// Some more of them list things, a bit of silliness from the Bay 
// Area, and, of all things, a parody! 
// Enjoy...[BP]

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Top 10, or should i say-cds i bought this year
   From: "jenny.frog" (jenny.frog@virgin.net>

hey guys,
well i guess seeing as how i'm beginning to feel a bit like christmas
(it snowed today so i started xmas shopping. it's -4 degrees on the tip
of my nose) i'll say something about my fave cds this year, but maybe i
should say- the ones i could afford.
with the exception of the first cd, none of these are in order.

*0V2*~nanci~~~well, maybe i don't like all the songs on it, but i
appreciate where nanci's going with her idea of the other voices
project. i think it's a wonderful acheivment to have somebody like me
(person younger than most buildings, central scotland) hearing songs
that were written by people i would never have heard of without having a
love of nanci's music. the concert was also, really, really
greeeeaaaaaat.

*Up*~r.e.m~~~the first couple of listens i gave this i was pretty
disappointed as a long time-would-die-for-a-concert-owns-early-albums
r.e.m fan, but now.....i like it. it's a different approach for the
band, but stipe's lyrics are becoming more and more open. something like
nanci did with flyer. *at my most beautiful* is..well, beautiful.

*supposed former infatuation junkie*~alanis morisette~~~somebody
mentioned this lady a while ago on the net and was met with a lot of
swear words. well, i can see that alanis has a lot in common with nanci
and personally, i think she should cover *it's a hard life*. so maybe
she still has really bad PMS, even after all this time, u hey, don't we
all? this album is a lot more non-guitarish than the previous, but it's
great. highlight is *that i would be good*, you may recognize this from
the end of my postings.

*spirit*~jewel~~~haven't actually bought it yet, but from the radio 2
interview it sounded even better than *pieces of you*. might have to go
see her live in hte spring.

*lilith fair*~the PMS van~~~this cd's pretty good, my faves are *the
water is wide* by sarah maclachlan, jewel and the indigo girls. *what do
you hear in these sounds*, dar williams, this is great, have to go buy a
dar cd! the one by the vietnamese singer adn *trouble* by shawn colvin

well, i guess that's it.
stuff i want to include but can't because it was made ages ago, even
though i bough it this year:::::
*once in a very blues mooon*, *live 88*~~shawn colvin, *august and
everything after*~~counting crows, *pieces of you*~~jewel, *suzanne
vega*~~suzanne vega (i don't think i was actually alive when this came
out)

thanks for reading, feel free to edit.
luv jenny
snow makes me drowsy


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Working in Corners...and screens
   From: susan bond (su.b@sk.sympatico.ca>

Hello Christina,

Yours is a thoughtful post...
The feeling of "displacement" is I think not too uncommon with artists. I
wonder sometimes exactly what that "displacement" is, and whether it is a
prerequisite to - or a product of - creative activity. At the risk of
generalizing, I'd wager that it is likely that an artist must necessarily
be distanced from "the norm" (whatever that is!) in order to objectively
represent it, or to portray it in art. When you have that kind of distance,
you also have an objective perspective; but you also have, well, distance.
I think the feeling you describe might come from that kind of distancing
which is necessary in being an impartial and objective creator. Doesn't
mean you can't get involved in the feelings of your subject matter; but a
writer's job is to commit to whatever point of view s/he is trying to
represent.
If that leaves some writers feeling a little hollow, well, I guess it
depends on the sensibilities of the artist. Some doctors and teachers and
lawyers have a harder time leaving work at work and not taking it home than
others.  Again (and by this I mean that I've said this before), I think
that it's unwise to make assumptions about the artists' personal lives from
the lyrics they write and sing. Of course it happens, but their gift to the
rest of us is more about letting the words resonate for us and our own
lives. The beauty of this gift is that sometimes the words are so achingly
articulate and personal. I know that I wouldn't want my own audiences to
"worry" about me because the songs they've heard me sing are sad songs.
When you listen to the blues, it has a kind of purging effect, partly
because of the soulful style and partly because when *you* think things are
bad, here's a song about someone who's had it even worse!
The thing is, someone like Nanci sings of matters that are near to the
heart, and we're lucky to get her glimpse of those things and to recognize
in that glimpse insights of our own.

