NanciNet Digest 12-11-99
// Two weeks til Christmas...
// Lists, books, tour dates, rounders and more...
// Enjoy...[BP]
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Re: Austin City Limits book
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 1999 21:32:22 -0600
From: "nakramer" (nakramer@icsi.net>
Greetings from TEXAS!
The Austin City Limits book is excellent. I have turned the pages many
times and found "stuff" I didn't remember reading before...so entertaining.
It is a good reference book as well.
It has the picture and a little story about Nanci showing up at the taping
of her debut on Austin City Limits in the wonderful, vividly colored,
flowerdy ;) dress she had sewn herself from a Butterick pattern and
material from the "five and dime."
I haven't been a fan of Nanci for years and years and haven't seen all the
videos she has made, but I'll bet this show was a goodun! I would love to
have seen it.
Austin City Limits taped a show with Don McLean and Nanci Griffith (and
yeah, Garth) at the Paramount last month where she mentioned that she had
donated "the" dress to Tony Likona, the director of the show.
Yes, the book is a nice gift!
. - .
( (`- )
\ \ "Ain't Life Grand?"
.="""=._) )
/__ ( _ .- ' Nancy
` /_I_
I ``
-"=
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Re: Austin City Limits book
Date: Wed, 08 Dec 1999 22:05:59 PST
From: "Todd Barrett" (astrocity@hotmail.com>
I began a new career as a public librarian a few months ago I have ordered
this book for our library. Next I will work on getting some of her music
(we have one old cassette) in here.
Todd Barrett
*Girls With Guitars*
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Balcony/9132/music.html
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: European tourdates
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 09:34:04 +0100
From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@zeelandnet.nl>
Hi all,
Does anybody know where I can find tourdates for Nanci in May 2000? I got 2
dates May 3 Sheffield and 29 London, probably with LSO. So I think that she
will be touring the whole month in the UK and maybe she will cross the
channel and do some concerts in Europe and if possible in the Netherlands or
Belgium.
I checked a lot of tourdates pages, but I can't find anything about it.
met vriendelijke groeten,
Hans Janssen.
http://tradefolk.da.ru/
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: UKTour Dates
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 20:18:28 -0000
From: "Howard Watkins" (howard.watkins@virgin.net>
Hello Everybody. I've lurking a while now but thought this would be of
interest - someone at the record company in London was kind enough to give
me the details.
Here are the dates:
May
2nd Birmingham Symphony Hall
4th Manchester Bridgewater Hall
6th Cambridge Corn Exchange
7th Reading Hexagon
8th Cardiff St Davids Hall
10th Croydon Farifield Hall
11th Bristol Colston Hall
15th Warwick
16th Nottingham Concert Hall
17th Newcastle City Hall
19th York Barbican
20th Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
21st Northampton Derngate Theatre
23rd Dublin Olympia
24th Dublin Olympia
25th Belfast Waterfront Hall
27th Derry Rialto
Still nothing for Glasgow - not yet anyway.
Howard
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: UK tour news
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 99 16:21:30 +0000
From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
I have just spoken to Asgard, Nanci's UK tour promoters, and while there
are a few confirmed dates in the North, there are NO confirmed dates
elsewhere. There is unlikely to be any news on dates before the 8th
January. So everyone is going to have to sit back and wait, that is the
official line.
John "just keeping you informed" Graveling
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: UK tour news
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 09:21:09 -0500
From: Ian R (100451.1006@compuserve.com>
Hi
Just to say my tickets for Nottingham arrived to day :>)
Just trying to make you jealous! :>) See some of you there on the night!
Merry Xmas everyone and heres to the New Century!
Ian R
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: A Nanci UK date
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 09:15:59 GMT
From: "J.Whalen, Systems" (jwhalen@fs1.li.man.ac.uk>
Hi,
> I am planning to visit England and Scotland (for first time ever) from
> May 4th -17th, 2000 and was wondering if anyone may know if/where Nanci
> might be appearing. Or possibly anyone else worth hearing for that
> matter.
(Sorry if this info is already well-known.) Nanci is with the Blue
Moon Orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK on May 4th.
Tickets are 19.50, 18.50 and 17.50. Box Office is: 0161 907 9000
Thanks
Jan
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Nanci in Sheffield
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:25:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Ann Tyas (ann@awnpb.demon.co.uk>
To answer Jenny's question, the only info. I could get from the City
Hall was that she would be appearing with the BMO.
If it hadn't been for our son's graduation I would not have known this.
By the way we only happened to be at that because our dream -of- a -
Caribbean cruise was curtailed, mid Atlantic. Not that we were trying to
avoid the grad. but the holiday had been booked well in advance.
Thank you Sheffield Uni. I owe you one.
--
Ann Tyas
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: upcoming concerts (no Nanci)
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 09:44:25 -0500
From: Susan Chisom (Susan.Chisom@JWHOMES.com>
Fot those who live in or near Atlanta, Stacey Earle will be in town on Jan.
9 at the Red Light Cafe, show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Also, on sale this Sat. are tickets to:
Allison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas at the Fox Theatre
on Friday, January 21.
