// Seemingly unceasing comments on that review.
// I've been a bit disturbed by our own vitriolic responses not only
// to the review but also to each other. 
// There's other stuff in this digest, too...
// Enjoy...[BP]

_________________________________________________________________


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

Hi all,

Is Mr. McGowan really worth all the attention he's getting at this moment?

met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: The Letter
   From: Shelly Brisbin (sbrisbin@prismnet.com>


Someone aksed about The Letter, to which many posters have referred. It is
reproduced and explained (I guess you could call it that) in the archives
as follows:

http://brisbin.net/Nanci/archives/1998/98831.html

BTW, my two cents on the review, both as a writer of reviews, and a reader;
you don't use four letter words if you expect to be taken seriously. That's
all the ink I'm willing to give this thing.

-shelly
____________________________________________________________________________
Shelly Brisbin                                         sbrisbin@prismnet.com
Writer, Editor, Mac Geek for Hire                         http://brisbin.net
****************Shameless Plugs (use the URL above)*************************
Buy my book: _Mac Answers: Certified Tech Support_, Osborne/McGraw-HIll
Join my list: The Cheryl Wheeler Mailing List: cw@prismnet.com


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: The Letter
   From: HEYJC01@aol.com

Could someone on the Net please give us the background that surrounds "The
Letter"? What was the reasons behind Nanci's anger? Does Nanci often respond
to critic's reviews? 
Thanks much.
Jeff
Wilmington DE


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: OV II and Atlanta this summer
   From: "nathaniel calhoun" (natecalhoun@hotmail.com>

Hey folks, this is only my second post in over a month.  I used to 
belong to a listserv for Gov't Mule, and I thought they could be mean.  
I see no virtue in getting upset with people over their opinions.  I 
also see no reason to slam ORII with uncharitable phrasing.  I 
personally like it very much, but no, it is not as good as OVOR for me.  
Still, the more I listen the more I like it.  I am sure most of you will 
find the same to be true.

ON to more important things.  I got wind of a date that Nanci might be 
doing in Atlanta this summer in June at Chastain Park.  Does ANYONE have 
ANY information on this?  I will be there (home) this summer, and I plan 
to attend any Nanci show there might be.  Please let me know, and since 
I don't always read my digests completely, a personal response would be 
extremely gracious.  

One more thing, anyone with live Nanci on cdr who can burn cdr's, I 
would love to send you some B&P.  I have one guy already and am still 
looking for more.
 
Thanks all, and have a blessed and happy day/night/morning/whatever.
Nathan C.



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Grammy Winners
   From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>

Congratulations to "Best Contemporary Folk" album winner Lucinda
Williams.  Was there ever any doubt?  Other winners I noticed:

Vince Gill
Randy Scruggs
Dixie Chicks
Bela Fleck
Brian Setzer (You go Brian!)
Sheryl Crow
The Chieftains (again!)
Sha-nay-nay (sigh>
Keb Mo
Ricky Skaggs (rules!)

And some more people I've never heard of.  ;-)

Warm Regards, 
-Shawn
 _________________Nanci Is My Aeroplane____________________
|                    __       ____         Shawn Kimbro    |
| "Pure blended      | \____o__/_/___|    Morristown, TN   |
|  whiskey so light  \(>-----_/_/____]>         ~          |
|  brown and fine"            `o     |  kimbro@planetc.com |
|_________ http://www.geocities.com/~trailzzone ___________|

// esoteric Nanci content: Vince Gill's song was produced by Tony Brown [BP]

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: The Review, What Else
   From: nmrs@freeway.net
 
What is wrong with me???  I like OVOR 2.  Not as much as OVOR.  But I
like the spirit of the whole thing and what is this about aging voices?
Yes, voices age and may not have the purity they once had but I think
that an aging voice can reflect the experiences the person has gone
through...Nanci and many of the other singers ARE
older than they once were.   And are we forgetting the serious health
problems Nanci has had over the last couple of years?  All the talk
about her voice and the Letter-don't you think that perhaps what has
gone on with her cancers has affected her emotionally as well as
physically?