warm regards,
Susan


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Working in Corners...and screens
   From: kenn lippert (lippert@fyi.net>

snippage.. 
>Does anyone else think Nanci should record Paul Simon's Homeward Bound? 
>The lyrics are perfect for her... echo many of her own sentiments. 
> 
>"I'm sitting in a railway station, got a ticket for my destination, 
>on a tour of one night stands 
>my suitcase and guitar in hand 
>and every stop is neatly planned for a poet and a one-man band..." 
> 
>And in the third verse, surely Nanci has sung these same words herself many 
>times over... 
> 
>"Tonight I'll sing my songs again, 
>I'll play the game and pretend 
>But all my words come back to me 
>in shades of mediocrity 
>like emptiness and harmony...I need some one to comfort me.." 
..snippage... 
>Christina "the sun is out now" Myers 

I have to agree with the Muse on this one. Though Simon probably doesn't fit
into the traditional *folk* mold that Nanci carries in her heart, I find many
similarities in their lyrics and even music at times. 

When the rumors of the OVII concept first surfaced on the NN, there was a flurry
of suggestions as to what everyone thought should be included. For some reason,
at that time and even more so now I can distinctly see Nanci leaning her head on
that snow haloed window gazing through the frost across an Indiana plain and
hear Nanci's half whispered voice wistfully singing (without affectation) 

"... and the moon rose over an open field." (From "Kathy's Song", another Paul
Simon road trip exploration). 

The sound is so clear to me that at times I believe I am hearing it though a
discontinuity in the spacetime continuum, an echo of a future recording or
concert. (Sometimes I distinctly hear "Special TRAMP Dana Scully" too, but I
think that snippet of audio is from a separate and distinct event in another
timeline.) 

Thanks for reminding me of that future memory Poetmuse, just the sort of aural
image to savor as I tuck myself into my cocoon for the night. 

kenn "Dana can handcuff me anytime, anywhere" lippert 

// Kenn sent a follow-up noting that he really meant to refer
// to Paul Simon's "America" instead of "Kathy's Song."
// But you knew that, didn't you? [BP]

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Christmas albums   
   From: "David E Mahaffey" (musemaker@innocent.com>

Hi folks,
   More than likely you all think I'm new here, even. But no, I've been around
for about a year and a half now, mostly just like to listen. Maybe because
I'm a writer, and according to those Myers-Briggs personality tests I'm an
INFP, a class which accounts for less than 1% of the population or something
to that effect. Anyway, I'm procrastinating, I have a research paper to
write. I have to analyze the fragmentary lyrics of Sappho and glean from
them a picture of what life was like in 600 BC or so. But that's not why I'm
writing either.
   Have you folks been in the habit of discussing Christmas albums on this
list? I really like Christmas music, especially well-done modern songs or
fresh arrangements of the classics. One album that combines both is Skip
Ewing's "Following Yonder Star" on MCA. If anybody knows where I can find
about 50 copies of that, let me know. I run a website for Skip and people
ask for it all the time. They all want this song called "Christmas
Carol"-some of you country fans might have heard it. If not, call your local
station, they still play it every year, though it's nine years old. It's
about an orphan named Carol who answers Santa when he asks what he can bring
her: "My name is Christmas Carol I was born on Christmas Day. I don't know
who my daddy is and mommy's gone away. All I want for Christmas is someone
to take me home. Does anybody want a Christmas Carol of their own?" The
other song they're after is "It Wasn't His Child" and it's been covered two
or three times, Trisha Yearwood's version being the most popular. It's
basically a look at the life of Christ from Joseph's perspective. Skip is
said to have written it at a Christmas party after he decided the music he
was hearing on the radio wasn't up to snuff. Locked himself in a room with
his guitar, came out ten minutes later and played it. Oh, and fresh
arrangements? How about a jazz medley of "Following Yonder Star," "We Three
Kings," "My Favorite Things," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"? It's
smooth. So is Skip's voice, and pretty deep. He does an a capella version of
"O Come All Ye Faithful" that will make you snuggle a little deeper under
the blanket. There are other great gems on here, but I want this to at least
have a shot at the digest so I'll cut it here. If anybody wants to know more
about Skip Ewing, e-mail me.

David

Visit Skip Ewing Fans Online
http://www.fortunecity.com/westwood/chanel/22/skip.html


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: cindy williams (non-nanci)
   From: John Hodges (jqhodges@uclink4.berkeley.edu>

is this cindy williams person everone keeps talking about the same one who
played on laverne & shirley?

does that "car wheels on a gravel road" album of hers have the L&S theme
song? that was a real catchy lil' ditty.  does penny marshall guest on any
duets, just for old times' sake?

i still guffaw in memory of that there one episode where ol' laverne stole
shirley's boyfriend.

classic american romantic comedy.