Hope to see some of you at both shows :)
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: March Tour Dates
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 22:16:36 EST
From: Rocalittl@aol.com
Hi All,
Just saw on Pollstar's web-site that Nanci has several March tour dates
scheduled on the East coast (NY, MA, NJ, DE) with Guy Clark and Rodney
Crowell. Wonder if the spring acoustic tour with Don McLean might still
happen or if it has been scrapped in favor of dates w/ Guy and Rodney.
Anxiously awaiting next week's Nanci show here in my hometown of
Pittsburgh...with first row gold circle seats!
Take care everyone. I am enjoying reading all the Top Ten of '99 lists
and will post my own this weekend.
~Lisa Cain
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Good web site
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 01:24:08 EST
From: Tricia9999@aol.com
This may be old news to many of you, but there is a great website where you
can listen to interviews and performances by many of your favorites,
including Nanci. It's Michigan Live Acoustic Cafe at
http://www.mlive.com/cafe
Enjoy,
Tricia
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re:NN: Good web site
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 08:51:06 -0800
From: Dan.Gerson@mckhboc.com
Thank yew very much for reminding me, Tricia. This is such a great site. You
wouldn't believe how much easier it is to work in the Dilbertesque cubicle
world when you can listen to Dave Alvin doing a live version of "Blackjack David", or better yet, one of the best radio stations in the world KPIG, 107 oink five:
http://www.kpig.com/
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: singing the praises of KPIG
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 11:29:25 -0800
From: Ron Crain (ron@arken.net>
Dan,
I just re-discovered KPIG this week. Tuesday actually. Yes, that was FAT
TUESDAY as in KFAT programing during the lunch hour! KFAT is where I first
heard Nanci :-) KFAT was a way of life back then (grin>.
Here's the abbreviated play list from the FAT Tuesday hour:
Dave Edmunds / Charlene Carter: Baby Ride Easy
Dan Hics: Cowboy dream #19
John Harford: Up on the hill where they do the boogie boogie (I requested
"golden globes" but they didn't have it)
Lester "road hog" Moran & the Cadillac Cowboys: Alive at the ...
Deadly Earnst & the Honkey Tonk Heros: Don't make me laugh while I'm drink'in.
Homer & Jetrho: Battle of Kookamunga
Red Knuckles & the trailblazers: I know my baby loved me.
Shel Silverstein: Sahra Sylvia Cyinthia Stout would not take the garbage out.
Bob Cheeves: Underpants.
The best part of this re-discovery is that they now have a Stereo feed
which works GREAT with my new DSL connection.
I'm realllll happy this week!
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: top ten and more
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 20:04:20 +0100
From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@zeelandnet.nl>
Hi all,
Here is my top ten for 1999:
1 Steve Earle & the DMCB - the Mountain
2 Kate Campbell - Rosaryville
3 Buddy Miller - Cruel moon
4 Tom Russell - The man from god knows where
5 John prine - Inspit of ourselves
6 Stacey Earle - Simple Gearle
7 Terri Hendrix - Live
8 Various - The return of the grievous angel
9 Alejandro Escovedo - Bourbonitos blues
10 Emmylou & Linda - Western wall
Some remarks:
A great female singer is not on the list, but you find her on three of the
CDs: Iris DeMent.
I had Stacey on my list last year, but the CD is officialy released this
so....
Kate Campbell may surprise me with her new CD Wandering strange and I some
gave it the benefit of the doubt in their top ten.
Artists that I found out about much too late this year: Tim & Mollie O'Brien
Best concerts I've seen this year:
1 Steve Earle & the Blue Grass Dukes - House of blues LA
2 Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Ancienne Belgique Club, Brussels.
3 Cry, Cry, Cry - Strawberrry festival & Berkeley(here with Joan Baez and
Stacey Earle)
4 Stacey Earle + Mark Stuart - Thunderbird Café, Brussels
met vriendelijke groeten,
Hans Janssen.
http://tradefolk.da.ru/
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: OT: Rick Danko (The Band) has died
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 15:48:45 -0500
From: "MVM" (mvmartel@home.com>
Rick Danko of The Band died this morning, apparently in his sleep. This
link is to the AP story.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19991210/us/obit_danko_1.html
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: A real original
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 99 21:22:22 +0000
From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
Thanks to list member Henry Lefkowitz for bringing the death of Rick
Danko to my attention. As a founding member of one of the truly great and
original groups of the modern rock era, "66 to the present, The Band were
at the forefront of roots/americana music. This was long before we had to
find nice cosy categories to put our music under. How do you define what
the Band produced? It's like trying to describe one of the wonders of the
world, or a fine piece of art. Words simply do not do justice to the
feelings, the sounds, the sights.
R.I.P. Rick and we'll go on listening to the legacy you left the world.
John "this wheel's on fire" Graveling
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: ELH Billboard honor
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 16:08:43 -0800 (PST)
From: Troy Roepke (taroepke@ucdavis.edu>
Yo! Just thought some of y'all would be interested in knowing the EmmyLou
Harris was honored Wed. night at the Billboard Music Awards with the
Century Award which is Billboard's 'highest' honor. This was only the
ninth time Billboard has done this (one the former honorees was Madonna! I
still have it on videotape.) Billboard honored ELH for her artistic and
business endeavors in maintaining awareness for 'traditional' country,
roots and folk music. Sarah McLachlan introduced her. ELH thanked her
manager and Gram, of course, and several other people I did not
recognize. On a more superficial note, ELH wore this fabu red silk dress
which contrasted beautifully with her pale skin and gray hair. Much
more elegant and beautiful than say ... what the atrocity of fashion that
Pariah Scarey wore (Mariah Carey, for those of who aren't into
overproduced pop/hip-hop phelgm, who by the way was awarded the 'Artist of
the Decade' - let a loud, collective and sorrowful groan escape your lips)
Oh, yeah, billboard has a special report about ELH which you can read at
www.billboard.com. That's all.