But I agree with whoever wrote in that OVOR 2 is a sing-along.  I even
told Nanci that when she signed my books in Ann Arbor in October-we just
plunk that tape in our car player and sing all the way down the highway
just as we always have with her music.  I could not get Canadian Whiskey
out of my brain for days.

Reviewers do bring their own baggage to their work and it sounds like
this guy has excess baggage to say the least!  I guess I will just
continue to like what I like no matter what others say...I feel I get
better reviews here then anywhere else.  At least I usually understand
what people are saying and get some idea of where they are coming from.

I have only heard Nanci sing once in person (at the Ark for a few
minutes in October) and both my husband I were really in awe of her
presence and voice.  We both felt that it had been a really special
encounter and we'd go see her again if at all possible.

But I ramble and have to get back to life here.

Anne



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: The Review, What Else
   From: Brimpls@aol.com

Just a thought about Nanci's cancer treatments and her voice.  It would be
just like Nanci not to make excuses, but if she has had radiation treatments
in the area of her thyroid, that would definitely affect her voice.  My mom is
currently being treated for breast cancer which has metastasized to the bone
in her spine and neck; she has been getting radiation every day for three
weeks to these areas, and boy, is her voice ever raspy and her throat sore!
We joke that she sounds like Lauren Bacall when she speaks, and she has had no
control of her singing voice for two weeks now!  How did Nanci even keep going
if that was the case with her treatments (and I don't know that it was, I'm
only speculating here).

In any case, her songs and voice continue to be important to me every day and
I don't care to sit down and read this most recently discussed review.

Thanks for listening--

Sabrina 


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Guy Clark Albums
   From: jennings@cix.compulink.co.uk (Charles Jennings)

........another one out from under the lurking tree......

The question was asked....
> Hi, all.  I'm emerging from lurkdome to comment briefly on 
> OVT, and to inquire about Guy Clark albums.

All the earlier advice about which Guy Clark album to listen 
to is good - follow it - just get your hands on whatever you 
can that Guy Clark has recorded. Certainly 'Old No 1', Guy's 
first album, contains 10 of the most well-crafted songs 
you're ever likely to hear.

Also, have a listen to the first song Guy ever wrote, called 
'Step Inside This House' - Lyle Lovett recorded it on the 
album of the same name in 1998. I doubt there are many 
songbuilders who have produced such beauty first time out. 
In fact, most songbuilders have *never* produced such 
beauty.

Charles

**********************************
life is mostly attitude & timing
**********************************


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: "Christina ONeill" (oneillchristina@hotmail.com>

Sid Porter wrote:
  "By no means does this man have any
>right using these four letter words in writing about her work. . I 
especially do not care what some
>pompous ass like Mr. M likes. "

But, yet, Mr. Porter, you have the right to call him a pompous ass?

" The final thing I have to say is
>this;  Where the hell has this jerk been for the last 6 or 7 months?
>This is not a new release.  Why isn't he reviewing current things?"

Per Mr. McGowin, he wrote the review the week the album came out, but 
the publication for which it was written only recently came out because 
the publisher had delayed publication for some reason.  He's glad the 
review is getting some attention, whether it be good or bad apparently. 

What I find amazing is the complete hypocrisy of many of the 
NanciNetter's reactions to his review, although I do admire Shawn Kimbro 
and Reid Mitchell for their very rational responses.  And like someone 
else wrote during this thread, I, too, am finding the aNGel business 
scary.  This treacly devotion and fanaticism that some of you have has, 
for some inexplicable reason, left a bad taste in my mouth. 

Christina O'Neill 



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: Bell/Wrightson (onemansmusic@mindspring.com>

Christina ONeill wrote:
> 
> What I find amazing is...

