices Too" had been a live 
recording of this, or her other shows around the USA, we would be talking 
of one of the great albums of our time. If Nanci backs off and never 
records again, well I can say I've been blessed to have seen her so many 
times. She is undoubtedly one of the great live artists of her 
generation, and she has left a legacy, few singer-songwriters could ever 
match. 
   Thanks Nanci for giving me so much enjoyment over the last 12 years, I 
cherish the music you have played.

John "that's how I remember it" Graveling.


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Subject: NN: Dirty Linen, FOITM, and Holiday Tape Exchange
   From: Bill Peete (billpeet@cruzio.com>

Howdy Folks,

Finally... our Dirty Linen arrived and I scanned in the cover and entire
article including the pictures in case you haven't seen it.

	http://www.cruzio.com/~billpeet/Nanci/DirtyLinen/index.html

Also, if you haven't signed up for inclusion in the "Friends Out In The
Madness " Directory, what are you waiting for?

	 http://www.cruzio.com/~billpeet/Foitm/fom.html

And don't forget! December 6 is the final day to sign up for the "Holiday
Tape Exchange"

Thank You Kindly,

-bill " still wearin' it :) " peete 

PS: And as soon as I get some film for the camera, I'll take a picture of it
and post it. 

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