Have a Barbra Beautiful Holiday Season!
Helen
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Totally OT: Eric Bogle, Dar Williams and Moxy Fruvous (No Nanci)
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 09:25:43 -0500
From: "MVM" (mvmartel@home.com>
> I have a question and i thought this would be the best place to ask it. It
> is off -topic though, so feel free to reply to me. I was listening to
> 'treasures left behind' for abotu the millionth time last night and was
> wondering about Eric Bogle. Is he or is he not Scottish? I thought i
> detected a bit of the brogue in there...I was going to ask my parents but
> thenm i decided that they'd jsut look at me blankly as usual. Thanks.
> jenny*
Eric Bogle is from Peebles, Scotland. He left for Australia about 30 years
ago and he's been there ever since, except when he's touring all over the
place. He's wonderful. Here's his webpage:
http://www.windbourne.com/ebogle/
I went into Toronto last night, to see Dar Williams
http://www.darwilliams.com/) open for Moxy Fruvous (www.fruvous.com). What
an unbelievably good lineup! Dar was great, in good humour despite claiming
to have the "fru virus") and played for about 30 minutes, then came back for
an encore. The audience (about 200) was full of Dar fans. She did a couple
new tunes, one of which was an especially big hit with the audience
("Canadian girls"). After a short break, the Canadian Boys came out, and
thanked us for coming to see them "close for Dar". They played for a solid 2
hours, mixing up some quieter stuff with some wilder old favourites, and
ended with 2 encores. Their final 2 songs were, of course, "King of Spain"
and "Green Eggs and Ham" They seemed happy to be home, and have a handful
of other gigs fairly close to home before the new year. I'm still waiting
for my copy of "Thornhill" to arrive -- should have waited and picked it up
at the show. Dar didn't have any product with her, unfortunately. I wanted a
signed Christmas present for my sister-in-law.
All in all, a wonderful evening (though I've got to catch up on my sleep...
I saw James Keelaghan (www.keelaghan.com) by himself on Saturday night and
haven't caught up from that!
Vicki (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz) near Toronto, Ontario, Canada
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: husband, bumper, and Bogle
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:21:08 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Wilt (mwilt@smp.org>
Griffsters--
Just catching up on the latest husband/bumper discussion (yes, it has come
up before) and find myself rather amused by the all the creative
hermeneutical activity going on out there. But I feel I must point out, like
the man said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." :-)
And Jenny asked:
>I was listening to
'treasures left behind' for abotu the millionth time last night and was
wondering about Eric Bogle. Is he or is he not Scottish? I thought i
detected a bit of the brogue in there...I was going to ask my parents but
thenm i decided that they'd jsut look at me blankly as usual.(
I go into that "blank stare land" when my son starts trying to educate me
about Pokemon, but I've learned a great deal despite myself. Anyway, Eric
Bogle is Scottish, but emigrated to Australia many years ago. I have never
got around to picking up any of his albums, but in concert 10 years or so
ago he blew me away completely, most notably with a song about saying
farewell to his mother as the train leaves the station on the first leg of
his journey Down Under. He's also tremendously funny. I'd love to see him
again sometime.
By the way, my aforementioned six-year-old took great interest in the
picture book "From A Distance." The illustrations are very engaging, and his
reaction to the contrast when we turned the page from a utopian spread to a
grim reality spread was quite strong--he's a kid who loves to "play war" and
all that, but the look of concern on his face and his sudden "Oh, no!" when
he saw that happy town become war-torn was really very touching.
Michael "and sometimes a bumper is just a bumper" Wilt
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Here's mine (top for 99)
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 17:11:17 -0500
From: Bob Juliano (Rjuliano@cfl.rr.com>
1. The Mountain Steve Earle/ Del Mccoury Band
2. In Spite Of Ourselves John Prine
3. The Grass is Blue Dolly Parton
4. Forget About It Alison Krauss and U.S.
5. Ancient Tones Ricky Skaggs
6. Ride With Bob Asleep at the Wheel
7. Rosaryville Kate Campbell
8. Ten Year Night Lucy Kaplansky
9. Man From God Knows Where Tom Russell
10.Dust Bowl Symphony Nanci
Actually a toss up for the first two spots, I gave Steve the
nod because of his strong songwriting and his pretty good back up
band (snicker).