... that every time someone writes something negative we get up in
arms.  Controversy in the press isn't a bad thing.  It just is, and
sometimes it does more for an artist that the "me too" positive review. 
Don't you think sales increased when Nanci wrote her letter to the Texas
Press?  Don't you think she was a tad better known?  A bunch of Texans
said "Well, huh, I guess I better check this out finally."  Or standing
in front of the record racks, deciding what to buy, said, "Oh, yeah, I
just read something about this, think I'll get it."

So this doh-doh wrote something bad.  Consider someone reading this. 
"Well, by my boyfriend loves her, so I guess I'd better get the album
and see."  Negative reviews spur people on to making that buy that they
haven't.  Negative reviews never change people who are already fans into
non-fans, and as we all agree, negative reviews rarely prevent folks
from seeking it out as we often ignore them.

Now, if EVERY review, world-wide were negative, that would be something
else, but one here and there?  Balderdash.

Sarah "okay, so that's just my opinion!" W.


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: Dalpony@aol.com

Emerging from the saltmines here.  First off, a big apology to Robert
(Pugsley)--I will get that Texas Monthly Article to you soon..

Now to Ms. O'Neill.  I think you make way too much of the whole aNGel thing.
I've been around here in some form or another for over a year & have also read
through most of the archives.  I have yet to find anyone even remotely "scary"
in their affection for Nanci and her work.  I think what you see here is a
group of people who while fiercely loyal to NG, are also a decent, rational
group of people who resent the pot shots taken at NG by critics who seem to
have a personal vendetta against her.  So Ms. O'Neill, please try to consider
that what you see here is nothing more "scary" than what one would typically
see at a college football game in terms of loyalty (kinda like Hooker and The
University of Alabama).

One last thing.  In his review, whats-his-face mentioned something about NG
not knowing blankity blank about Canadian Whiskey.  In this regard he may be
correct.  In introducing that song at the Barbican in November, NG commented
that she preferred Kentucky Bourbon.  Have a nice day everyone.    


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: "Hans Janssen" (hjanssen@mail.dotcom.fr>

I can remeber that a bad review from certain reviewer was always a good
record for me. If you has to review music you don't like it's very difficult
to write a good review. And on the otherhand we as fans try to hear all the
good things in a CD and a reviewer, who don't like the music or is blanc
about, will listen more critically and will hear all the thing we skip in
our minds.


met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: "Christina ONeill" (oneillchristina@hotmail.com>

In response to Dalpony's post:

First of all, I'm not comfortable with the fanaticism of certain sports 
fans, either.  However, I wasn't aware that we were observing a contest 
here:  Nanci Vs. the Big Bad Critics???  And, as far as the "aNGel 
thing" goes, I only agreed with an earlier post.  I don't believe I'm 
making way too much of anything. There is nothing wrong with being a 
loyal fan--but "fiercly loyal?"  I'm also on the Steve Forbert list and 
while that list is also filled with enthusiastic, loyal fans, I don't 
find them quite as "fanantical."  That could be because Forbert is much 
more accessible that Nanci--his shows are smaller and he spends time 
after nearly every show talking with fans, autographing and posing for 
photos.  What I've noticed about this list is that much of the time 
there is little objectivity when it comes to either Nanci's music or her 
life.  That is what I find scary.

Secondly, Sid Porter responded to me personally to remind me that he 
wrote that he was brought up to respect females.  I suppose I'm to take 
that to mean that that is why it's okay for him to call McGowin a 
"pompous ass" at the same time stating that "the pompous ass" had *no 
right* to attack Nanci or her music that way.  So in other words, if 
McGowin had written the same kind of review for oh, say, Lyle Lovett, 
it'd be okay?  That's blatant hypocrisy and far more abhorrant than a 
few profanities.

Finally, I emailed Mr. McGowin immediately upon reading his review.  He 
responded to me and I truly don't believe that he has a "personal 
vendetta" against Nanci.  I certainly don't have one and I agreed with 
his review.  He put into words many of my own nagging thoughts about not 
only this CD but Nanci's increasing "preciousness."  Is that a pot-shot?  
If so, I'm sorry, I guess I have a hard time distinguishing between 
opinion and pot-shots.

