// Enough traffic today to go ahead and get the digest out. This 
// digest contains posts from midnight through 5:00 PM, 2/26/99.
// A couple of old friends return, some interesting discussion...
// Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: Nanci "sure can dream"
   From: James_Troiano@umit.maine.edu (James Troiano)

Hi folks: Several magazines (Goldmine, Time Out N.Y. and Dirty Linen) recently
published my letters regarding my love of Nanci's music and its significance
not only to me, but to the world of music. In Dirty Linen, I referred to her a
"a national treasure," but upon reflection, I would like to change that to a
world treasure. 

As one listens to her being introduced in the Barbican concert as "one of
America's greatest singer-songwriters" and being called in Time Magazine "one
of America's greatest poets and songwriters," it is apparent that I am not
alone in my opinion. OV2 was praised in British magazines--four stars in Q,
and excellent reviews in Mojo and Country Music People. The latter review of
her Barbican concert and her music in general was so positive, I had to wonder
if I wrote it myself. OV2 was also extolled in the Rolling Stone, Goldmine,
Dirty Linen, People, Stereo Review, and my personal favorite Steve Morse's
review in the Boston Globe. 

In reality, the ultimate reviewer is each one of us and I love the album. The
variety astounds me: from the stunning rendition of Who Knows...to Yarrington
town to the rollicking Wasn't that a Mighty Storm. Nanci has recreated for us
the excitement of listening to the radio as depicting in her gem by the same
name. Each song is unique and spellbinding. More marvelous is that these are
the songs that our hero listened to when she was growing up and she shares
them with us. I imagine myself as the backseat driver as Nanci leads us
through a marvelous journey. She is driving these wheels and I am ready to go
wherever she leads-so I say bring on the orchestra or anything she wants to
do. I hope that she comes to Symphony Hall in Boston. There are many twists
and turns in Nanci's musical journey - that girl sure can dream. 

Best wishes, 

Jim Troiano 

PS According to the TV Guide Nanci will appear in Austin City
Limits Women in Song. 


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Subject: NN: Neccessary Angels (to steal a line)*
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

Do you mean to tell me that Nanci Griffith is NOT an angel? oh dear god...and
here I've been carrying on as if she was. Well, damn. I'm always the last to
know everything!

Definitions:
Fan: 1) an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art) usu. as a
spectator.

Fanatic or fanatical: (inspired by a deity, frenzied) marked by an excessive
enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion.

So. Where does one draw the line. I'd say definitely at the frenzied mark... I
remember those Nanci addicts a few years back we had to beat with a stick...ah
the good ol' days. People are right, this list is too fanatical. I mean,
geeze.. it's just folk music right? What the hell... there are better and more
important things to be frenzied about- mainly...well.. now... wait.... I know
there is something.....oh well, doesn't matter- I'm sure it'll come to me in a
moment of clarity after I've sung It's a Hard Life 55.5 times and run about
looking for a 00-18 Martin Guitar (not that I even play, but still if the
nance suggests it...!) and searched the world over for Blue Roses...

Come on. So some of us feel a high degree of loyalty to the woman. I've been
on this list through good times and bad and I think most people have their
feet on the ground about things. I hardly know anyone who's gone to the Mount
and preached the gospel of Nanci. Hardly anyone. So some of us are blindsided.
Whoopee. It's music. I think a person has a right to be passionate about
something in their lives. 

Or I don't know. Maybe it's for the best to weed out the frenzied devotees
now.. let's start a screening process for the nanci-net... like anyone who's
listened to Wings Of Desire 101 times and cried and started drinking Corona's
just because they heard Nanci likes them and says "praise allah" each time he
or she hears One Fair Summer Evening or runs to the VCR to tape yet another
Austin City Limits... let's get those people out of here! God, they're
cluttering it up for the rest of us- Nanci- is only a human being -types
anyway. Good riddance, I'd say.