__________________________________________________
Bob Juliano
in Orlando, Florida
Rjuliano@cfl.rr.com
www.geocities.com/Nashville/Stage/4862
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Top Ten Lists
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 23:26:23 -0500 (EST)
From: "Diane B. Wilkes" (diwilkes@erols.com>
Short Version:
In order from 1-10
1. Julie Miller -- Broken Things
2. Irene Kelley - Simple Path
3. Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris -- Western Wall: The Tuscon Sessions
4. Kelly Willis -- What I Deserve
5. Tammy Rogers -- The Speed of Love
6. Steve Earle and Del McCoury Band -- The Mountain
7. Van Morrison -- Back on Top
8. Lucy Kaplansky -- Ten Year Night
9. Lynn Miles -- Night in a Strange Town
10. Nanci Griffith -- Dust Bowl Symphony
Long Version:
10. Nanci Griffith -- Dust Bowl Symphony
This cd might have ranked higher if I didn’t have access to similar live
versions of “The Wing and the Wheel” -- that little recitation scat she
does at the end gets me every time. But I do, and sometimes this cd, which
features Nanci singing with the London Symphony Orchestra, teeters a bit to
the muzak side. I appreciate the “new” tracks: “Drops from the Faucet,” a
Frank Christian (“Three Flights Up”) tune, Buddy Holly cover, “Tell Me
How,” and Nanci’s paean to a piano (“1937 Pre-War Kimball”), but I must own
three legitimate release versions of half the songs on here, and I’m not
sure any are superior to the originals. I admire Nanci’s willingness to
take artistic leaps, but not every jette is a masterpiece.
However, it did make my top ten--possibly because inferior Nanci is
superior to almost anyone else, possibly my loyalty is permeating my
decision-making. A Nanci fanatic needs this, but it would be low on my
list of recommendations to new fans who want to learn more about Ms. Griffith.
9. Lynn Miles -- Night in a Strange Town
A fine collection of tunes on this sophomore effort by Miles, who sounds
like a mixture of Mary-Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin without the angst,
with a little Christine Kane thrown in for good measure. Produced by the
artist, with John Cody and Larry Klein, there are some guest appearances by
“name” musicians, but the songwriter is the standout here. Particularly
evocative are “Perfect Romance” (“I’ve been hurting so long for the perfect
romance/but I could not taste the honey for the bees”), “Map of My Heart,”
an honest and poignant paean of apology, and...I just realized all the
songs are evocative. Miles is a great singer-songwriter, and not to be
missed.
8. Lucy Kaplansky -- Ten Year Night
Kaplansky, a former psychiatrist, produces her best album yet with Ten Year
Night. Surprisingly, the tuneful “Turn the Lights Back On” seems a retort
to a smarmy and insincere therapist who, despite having read The Road Less
Travelled, remains dense: “You told me all this stuff about you, pretended
it was about me and I’d have been better off with nothing.” Guess the most
reasonable co-pay would seem too high. Family seems to be on Kaplansky’s
mind these days;“For Once in Your Life” holds a message for a sibling, and
“Five in the Morning” speaks to someone who is “falling like a leaf from
the family tree,” in a last-ditch effort to get out of there alive.
All the songs on this album are written by Kaplansky and husband, Richard
Litvin, with the exception of a lovely version of Steve Earle’s “Somewhere
Out There.” While I don’t prefer hers to the original, I like it equally,
and that is as high a compliment as you’ll get out of me.
7. Van Morrison -- Back on Top
Critics have hailed Back on Top as a return to form. I want to retort,
“Return from where?” As far as I’m concerned, Morrison’s most recent cds
have been consistently strong. Still and all, this one has some lovely
tracks that are as catchy as “Caravan” and “Tupelo Honey,” if not as
irresistibly singable as “Jackie Wilson Said” or “Moondance.” The first
track, “Goin’ Down Geneva,” is a little bluesy for my tastes, but
“Philosopher’s Stone” and “In the Midnight” follow it, drawing me deeply
into Morrison’s enchanted world of soul and spirit.
“Back on Top” could be a personal message to critics and fans alike:
“Always strivin,’ always climbing way beyond my will/It’s the same old
sensation, isolation at the top of the bill/Always seeming like I’m moving,
but I’m really going slow/You’ll find out when you get to the top that
there’s nowhere to go.” He refers to fame with the bite we’ve come to know
and love (“the so-called trappings of success”) lets us know that he’s
“back on [his] feet again, back on the street again,” but this guy will
never go down for the count.
6. Steve Earle and Del McCoury Band -- The Mountain
I prefer the blazing rock and roll of “I Feel Alright” and the somewhat
mellower “Guitar Town,” but Earle can make even bluegrass palatable.
Seeing Earle with the McCoury band live helped me to understand--and
revere--the amazing musicianship that went into the making of this album.
The Mountain is one bluegrass album that I can not only tolerate, but one
that makes me
curious about what other bluegrass recordings I might find to my taste.
Who could resist thecharm of an “Outlaw’s Honeymoon” (“I know a place where
we could disappear without a trace”)?
5. Tammy Rogers -- The Speed of Love
This cd isn’t up to the standard of her solo debut album, but repeated
listens have awakened me to the strengths of The Speed of Love. All of the
songs are written by Rogers (some in collaboration), and mine the same
country/folk bailiwick of Tammy Rogers, but this cd is more mellow, with
only “Mama’s Got Some Money” preserving the country-gospel twang of
Rogers’earlier efforts. This is a subtle recording, one that improves with
time, like moonshine.
The Speed of Love also contains a hidden track at the end of the cd, which
is something I always appreciate and enjoy.
4. Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris -- Western Wall: The Tuscon Sessions
Talk about delectable harmonies! Glyn Johns’s tasteful production gives
these two women the opportunity to shine, with diverse songs ranging from
artists like Jackson Browne (“For a Dancer”) to Rosanne Cash (“Western
Wall”) to Sinead O’Connor (“This is to Mother You”). Even Emmy pens three
cuts, the dark lament, “Raise the Dead,” the sultry, sexy, and clever
“Sweet Spot,” a collaboration with Jill Cuniff (Luscious Jackson) and “All
I Left Behind,”
written with the McGarrigle sisters. “Sweet Spot” is the standout track;
it burns going down, yet manages to be playful (“Baby, when you’re lost,
I’ll be your found...When you want to play along, I’ll be your Mah Jong...”)
Lead vocals are evenly distributed. If Emmylou’s voice was a spice, it’d
be coriander, tangy and perfectly aged, and mixed with Linda’s rich,
burnished vanilla, you have the ideal coalescence.
3. Kelly Willis -- What I Deserve
What I Deserve came out early this year, but it was memorable enough that
it made a lot of Top Ten lists, including mine. What Kelly Willis has long
deserved is widespread recognition in the music world--and the
stripped-down production that allows you to hear Willis’ voice in all its
glory, combined with her usual excellent selection of songs, seems to have
been a critical
success (and probably her most commercially successful cd, as well).
Willis continues to share songwriting credits with cool people like Gary
Louris (Jayhawks) and John Leventhal. She covers quite varied artists.
There’s a pensive ballad from the atmospheric and depressive Nick Drake (
“Time Has Told Me” ) and soul legend Dan Penn-ed “Got a Feeling for You,”
which has a sultry, countrified arrangement and a killer fadeout that
screams Sam Cooke. Hubby Bruce Robison donates two brilliant songs, too.
My only cavil with What I Deserve is that it includes “Fading Fast”--and I
already own that song.
2. Irene Kelley -- Simple Path
This could easily have been my number one cd...On the first track, she
sounds like early (read:first album) Judds, with a trace of Jann Browne.
Her second song, “O Mexico,” seemed familiar; I thought it was an old Linda
Ronstadt song (close enough--I found it on Trisha Yearwood’s Thinkin’ About
You). Each song has the possibility of being affected, because her
material is anything but the typical
girl-loves-boy/girl-loses-boy/girl-gets-boy-back country fare. But honesty
overrides preciousness, making you think and feel and enjoy.
With apologies to Nanci Griffith, I think she may have written the best
song ever on being homeless (“Constant State of Grace”), a touching song
about parenthood and letting go that I find personally moving, despite
being childless (“Dancin’ Shoes”). and...
Oh, why go on? Every song on this cd is good and wholesome and fine, which
may explain why it isn’t yet in the general marketplace. You can get this
priceless cd at milesofmusic.com. Miles of Music, along with Village
Records (villagerecords.com), are two of my favorite purveyors of great,
hard-to-find music.
1. Julie Miller -- Broken Things
How this former Myrrh recording artist has become this Jewess’s favorite
singer-songwriter is anyone’s guess. But with her second album for
Hightone Records, Miller has tapped the same depths as she did on Blue
Pony, which was my top cd the year it came out. Her voice is a reedy
whisper, plaintive and supple, and terribly intimate.
When she exchanges vocals with Patty Griffin on “I Still Cry,” I cry,
too--Miller’s voice is a sacred ache that possesses the intensity of a
banshee intimating tragedy, past, present, and future. Her lyrics come from
the deepest hinterlands of her once-shattered essence, and yet they are
veiled and poetic, concealing more than they disclose. Many of her songs
are cryptic, which
may explain the compelling quality of her compositions--who wouldn’t want
to unravel an enigma?
The title track is an older song which appeared on one of her gospel
recordings, but I think the newest version is even more potent than the
original. I saw her perform it live before the album was released, and it,
too, brought tears to my eyes. Her imagery is so haunting, so precise: “You
can have my heart though it isn’t new/It’s been used and broken and only
comes in blue...”
Emmylou Harris covered “Orphan Train” and “All My Tears,” but Miller, by
reprising them here, restores them to her possession. “Strange Lover”
pulses with contempt and ironic humor, “The cows lay down when it’s gonna
rain/You come around and it’s a hurricane/You say it’s bad luck baby, but I
know it’s cocaine.” She draws out the word “cocaine” like a curse from a
Greek
Chorus.
Every track on this cd is brilliantly conceived, beautifully written, and
luminously performed. I can’t recommend it highly enough. That’s why it’s
my “number one.”
I have some honorable mentions, but this post is too long as it is.
Diane
http://www.oldgreycat.com
// This post bounced because of its length...folks, if you want
// your posts to go through easily, keep them under 5K. [BP]
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 05:54:16 EST
From: DRiley4510@aol.com
Hi,
With talk of Ford Econoline, can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly a
Salt Lake City rounder is? Of course I've got a pretty good idea but it
sounds like it's something pretty specific as well!
Dave.