Christy


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: OV II
   From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>

Nanci is a very different person when she comes to England, than the one 
painted by many on the NN. I have spent time talking with her at the 
stage door after shows, and she has autographed my t shirt, and other 
fans disc booklets. She has also talked about life in Franklin, Tn., as 
well as about Nashville and Emmylou, who is obviously a very close 
friend. So you can only speak as you find, we are all different with 
different lives to lead and solutions to find. If we all liked the same 
music wouldn't life be boring.

I do think Nanci is very single minded in what she wants to achieve as a 
musician and artist and the only comparison I can draw is with Neil 
Young. He has changed musical styles often and left his early fans 
behind, picking up new fans on the way. Yet he has probably become the 
most revered and influential artist currently working in modern music. 
Then it comes back full circle and people rediscover some of their old 
favourites again. I believe music goes in cycles, people's tastes and 
what they listen to and expect to get from listening to their music, and 
eventually it all comes back around.

John "funny how a circle is a wheel, and it can steal someone who is a 
friend" Graveling.


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: McGowin, etc.
   From: Cary Feldis (afn08090@afn.org>

Hi all,

I don't make a habit of posting much, perfering to "lurk", but I feel the
need (at the risk of being angrily flamed MYSELF) to say that I'm from
Austin, have been a huge Nanci fan for 20+ years, and regardless of why, I
do agree that her "persona" as a performing artist and her work of late,
including her voice which has understandably been ravaged by cancer (or, as
someone said this morning, WHISKY, which as a cancer patient myself in
remission I know better than to drink) leaves much to be desired and that
OTHER VOICES is far superior to OV2.  The only really intelligent comments
here, the thoughtful ones, are from people who (if not agree with) RESPECT
McGowin's opinions and do not resort to the same personal slurs against HIM
that they accuse him of towards Nanci, in which he makes a valid criticism
of the Artist's Persona.  

I'd have never read the review ever had it not been for all the fuss, but
the ire on this group does not reflect well on we Nanci fans.  Criticism's
fine!  I support free speech!  The Nanci fans I know are sensitive,
intelligent people, and this anger and hate is not in keeping with what
Nanci's spent her life trying to represent.  Now it's been said that McGowin
is this or that or personal or baggage-ridden, but hey, the review's HONEST,
well-written, and he obviously loved Nanci and knows her work as well as
folk music in general.  The fact that he's a professor and well respected in
the literary community seems to anger people too, but hey, better someone
who KNOWS THE WORK and HOW TO WRITE doing the review than someone with no
credentials?  

In short, he angers us because he strikes a nerve.  I think he meant to.  He
succeded.  Now, why do we care?  You like the album, you like it, you don't,
whatever.  All this talk doesn't help Nanci and it doesn't hurt McGowin.
I've long been an advocate of free speech and honest artistic integrity and
that includes reviews as well. I  DON'T AGREE WITH HIS REVIEW, BUT IT'S A
WELL-WRITTEN VALID PIECE OF CRITICISM FROM A NOTED AUTHOR AND I RESPECT HIS
RIGHT AND HIS INTEGRITY.  

I hope you all don't flame ME for this, but that's the way I see it.  I
disagree, but it's valid.  I still love Nanci regardless of anything, so
let's move on--all this is getting really tiresome on NanciNet.  Somebody
should send McGowin an I Love You greeting card from NanciNet--that's more
like it, and kinda ironic, too.

Thanks for hearing me out.  

Cary

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: A great Lucinda show (minimal Nanci thread)
   From: "Musicant, Paul" (Paul.Musicant@CAX.USA.XEROX.COM>

   Just a mention of the great Lucinda Williams performance at the House of
Blues (West Hollywood) last night. Ecstatic from her Grammy win, Lucinda and
her band rocked till 1 AM. Emmylou Harris joined the party for 4 songs, and
Steve Earle played harmonica on Drunken Angel. Lucinda's band includes
drummer Fran Breen, who formerly played with Nanci in the BMO.