John

// uh, John, is the dissertation getting to you? just a little?


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Top ten...well, three anyway
   From: Lee_Zellweger@readersdigest.com

I couldn't come up with anywhere near ten...guess most of this year's
purchases were actually from last year.  That's what happens when you
depend on the yearly top ten list for all your cd purchases...always a year
behind.

#1.  Patty Griffin/Flaming Red--Not a popular choice this year among the
NNetters (an understatement?).  My advice, skip the first song and enjoy
the incredible twelve that follow.  Sure, it's different than her previous
release that was so darn popular here, but the heart and soul are the same.
Doug Lancio knows good music...Nanci and Patty.

#2.  Lucinda

#3.  Nanci--Not my favorite from Nanci, but any Nanci is better
than...well, just about anything.

Happy Holidays.



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Working In Corners:A Parody
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

My apologies, Nanci... for what I am about to do to your song....
and to the rest of yous... this is my first parody... be nice!!
-Christina


Working In Retail At Christmas

well it's a congested road, with cars from here to Tempe
I'm fighting off a yawn
from staying up too late
Work,
she's just around the corner
But I think I'll stop off here at the Texaco
and have me another cup...

I've been workin to long with other people's problems
Pulling down some joe
keepin my eyes away from the caffeine
I've never been a coffee lover, but I will drink it needlessly
I've never liked it black
till I gave up drinking tea
I don't want to go to sleep at the terminal
because I just might dream...of coffee beans...

I'm more awake now, there was a man in the next car
he laughed so loud
I wondered- what was he on?
I'd forgotten the beauty of no sleep, with plenty of coffee
to keep me wired.
I didn't have a word to say, except more sugar, please

Cuz I've been workin too long with other people's problems
Pulling down some joe
keepin my eyes away from the caffeine 
I've never been a coffee lover, but I will drink it needlessly
I've never liked it black
till I gave up drinking tea
I don't want to go to sleep at the terminal
because I just might dream...of coffee beans...

These city streets at 9:oo am in the morning
I would've stopped to call
but I'm almost there
at the entrance door-damn, I've forgotten my badge again
I don't mind walkin around to the front of the place
but I look so silly 
holding a 32oz mug of hot coffee

I've been workin to long with other people's problems
Pulling down some joe
keepin my eyes away from the caffeine
I've never been a coffee lover, but I will drink it needlessly
I've never liked it black
till I gave up drinking tea
I don't want to go to sleep at the terminal
because I just might dream...of coffee beans...

I don't want to go to sleep
because then I don't get paid
so I'll drink more coffee
you know I sure can keep it coming
with plenty of sugar and cream
so I'll drink more coffee
and I'll never go to sleep...
drink more coffee...
and
never go to sleep........

// I've gone two years without writing a parody...
// No, I won't, I won't...maybe...[BP]

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: James Hooker says
   From: "Alan B. Larson" (alanlarson@mindspring.com>

Hello all,
Saturday night I attended an Amazing Rhythm Aces show at the Birchmere Club
in Alexandria, VA.  It was fabulous.  the club is very nice if you like a
supper club type setting.  Personally, for an Aces show it was way too
sterile for my taste.  No dance floor.  The Aces make me want to get up and
move.  Anyway, after the show I spoke briefly with James Hooker and he said
that Nanci and the Blue Moon Orchestra should be touring again in about a
year.  Great news.  Just thought I would pass that along.
Alan 


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Barbican concerts
   From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@mail.dotcom.fr>

Hello all,

I added some photos from Nigel to the site of the Barbican concerts.

Some names are corrected.

The site is at: http://fly.to/nanci


met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Top Ten...
   From: "Zeoli, Stephen" (ZEOLI@CHAMPLAIN.EDU>

Hi, all.

Here is my top ten list, not in any significant order.

PREMONITION by John Fogerty
John Fogerty is one of the great American originals, and it was a real
treat to hear him sing some of his classic CCR songs on this live album.

MILES FROM OUR HOME by Cowboy Junkies
This is by far my favorite Junkies CD since The Trinity Sessions.  You
can't beat Margo's voice or that sleepy guitar her brother plays.

TIME BETWEEN TRAINS by Susan Werner
Nice vocals and sweet tunes.