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Kim Richey and "For A Dancer"
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 08:27:48 -0800
From: Dan.Gerson@mckhboc.com
Tom Gill wrote:
>Biggest Disappointments:
>Kim Richey- Glimmer
>What happened to the gritty, rootsy Kim Richey
So glad to hear this. I was quite impressed with Kim Richey after seeing her on
ACL a couple times, bought "Glimmer" and was pretty disappointed (I thought at
the time it had something to do with listening while driving through the
Tonopah, NV. area, kind of depressing if you're in the wrong mood.) I guess
I'll try one of her other 2 albums. Any suggestions.
>(2) Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris with Neil Young, "For A Dancer"
>(Jackson Browne)
This version pales in comparison to the all time best cover of this song, done
by Gregson and Collister on "Love is a Strange Hotel". Christine Collister has
one of fullest, most heart grabbing voices I've ever heard. Where is she
anyway?
N.P. another message from Windows NT (nimrod technology) telling me I have
another GPF!
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Kim Richey and "For A Dancer"
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 99 17:01:49 +0000
From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
It's interesting to read the comments on Kim Richey's "Glimmer". Granted
it is something of a departure from her first two records, but it is a
fine piece of work in it's own right. As Kim herself said, the first two
records were unsuccessful and she wants to be a success, so has changed
her style a little, as her life and outlook have changed. There are songs
on "Glimmer" every bit as good as those on her other records, namely
"Hello Old Friend", "The Way It Never Was", "Can't Lose Them All", "Come
Around" and "Long Way Back", to name but 5, which is half a good albums
worth straight away. The lady is a great talent, but has decided to
change her style, fans can either go along for the ride, or get off and
hope she keeps making the same record over and over again.
As for "For A Dancer", nothing even comes within a country mile of the
original. I have "Western Wall" and enjoy it, but find the version there
tepid to say the least. This is one of the greatest songs ever written,
bristling with feeling and emotion, and of course David Lindley's
hauntingly beautiful fiddle.
John "just my ten cents worth" Graveling
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Kim Richey and "For A Dancer"
Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 12:43:43 -0800
From: Tom Gill (tgill@igc.org>
John Edward Graveling wrote:
> worth straight away. The lady is a great talent, but has decided to
> change her style, fans can either go along for the ride, or get off and
> hope she keeps making the same record over and over again.
I would certainly be the last person to hope anyone keeps making the
same record over and over again! Sometimes I think that that some
Nancinetters want Griffith to make "Poet in my Window" or "Once In A
Very Blue Moon" over and over again, while I have been positively
enthusiastic about the changes of style shown in albums such as "Flyer,"
"Blue Roses from the Moons," "Dust Bowl Symphony," and, yes, even
"Revisited" (very much so!) I don't begrudge any artist changing their
style, whether it be Kim, or Nanci, or anyone, but it's not a guarantee
that I'll automatically like the changes (as with "Glimmer," which,
despite repeated attempts at re-listening, just does *nothing* for
me!). I certainly will look forward to buying Kim Richey's next album:
and I hope I will like it a lot better than "Glimmer."
> As for "For A Dancer", nothing even comes within a country mile of the
> original. I have "Western Wall" and enjoy it, but find the version there
> tepid to say the least. This is one of the greatest songs ever written,
> bristling with feeling and emotion, and of course David Lindley's
> hauntingly beautiful fiddle.
Yes, I've been positively pilloried on the Jackson Browne list over this
one. I'm a big Jackson Browne fan, and "For A Dancer" has great lyrics,
but I find Jackson's own version of "absolutely tepid to say the least"-
much *less* passionate than Linda and Emmylou's inspired and emotionally
powerful version of this song.
Oh well, different strokes for different folks.
Tom Gill
tgill@igc.org
Lubbock, TX
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Kim Richey
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 12:03:03 EST
From: PRobin5478@aol.com
Dear Dan (and List)
Either of the first two Kim Richey albums is far superior to "Glimmer"
(although I don't hate it as much as other Kim fans do.) I understand that
she was trying to reach out to a broader audience and Hugh Padgham is a major
producer (Police, etc.)
I would start out the the first (eponymous) album, which is basically one
great song after another. Some of the cuts have been covered by other
artists: "Those Things We Said" (Trisha Yearwood), "That's Exactly What I
Mean" (Patty Loveless), etc.
Then, but "Bitter Sweet", too. Kim is a major talent.
Peter in SoCal
np - Van Morrison boot from York
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 09:05:36 -0500
From: Mike Chesman (chesman@preferred.com>
Dave Riley wrote:
>With talk of Ford Econoline, can anyone enlighten me as to what exactly a
>Salt Lake City rounder is? Of course I've got a pretty good idea but it
>sounds like it's something pretty specific as well!
>Dave.
The Nanci guitar tab web site says "rounder" as well as the songbook "Late
Night Grande Hotel and Other Nanci Griffith Classics" but when I listen to
the original off of "Lone Star State of Mind" at a good volume level it sure
sounds like "rambler" to me... and that's both times in the song! Would
sure make sense with the rhyming of the word "gambler" as well.
Mike
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 12:40:28 -0500
From: Mike Chesman (chesman@preferred.com>
>True enough, but later in the song...
>"But now she's gone and that rounder knows you cannot cage your wife."
I swear I hear the "M" in rambler at that point in the song also... at least
on the studio version. When I reviewed a few concert tapes I can hear
something that doesn't sound exactly like "rambler" I'll assume the music
publisher got it right and Nanci can go on singing it definitively correct!