Oh wait. Damn. I've refferred to Nanci as an angel before. Son of a.... hmm
okay let's leave that off the list. Oh wait. I've drank corona's
before...well, hell. Hmm...alright you caught me- I have taped a few episodes
of Austin City Limits AND Wings of Desire has made me cry. Not each 101 times,
but still, I'm sure that is way too mushy for some. 

When I say Nanci has saved me from things- I do mean the music- not the person
and maybe that is where the problem is. Interpretation. In a life where
happiness comes in disguise and where love is often missing, I bless anything
and anyone who can keep me going. And Nanci is one of those things. 

So critize me and call me fanatic. But I'd rather see the godly grace of an
angel than the sour disposition of a human. I can look in my own mirror for
that.

Christina "it's 2 am and I have the flu" Myers

**"Neccessary Angels, is of course, taken from Ms. Sara Hickman.******


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Subject: NN: Chris Knight
   From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>

Hello again,        

I haven't heard too much talk yet about Chris Knight.  He's probably my
favorite male artist right now.  Those of you who like the style of
Steve Earle and Guy Clark, are sure to be jousted by Knight. The expert
songwriting on the self-titled album from this son of a Slaughters,
Kentucky farmer plows up some gritty ground and betrays a lot of hard
living and loving. But Chris is only 23 years old.   His voice has a
dark country/rock edge but it isn't so eccentric that it's irritating.
There are shades of Townes Van Zandt in "It Ain't Easy Being Me" which
may be the best song on the disc despite it's depressing attitude:

"I know the words that'll bring you back 
but I don't say nothin' as I watch you pack
I've had to work to be the jerk I've come to be
It ain't easy bein' me."

We've all felt that way at some time or another. 

But don't let his country-boy looks and simple soft-spoken speech fool
you.  Chris graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in
agriculture and just recently worked for a state agency enforcing
surface mining laws in Kentucky, an unpopular job but one that brought
him in contact with the sweat slinging miners of the black-dust
heartland. Some of those characters show up in this collection of story
songs. I imagine Chris knows very well the lyrics and location of John
Prine's "Paradise." 

Knight isn't bashful about his influences.  He tells the story of how 
he stayed up all night once drinking beer and memorizing the lyrics to
forty or fifty John Prine songs.  He also admits to being heavily
influenced by Steve Earle and sometimes it shows just a little too much
in his style. But there's an originality to his music which portrays an
ability to be both sensitive and brutally honest at the same time. Even
when he sounds like Steve, it would make Steve proud.

This record ranges in style from lyrical alt.country to in-your-face
roots rock and features some talented and familiar musicians--David
Grissom, Richard Bennett, and Chad Cromwell to name a few. Since Decca
records just folded, it may be a while before we hear anything more from
Knight. So don't miss this chance to hear one of the most promising
singer/songwriters to come along in a long long time.  With a start like
this, he's destined for roots-rock royalty.

Chris Knight - 1998 Uni/Decca Records

Warm Regards,
 -Shawn


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

I too loved Chris Knights debut cd, and in fact it made my top ten, end of
year list, well the bad news bro' Kimbro is that he has been dropped by Decca
in the recent reshuffle that has taken place. Hopefully with a 
talent like he has it won't be long before another label snaps him up. But,
who knows, look at the incredible Jon Randall, Asylum have yet again delayed
his much awaited "Cold Coffee Morning", so as this has happened to him before
when RCA binned his second record, I wouldn't put money on either of them
re-emerging soon. It really is a tragedy that artists this talented can't make
waves, yet bimbo's and hat acts get signed up like crazy to replicate last
years successes.

John "just another of my quibbles about the big labels" Graveling.


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Subject: NN: Hello old friends
   From: REBeffa@aol.com

I've been away from the NanciNet since sometime last summer after the kate
wolf festival. When I left there had been heated discussions about the letter
and coming back what do i find? 

Anyways I thought I'd drop back infor a while and catch up on the news and see
some familiar names. I tried to access the old Nanci archives at Shelly's site
to catch up http://www.rahul.net/frankf/nanci.html but I must be a bad boy
because it says access forbidden. Have they moved or gone away?