THE MAP by Dee Carstensen
ditto

LIVE UNDER BRAZILIAN SKIES by Annie Haslam
The vocalist from the '70s art-rock group Renaissance singing classics
and new material in concert in Brazil.  Only available through Annie's
Web site, but worth getting if you're a fan.

COME CLEAN by Mysteries of Life
This is a band I'm surprised to like.  They're kind of quirky,
contemporary and retro at the same time.  Strong male vocals and guitar,
but also with cello and viola mixed in.

STRUTTIN OUR STUFF by Bill Wyman & Rhythm Kings
A nice mix of up-beat bluesy tunes (is that an oxymoron) and an all-star
band.

LAST TRAIN TO MEMPHIS by Johnny Rivers
The singer who gave us Secret Agent Man back with a CD that's very much
in the same vein as John Fogerty.

WE RAN by Linda Ronstadt
A voice I fell in love with when I was but a wee lad.  I can't help but
like her now.

WIDE OPEN SPACES by Dixie Chicks
This is why it pays to pay attention to top ten lists.  I'd never heard
of these gals until reading about them on some of your lists, then I saw
them on Jay Leno and really liked them.  Bought the CD next day.

Favorite new anthology:
BEST OF THE VANGUARD YEARS by Ian & Sylvia

Most anticipated release of 1999:
NIGHT IN A STRANGE TOWN by Lynn Miles. I guess some of you have already
gotten hold of this CD, but in the U.S. it is not going to be released
until January 12, according to the Rounder Records Web site.

Well, that's it.

Steve Zeoli
zeoli@champlain.edu


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Another Top Ten
   From: "Charlie Macdonald" (charlie.macdonald@virgin.net>

Hello,

Top Ten (in a sort of an order, I suppose)

1. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road  -  Lucinda Williams
Next year, when Robert runs his top ten for the decade, I expect this will
figure.

2.  Visions of Plenty - Kate Campbell
My most played album of '98.

3. Hell Amongst the Yearlings - Gillian Welch
A recommendation from the nicest folk on the net. I loved it the very first
second I heard it - superb mix of folk, blues and bluegrass. I now have the
excellent "Revival", but I prefer this.

4.  Painted From Memory - Elvis Costello
Wonderful collaboration with Mr Burt Baccaharch. Been buying Elvis since "My
Aim is True" and I still love the guy. "What's New Pussycat?" - this is!

5. Step Inside This House  -  Lyle Lovett
Even better than "The Road to Escenada" . Every time I listen, I have a new
favourite song.

6. The Horse Whisperer - Soundtrack
So-so movie, fantastic album - not a weak track in sight!

7. Nanci Griffith - Other Voices, Too
My initial reaction was one of disappointment (I.e. it wasn't OV1) but I am
now very happy with this album. Bought the book, seen the concert, waiting
for the video.

8. Valerie Smith - Patchwork Heart
Another recommendation from the nicest folks on the net. Super voice matched
by a fine blend of songs.

9.  Eric Taylor - Resurrect
Bought this after the Nanci OV2 concert and have been being playing it a lot
since then. Comfortable, relaxed style - I have now oredered a copy of his
previous album.

10.  Emmylou Harris - Spyboy
Live album spanning all aspects of Emmy's career - she and the Spyboy band
deliver an excellent performance.

Still awaiting "Cry Cry Cry" to arrive from CD Universe.

Reissues etc (Top 4)

1.  Randy Newman - Guilty (30 years of RN)
Well presented 4 CD box set. Discs 1 and 2 are an extended best of,
disc 3 contains previously unreleased material and disc 4 has some of the
highlights from  Randy's movie soundtrack work.

2.  Bob Dylan - Live at the "Albert Hall" 1966 (Bootleg Series Volume 4)
What a great job they have done on this - sounds fantastic!

3.  Eva Cassidy - Songbird
A friend lent me this best of collection from the late Eva Cassidy, I had
never heard of her before. A wide range of musical styles and a voice that
is simply stunning!

4. The Band - The Shape I'm In
An  EMI / Capitol  best of (Europe only, I suspect). This focuses on the
first three albums. "Up On Cripple Creek" mentions Lake Charles, Louisiana
which links me back to my number 1.

Finally, on the John Hodges suggested category, for album of 1997 that has
stayed with me most in 1998 - Kate Campbell's "Moonpie Dreams" (by a
landslide!)