Mike "and if you play it backwards it says rednuor" Chesman
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Re: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 15:12:25 -0500
From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>
Dave Riley asked:
> With talk of Ford Econoline, can anyone enlighten me as to
> what exactly a Salt Lake City rounder is?
ROUNDER: One who makes the rounds to all the bars and nightspots.
Usually a somewhat desolute person with an unsavory reputation.
-S
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Sarah Elizabeth Campbell
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 15:37:57 -0500
From: David Ring (ringdw@snyoneva.cc.oneonta.edu>
I haven't gotten her new album, but just a reminder to all those
who live in Austin or visit Austin that Sarah does a fine show
every Monday night at Artz' on South Lamar. I was listening
to KUT via the 'Net this afternoon and a bunch of folks including
Mandy Mercier were on the folk show. There is a show of
Blaze Foley's songs tommorrow at 2 at Jovitas-I think Sarah
will be at that.
Oh to be in Austin,
Dave Ring
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: cover of the year
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 15:39:36 -0500
From: Cynthia Courtney (cec522@earthlink.net>
In Digest #99C08, Tom Gill writes:
> Cover Versions of the Year:
> (1) Marychapin Carpenter, "Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen)
>
I heard her sing this in concert Fall '98, and it blew me away. Just a
stunning version of this song - I felt like I was really _hearing_ the
lyrics for the first time; it gave me a whole new appreciation of
Springsteen as a lyricist. I'm gonna go out and try to find the
single!
Cindy Courtney
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Re: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 99 20:56:32 +0000
From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
As the line previous goes, "her husband was a gambler" it seems logical,
and to rhyme, that the line is "he was a Salt Lake City rambler". As
Nanci has always been prone to 'weird' pronunciation, then rounder has
obviously come about due to her diction.
John Graveling
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: NN: Portraits
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:17:30 -0500
From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>
Hey Folks-
I've been overdosing on Emmylou this afternoon, as I finally got my
hands on the "Portraits" boxed set- covering all the Warner Bros.
albums. In the accompanying booklet, she has this to say about "Gulf
Coast Highway" and Ms. Nanci:
"I heard that song. It made me pull off the road, I was crying so hard.
I wish I had recorded it first. It hit me with a sledgehammer, and
turned me into a Nanci Griffith fan".
It's surprising to me that Emmy took so long to become a fan of Nanci,
considering how much they've worked together since. Surely she had
opportunities to hear Nanci's music prior to Nanci's second MCA album?
Maybe not. I'm just glad they had the good sense to finally start
working together.
Hidin' Out in the Georgia Pines-
Wishin' It Would Rain,
Steve Robertson
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Re: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:53:47 -0500
From: "Dave Bronsveld" (dbrons@ptd.net>
From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>
> As the line previous goes, "her husband was a gambler" it seems logical,
> and to rhyme, that the line is "he was a Salt Lake City rambler". As
> Nanci has always been prone to 'weird' pronunciation, then rounder has
> obviously come about due to her diction.
>
That's pretty good, John. Rambler sure does rhyme better. :^) I kinda
think rounder makes a little more sense, though. As Shawn pointed out - a
person who makes the rounds, with unsavory reputation. I think of a rambler
in a more positive light like a hobo who rides the rails. I often listen to
a song by Dave Van Ronk that goes:
And here's to you
my ramblin' boy
May all your ramblin'
bring you joy
Dave
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Re: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 20:12:39 EST
From: "Tracy Applebaum" (poohbear512@hotmail.com>
John Graveling wrote:
>>As the line previous goes, "her husband was a gambler" it seems logical,
>and to rhyme, that the line is "he was a Salt Lake City rambler". As
>Nanci has always been prone to 'weird' pronunciation, then rounder has
>obviously come about due to her diction.
This could be, and I'm far from an authority on Nanci, but I always saw it
as the other way, that the word was "Rounder" because that's the kind of
person he was, she wanted to portray him as, but it had to rhyme with
"gambler" so she pronounced it weird the FIRST time to sould like a
combination of "rounder" (the actual lyric) and "rambler" (what an ideal
rhyme would be). Because the second time sounds like crystal clear
"rounder" and the first sounds more "Nancified".
Of course I could be wrong...
Tracy
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 17:04:57 -0500
From: Bob Ivers (bivers@sprintmail.com>
Speaking of rounders and seeing that Nanci will be doing some shows with
Rodney Crowell, I'd love to see them team up on Rodney's "Even Cowgirls Get
The Blues" (which starts off with "She's a rounder..."). Emmylou did this
song with Rodney back in the Hot Band days and I think Nanci would do a
great version of it too.
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Re: Rounders
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 18:05:40 -0500
From: "Dave Bronsveld" (dbrons@ptd.net>
> >May all your ramblin'
> >bring you joy
> Actually I'm almost certain Tom Paxton wrote Ramblin' Boy.
>
> Nancy with a Y
Well thanks Nancy. I'll look for the original. DVRs version is really
good. BTW, if anyone's interested, a lot of Dave Van Ronk's early work,
which had been out of print, has been released on CD. I would highly
recommend "Inside Dave Van Ronk" , a compilation of two of his records.