I put up a series of Nanci photos from the Kate Wolf festival last year. I
have a bunch more from the fest of greg brown and many others. Plus I have a
set from her Fat Fry show - they'll get there one day. My net time I've mostly
been busy with the John Stewart Bloodlines list and maintaining the website
from that.

I somehow missed Mark's retirement and Bill taking over. Congrats Bill. What a
job...

I suspect I'll mostly lurk but you never know.
Nanci pix can be found at Clack's cellar:
http://members.aol.com/clackclack/rebeffa1.htm

The site has gotten pretty humongous so scroll waaaay down the page till you
see Nanci. Any old friends I'd be happy to hear from you backchannel.

take care,
Ron Beffa


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Subject: Re: NN: Hello old friends
   From: Bill Page 

Ron Beffa (welcome back!) wrote:
> I tried to access the old Nanci archives at Shelly's site
> to catch up http://www.rahul.net/frankf/nanci.html
> but I must be a bad boy because it says access forbidden. Have they moved or
> gone away?

Good time to remind everyone that searchable archives are now on Shelly's new
site:
      http://brisbin.net/Nanci/archives/arc.html    

Bill


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Subject: The review
   From: "jean-paul layrisson" (layrisson@worldnet.att.net>

Oyster boy?  "OV2 sucks"?  I have heard some strange sounds indeed on our net
the last few days.  Anyone who needs to use profanity to describe or review a
Nanci album obviously has some deeper issues to work out on his/her own.    

One Netters comment that "OV2 sucks" was also a bit over the top in my humble
opinion. I have almost every record Nanci has recorded, and I happen to like
OV2 a great deal, if not so much for Nanci, but for the
voices of Lucinda, Steve, Emmy, Oddetta, Jerry Jeff, and dozens of others that
you don't get to hear together very often.  I also think the choice of the
material was excellent.  It is hard to beat songs by the likes of Richard
Thompson, Sandy Denny, and Woodie Guthrie.  Sure, it may not be everyone's cup
of tea, but it is hard to understand how it could conjure up such displeasure.
Of course I am one of those freaks that liked Blue Roses, and think that the
idea of Nanci doing new stuff instead of retracing old ground is quite
exciting.  

As for the libel discussion, it is true that freedom of expression does allow 
a lot of rope in stating one's opinion as to a public figure like Nanci, and I
guess for the most part that is a good thing. (even if, like me, you subscirbe
to Toqueville's view that every American's right to publish an opinion on
anything leads to some really really poor journalism in the country as a
whole! )  However, the first amendment doesn't grant leave to make knowingly
or recklessly false statements for the purpose of damaging someones reputation
(or other improper motive) under to guise of stating an opinion.  (I paid a
lot of cash for a law school degree so I could share that with you) So here is
my opinion and message to Oyster boy (i confess I don't know if that is his
monniker or rag he writes for)----cool name, but don't quit your (other) day
job.   (parody and sarcasm is also somewhat protected by the first amendment,
but that is for another lesson).  As you timliness, I had no problem with the
date of his review.  

Now for my review of the new record by the Beatles called "Abbey Road"...


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Subject: Re: The review
   From: "M G" 

Hi!,

layrisson@worldnet.att.net wrote:

>(even if, like me, you subscirbe to Toqueville's view that every 
>American's right to publish an opinion on anything leads to some 
>really really poor journalism in the country as a whole! )  

...but, it also leads to some really great journalism, as well as some 
great newsgroup reads and music. Wade through the crap. Find the good 
stuff. I don't think that I am making a stretch when I wonder if there 
would even be Nanci Music (at least the way she meant it to be) without 
something like right to free speech letting everyone express themselves 
exactly how they want to heard.

Oh, and I don't listen to OVII much at all except for 3 songs. I won't 
go so far as to say it sucks, but I can certainly understand why someone 
would think that. Especially in comparison to her many other gems.