Happy Holidays,

Charlie Macdonald


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Top ten and more
   From: HenryJG@aol.com

Well, this is my first post since my top ten list last year, but I do read
every digest!  I so enjoy putting together my top ten, but since Nanci didn't
make mine this year (probably first time an album of hers wouldn't have made
my top ten since TLBTW) I'm also including a personal encounter story at the
end.

I went a bit mad buying CDs this year, so it was hard to finalize a top ten
list.  I hated leaving off Mary Lou Lord, the new Best of collections by
Vanessa Williams, U2, and George Michael, a terrific UK compilation of Jimmy
Webb songs, Cher's new one, Sandra Bernhard's new (mostly comedy) album, Dixie
Chicks, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and 81/2 Souvenirs (those would round out
my top 20, most likely).

And I haven't yet heard the latest CDs by Hole, the Cardigans, Dolly Parton,
Sara Hickman, or Chris Isaak--all folks I love.  I hope to get those for
Christmas. :-)

A bit about my criteria for the list.  An item had to have more great tracks
than it did mediocre/merely good tracks.  Unfortunately, this kept OV2 off my
list b/c although I love some of the tracks, frankly, I find it hard to listen
to the whole thing all the way through.

So my list...in reverse order for maximum Casey Kasem countdown effect:

10) Gloria Estefan--GLORIA!:  Never been a big GE fan, but this CD is
exceptional.  Terrific songs and a mixing of disco and salsa that miraculously
works.

9) Lightning Seeds--LIKE YOU DO ... BEST OF THE LIGHTNING SEEDS (UK import):
Ten years of top notch British pop singles.  Pure ear candy--melodic and fun.

8) Garbage--VERSION 2.0: Are they rock?  Are they techno?  Are they dance
music?  I think they're all of the above.  Like the Beach Boys and the
Pretenders all rolled around on the bottom of a teflon-soled electric moon
boot.

7) Brian Setzer Orchestra--THE DIRTY BOOGIE:  The very best of the swing
revival.  Great songs--a mix of originals and covers.

6) Lucinda Williams--CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD:  You all know this one.

5) Liz Phair--WHITECHOCOLATESPACEEGG:  Her best yet--great rock songs with
interesting lyrics and melodies.  The songs all hold together yet are quite
varied at the same time.

4) Mavericks--TRAMPOLINE:  Such a pleasure to listen to, mainly because of the
variety of styles and influences: cajun, indie rock, countrypolitan, lounge,
Tin Pan Alley.  Again, the key ingredient is a huge helping of great songs.  I
love the lead singer's voice, too.

3) Air--MOON SAFARI:  This album and Ray of Light make techno / electronica
music truly warm and vital.  Only a few tracks have vocals, but the music is
wonderful, reminiscent of 60s pop, great soundtrack music (e.g, Francis Lai),
and (at times) 70s glam rock.

2) Madonna--RAY OF LIGHT:  Her best album ever (and I have all of 'em).  I
can't tell you how many people I know who've heard it and told me "I never
liked Madonna, but I love this album."  

1) Various Artists--THE LOOK OF LOVE: THE BURT BACHARACH COLLECTION:  If I
could only take 10 possessions to a desert island, 2 of them would be a CD
player and this 3 CD set of 75 of the most perfect pop records every made.
The hit recordings (and some otherwise) of Burt's songs remastered and sung by
everyone from Marty Robbins to Elvis Costello, with a generous helping of
Dionne Warwick.  The liner notes are fascinating, describing how incredibly
complex Bacharach's songs were in terms of song structure and melody, often
shifting time signatures several within a couple of minutes.  Who knew?  I
just know I love 'em.

Also, I have to say I enjoyed listening to Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals
this year (but not enough for it to make my top 10 or 20).

Now my Nanci story, that I've been meaning to post since this summer.
Unfortunately, it wasn't a personal encounter I had; rather, this guy I met
this summer while working in a law firm in Dallas said he sat next to Nanci on
a plane.  He didn't know who she was, but she noticed he was reading a book on
constitutional law for a class at Univ. of TX law school. She started going on
about how the guy who wrote it (a law professor at UT-Austin) was such an
asshole and to not believe anything he says, etc. etc.  Eventually it came out
that she had dated him and had seriously hard feelings about it.  Maybe this
has been covered on NanciNet before, but I must have missed it.  Does anyone
know what the story is here?  So the lawyer wanted to hear some Nanci, so I
lent him Flyer and the Best of (UK).  I think he really like them.

Gotta run.  Wish me luck on my next to last set of law school exams.  

Take care,
John


_________________________________________________________________
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