Dave
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: NN: Sarah Elizabeth Campbell
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 18:09:39 EST
From: UnknownArt@aol.com
>I haven't gotten her new album, but just a reminder to all those
>who live in Austin or visit Austin that Sarah does a fine show
>every Monday night at Artz' on South Lamar. I was listening
>to KUT via the 'Net this afternoon and a bunch of folks including
>Mandy Mercier were on the folk show. There is a show of
>Blaze Foley's songs tommorrow at 2 at Jovitas-I think Sarah
>will be at that.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Not only is Sarah Elizabeth playing those times, but she teams up with Marcia
Ball on Sunday, December 12 at 3pm for the annual Austin Armadillo Christmas
Bazaar ( check out http://www.armadillobazaar.com to see who else is
playing.. what a line-up!). Sarah and Marcia together is simply fabulous!
SEC's info is http://www.musicaustin.com/folk/secampbell.html
Oh yeah, you can order Sarah Elizabeth Campbell's new cd directly from her at
SayraLiz@aol.com.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
-michael cogliandro
post script: BTW, I did the cd graphic stuff for Sarah! So order one today :o)
_________________________________________________________________
Subject: PG's Best of '99 and other opinions
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 15:25:36 -0500
From: "Phil Garner" (PGARNER@prodigy.net>
As I was looking though the music I bought in '99 I found that the best CD I
bought this year wasn't actually released in '99 thus I cannot include it in
my "best of" list. The best thing I bought this year is a late '98 release
by Allison Moorer, "Alabama Song". This CD is a breath of fresh air in the
country music arena where so many artists have blurred the line between
country and pop. Allison Moorer is young, in her late 20's I think, and she
seems to have a mind of her own. She doesn't seem to try to "sound like"
anyone else but she certainly fits in with traditional country music of the
good ole days of the 60's and 70's. Every song on this CD is my "favorite";
it consists of 11 singles, not merely three or four good songs and the rest
filler. Some of you may have heard (and seen) Allison in the Horse
Whisperer -- she had a small part and sang "Looking For a Soft Place to
Fall". My greatest concern is that Allison will move toward the
"mainstream" with future releases; I hope not. I commend this terrific CD
to anyone who likes real country music.
Here's my best of '99.
(1) Buddy Miller - "Cruel Moon". Buddy does country unlike anyone else.
Nearly every song is "single-quality". My only regret is that Buddy does
too many covers; I'd rather wait another year or so and get all originals.
(2) George Jones - "Cold Hard Truth". Asylum hit the jackpot with their
gamble on George. This CD is the kind of music George would have done 15
years ago if he'd been sober and if the big guys had not tried to modernize
him.
(3) Julie Miller - "Broken Things". But for a few (IMO) "fillers", this CD
would have been my favorite of '99.
(4) Lucy Kaplansky - "Ten Year Night". The first half is great, the second
half is still good. I think this CD has taken Lucy to a higher plane. Just
look at her concert schedule.
(5) Jim Lauderdale - "Onward Through It All". No single blockbuster but a
bunch of coverable songs which sound good when Jim does 'em. I've gotta
believe we'll hear three or four of these songs from high profile singers
over the next year or two.
(6) Matraca Berg - "Lying to the Moon and Other Stories". This is not "new"
stuff but it's not really a re-release either. Matraca has had problems
getting records on the shelves due to business problems at her labels.
There's something for everyone here -- fingerpicking folk, honkytonk
country, and roots; and it's all good. If you've missed this artist then
you need to hear what you've been missing.
(7) Steve Earle & the McCoury's -- "The Mountain". I'm not the world's
biggest blue grass fan, but this is some creative stuff that I listen to
frequently.
(8) Jessica Andrews - "Heart Shaped World". My 11-year old daughter
introduced me to Jessica's music. It's more on the mainstream, but here is
a young, new, distinctive voice which you'll be hearing from for the next
several decades.
(9) Dixie Chicks - "Fly". Commercially acclaimed but, nonetheless, these
gals are authentic. This CD is a departure from "Wide Open Spaces"; listen
to "Goodbye Earl" and "Sinwagon" and you'll know what I mean.
I declined to include any new releases of old material (with the unique
exception of Matraca Berg). That forces me to omit Nanci's "Dustbowl
Symphony" (what we need is NEW songs from Nanci), Lyle Lovett's "Live in
Texas" (it's Lyle and it's good but it's also two consecutive years of
re-releasing "old stuff" -- has Lyle caught a fatal case of writer's block
or is he merely too busy in Hollywood??), Koch's re-release of George Jone's
"The Battle/Memories of Us" (great music from the peak of George's career),
and Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Party Doll" (seems to always be in my CD
player, some different renditions of old songs which are normally in the
late-career boxed sets).
Best song of '99
Julie Miller - "Ride the Wind to Me". I can't listen to this song just
once. Having lost at love a time or two I really identify with what Julie's
saying in this song. The blend of her lyrics and Buddy's rough-edged
instrumentation is just irresistable.
Biggest disappointments -- a tie between the modernization of Townes Van
Zandt in "A Far Cry From Dead" (go for the 2-CD foreign release) and
"Bleeker Street" (it's salvation was that it reminded me how good the
original songs were).
All the best to all of you and all of yours during this holiday season,
Phil Garner
_________________________________________________________________
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