Mark "Just exercising my right to state the obvious" Gale



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Subject: Re: The review
   From: Shawn Kimbro (kimbro@planetc.com>

jean-paul writes:

> One Netters comment that "OV2 sucks" was also a bit over the top in my
> humble opinion.

Yes, it might have been.  Apologies to anyone I offended with that.
Broke my rule of trying to keep quiet when I don't have anything good to
say with that one. 

Warm Regards,
-Shawn


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Subject: NN: Re: Shawn's Apology
   From: "M G" (tank1000@hotmail.com>

Hi again!

Shawn wrote:

>Yes, it might have been.  Apologies to anyone I offended with that.
>Broke my rule of trying to keep quiet when I don't have anything good 
>to say with that one. 

No offense here. Just 'cause I may or may not agree with you is no 
insult on me. It may get a bit tedious when things are done to death, 
but disagreement is far more interesting than the constant repeating of 
how in agreement we all are.

Shawn, your writing is of the more interesting I've read in a mail group. Tell
us how you feel.

Mark "as long as you ain't insultin' my momma I don't care what you say" 
Gale



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Subject: NN: The relativity of what sucks
   From: "Shawn Kimbro" (skimbro@bhset.org>

Mark writes:

>Oh, and I don't listen to OVII much at all except
>for 3 songs. I won't go so far as to say it sucks,
>but I can certainly understand why someone would
>think that. Especially in comparison to her many
>other gems.

Just to clarify, that sucks comment probably comes from
listening to too many Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
concerts and also may be a bit of a regional colloquialism.
I think some people take that word more seriously than
others. Sometimes in family or group jam sessions we'll
evaluate each song played by saying either it sucked, or
didn't suck.  I suspect many of you mentally do the same
with my recent flood of listserve posts!  (That's okay,
'cause I do that with yours too!)  Overall though, I'll say
with absolute certainty, this mailing list doesn't suck.

(big wide grin>

Warm Regards,
-Shawn

// gosh, I'm relieved...[BP]

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Subject: NN: NANCI ON TV IN THE US
   From: "jenny.frog" (jenny.frog@virgin.net>

Hi again Guys,
i'm staying out of the cross-fire over this review thing. what is a
review anyway? i never understood that word...
I found this on the MCC list, it's dates for a TV show that Nanci will
appear in along with many others :) Too bad i don't live across there!!
yeah, i know, i have the OV2 vid, so technically i'm not alowed to
moan...anyway, here it is:

> there will be an
> Austin City Limits show on PBS that will air in most areas on Friday, March
> 5th at 10:00pm (EST).  This show will be hosted by Shawn Colvin and will
> feature other female artists such as our beloved Chapin, along with Roseanne
> Cash, Carlene Carter, Nanci Griffith, Tish Hinojosa and more.

happy watching, luv Jenny



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Subject: NN: Hart Rouge
   From: Josh.Mortenson@stpaul.com

FYI on Hart Rouge. They're a canadian band on the Red House Label. I
definitely
recommend checking them out. On their first album, Beaupre's Home, they do a
pretty good cover of "Love at the Five and Dime".



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Subject: NN: OFSE question
   From: "Thomas, Tasha" (TThomas@vilcom.com>

When listening to my "One Fair Summer Evening" cassette, I have to turn the
volume on my stereo up high (about two notches away from being as high as it
goes) to hear the stories Nanci weaves between songs, then quickly turn the
volume back down as the songs begin to play, so as not to be blasted into
the next room.

I'm guessing this has less to do with my tape than the actual quality of the
concert recording. Does everyone else have this problem? Does a CD sound any
better?



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Subject: NN: Ten Degrees and Getting Colder
   From: Josh.Mortenson@stpaul.com

I don't know if there's tab out there for this song, but I've got a basic
chord
outline for the song Ten Degrees and Getting Colder. Email me and I'll send it
to you.