Paul Musicant (Paul.Musicant  (mailto:musicant@cax.usa.xerox.com>
@cax.usa.xerox.com) 

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: A great Lucinda show (minimal Nanci thread)
   From: John Edward Graveling (kai21@dial.pipex.com>

Yes Fran Breen is back on the drum stool with Lucinda. He played with her 
last summer, at the start of the "Car Wheels" tour, but was replaced on 
the European leg by her original drummer, Donald Lindley. Donald sadly 
passed away on February 3rd from cancer.

John Graveling.


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Morning Song for Me
   From: Josh.Mortenson@stpaul.com

Hi, I'm brand new to NanciNet and an armchair musician who has been stuck for
so many years trying to eek out anything that has a semblance to "Morning Song
for Sally". I've been looking for the original but have only been able to find
it on an album, and alas no phonograph. I've tried it capoed at 7th and at the
fifth and they seem close if I do a "C" or "D" formation chord to start out
with, but after that there is too much instrumentation to wiggle anything out.
Can anyone help? Thanks a bunch.


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Re: Morning Song for Me
   From: "Shawn Kimbro" (skimbro@bhset.org>

	http://www.safs.bangor.ac.uk/dj/nancigriffith/sally.html



_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Morning Song for Me
   From: "Matthew Bloomfield" (mailm@tthewb.u-net.com>

> Hi, I'm brand new to NanciNet and an armchair musician 
> who has been stuck for so many years trying to eek out 
> anything that has a semblance to "Morning Song for Sally". 

I'll send it to you the tab privately, if anyone else wants it mail
me.

This, along with many other songs can be found at The Unofficial Texas
Music Tablature Archive

http://www.beatupford.com/tmta

Steve Earle, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and Lucinda Williams (you
must buy car wheels it is brilliant) are among the other artists
listed there.

FWIW I found the Jerry Jeff Walker album Driftin Way of Life in the
bargain bin, I prefer his version of Morning Song (on his album it is
*to*) Sally and for some reason Nanci misses a verse.  Interesting Mr
Bojangles is not on my CD version of the album, according to Nanci in
"the book" it should be.  I recommend this album if you can find it,
it takes up a couple of listens to appreciate it but is well worth the
effort.


Matt


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: knowledge and opinion
   From: lynn mitchell (lynnmitch@yahoo.com>

What's the difference between an opinion and criticism? What's the
difference between knowledge and opintion? What's the difference
between truth and opinion?

Simple. If you agree with a statement, it's truth; if you don't, it's
an opinion. The critics and reviewers we agree with are learned
beings, insightful, and intelligent. The people who make bad calls are
morons.

Or, if you prefer the more poetic version of the sentiment:

All lies and jest
Still a man hears what he wants to hear and he disregards the rest.

No sense in limiting that to one gender, if that was Simon's
intention. The process of disregarding is sometimes loud, whiny and
riddled with expletives and Texans eating their own children.

bottoms up!
Mitch


Subject: NN: Are you tired of me?
   From: Paul Larsen (paul@davisnet.net>

On the February 13th episode of a Prairie Home Companion, Garrison
Keillor did a rendition of "Are you tired of me, darling?."  (The
reason I got the chance to listen to it is a story in and of itself,
but I digress...)  Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone else heard it,
and if so, if you heard the variation on the chorus that he did.
It also made me wonder if that is how the song really goes, or if
he was adapting it to fit his needs.  (I'm not surprised that he 
didn't sing "And tell me would you live life over / Could you make
another wife?")  Just curious if anyone out there knows.

Have a GREAT evening!

Paul

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Re: Are You Tired of Me
   From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>

Paul Larsen wrote:

> Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone else heard it,
> and if so, if you heard the variation on the chorus that he did.
> It also made me wonder if that is how the song really goes, or if
> he was adapting it to fit his needs.  (I'm not surprised that he 
> didn't sing "And tell me would you live life over / Could you make
> another wife?") 

Hi Paul, 

No, I'm not tired of you!  At least not of any questions that involve
good old-timey folk songs.  I didn't hear Keillor's version, so I don't
know what he said.  I also don't know what the original words written by
Cook and Roland in 1877 say.  But I have a copy of Maybelle Carter's
recording in 1934 as it appears on Rounder's "Complete Victor" set.  It
sounds to me like she is saying  "could you make it otherwise."

That being said, it should be noted that The Carter Family often changed
words around.  I've heard that Mother Maybelle never performed "Wildwood
Flower" the same way twice. So it would be interesting to know if Nanci
changed the words or if that's the way she heard it.  The Lilly Brothers
recorded a bluegrass version of the song in the 60s.  I just checked and
there is a sound sample on CD now.  It fades out just as they say the
phrase in question but it also sounds like "would you make it
otherwise." Some other folks, including Doc Watson, have recorded it too
so it would be fun to see what they say.  

Warm Regards, 
-Shawn
 ______________Nanci Is My Aeroplane____________________
|               __       ____          Shawn Kimbro     |
| "Answer       | \____o__/_/___|     Morristown, TN    |
|  only with    \(>-----_/_/____]>          ~           |
|  your eyes"            `o     |   kimbro@planetc.com  |
|________ http://www.geocities.com/~trailzzone _________|


_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Gearle's night at the Ark (no Nanci)
   From: Halesbop@aol.com

Tuesday night we went to see Stacey Earle in Ann Arbor on the second night of
her tour promoting Simple Gearle, which this month began getting wider
distribution. The show also celebrated her new alliance with Fleming,
Tamulevich & Associates (who also book Greg Brown, Cheryl Wheeler, Cry Cry Cry
to name a few) and was her first appearance in this area. Earlier in the day
she did an in-store at SKR records and was on a local radio station.

The Ark show was free, so the crowd was a mix of those of us who have her
record, and were eagerly anticipating her, and the curious. Everyone left
impressed. We were treated to a generous 20-song set by Stacey with her
husband Mark Stuart accompanying on guitar (she also plays, of course). She
opened with Weekend Runaways and sang every song on Simple Gearle except for
Waiting and Silly You, as well as nine others. So, she's already got plenty of
material for another cd. "Sweet" is over-used, but as well as simple, it's a
good way to describe Stacey. No frills--she wore jeans and an untucked long
sleeved shirt; same for Mark, with a Muddy Waters t-shirt underneath his
flannel. 

Since the cd doesn't include the lyrics it was nice to hear Stacey's insight
as to what some of the songs are about. Next Door Down is her ode to Nashville
and her attempts to get signed on to a record label; Tears That She Cries was
inspired by an always-negative "poop" she once worked with; and Just Another
Day (which she performed by herself as the final encore) came about with the
empty-nest blues she felt when her oldest son went off to college, and so on.
She and Mark clearly enjoy being onstage together, in fact a friend of ours
even grumbled they were a little too lovey-dovey (but I think he's just
jealous).

Her unrecorded songs seemed to be just as strong as those on the cd...this
charming woman should have a very bright future. I just hope it includes
plenty of returns to the Ark. For now, though, she's going to be touring North
America quite extensively, including many of the summer festivals. For the
sake of the people on the Gearle Talk digest, many of whom are overseas, I
asked her when she plans to go back to Europe, and she said that's pegged for
October. 

If you get the opportunity, go see Stacey and Mark. By all means at least buy
her cd. I bet if more people had it, it would have been a NN Top Ten of 98
disc. (I didn't have it until about a month ago myself). Even though I'm
rather spoiled by the Ark and stuff, this was one of my favorite shows in a
long time.

Steve

_________________________________________________________________
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