BTW, my first Nanci experience was when I bought OVOR. I heard her name a lot
and never heard her. I bought and it's definitely in my top ten albums. It was
very cohesive. However, OV2 lacked the production quality that drew me to her.
"Friend of Mine" makes me wince when I hear those delayed harmony vocals. But 
on the other hand, the Sandy Denny remake is the reason I always pop the CD
in. (just my humble mental meanderings)


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Subject: NN: Ricky Skaggs
   From: "Lorrie Chase" (lchase@webshoppe.net>

Hi all. If anyone lives in or around Montgomery Alabama (or is ready to road
trip), I  wanted to pass on that Ricky Skaggs is a head-liner at this year's
Jubilee festival.  If you want any dates etc. e-mail me and I'll send it to
you.

Lorrie Chase


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Subject: NN: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb
   From: "Robert Pugsley" (RMP6@leicester.ac.uk>

Dear NanciNetters,

This always happens when I go away for a few days. From what I gather from the
digests I've just read (and I've missed a couple), there was this guy, OK, and
he said some rude words about this singer, right, and some people didn't like
it and some people didn't like it that some people didn't like it, and then
some people didn't like it that some people didn't like it that some people
didn't like it and then someone said "Does anyone know the chords to...?"

And that's what I love about the NN...there we are in the midst of what
potentially looked like a big bust up, with people using capital letters and
the word 'ass' appearing here and there and I was just thinking  "oh-oh, it's
lucky no-ones mentioned the promise-keepers..." ;-) when up pops Josh and says
"I've tried it capoed at 7th and at the fifth and they seem close if I do a
"C" or "D" formation chord" and I thought "phew..."

...Cheers to Josh! (and Shawn of course, who knew the answer...)

When is someone going to say "My, hasn't kitty got a long tail?"

Robert (Pugsley)
now playing: Grammy Winning Lucinda Williams
next up: Grammy Winning Madonna "...quicker than a ray of light...." 
which reminds me -- where's RoyRede and his remix album?


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Subject: NN: Re: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (w/chords)
   From: "Shawn Kimbro" (skimbro@bhset.org>

Robert writes:

> "oh-oh, it's lucky no-ones mentioned the promise-keepers..."
> ;-) when up pops Josh and says "I've tried it capoed at 7th
> and at the fifth and they seem close if I do a "C"
> or "D" formation chord" and I thought "phew..."...Cheers to Josh...

Robert!

I wondered what happened to you.  I haven't been called a
curmudgeon in a long time and I sorta miss it!  (g>  But
speaking of Morning Song chords, I have a cheat version of
the chords that I like better than the ones on the URL I
sent. ('Cause they're easier!)  They won't let me bring my
guitar to the office but trying it via the air version, I
think I just start in G (capoed to whatever key I happen to
be comfortable singing in) and then walk down on the E
string to Em then C.  You can then keep your fingers in the
C position and slide up two frets then back one to make that
little sound before landing back in G and repeating the
whole thing over.  Guitar maestros like Kelly Sanderson will
give you dirty looks if you do it that way  (Cause she did
me at the Blue Moon Jam!) but it works and I learned it from
watching Jerry Jeff play it like that on the OVOR video.
Come to think of it, it also works for Mr. Bojangles.

In worn out shoes,
-Shawn



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Subject: NN: Re: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (w/chords)
   From: Kenn Lippert (lippert@fyi.net>

I was just going to add that this is exactly the way Jerry Jeff does it on
the OVOR video, but then I read the rest of the message and determined
that my pointing this out would be redundant and repetitive and
pointless.

kenn "i write code like this too" lippert

 _______________________________________________________________________
| kenn lippert                  "Reach me down my Tycho Brahe,          |
| lippert@fyi.net               I would know him when we meet...        |
| http://www.fyi.net/~lippert   Though my soul may set in darkness,     |
|                               it will rise in perfect light;          |
| "See Kate Campbell"           I have loved the stars too fondly       |
|                               to be fearful of the night."            |
|                                                       -Sarah Williams |
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