// In which we get serious about this new CD...
// And more...Enjoy!  [BP]
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Nanci's Albums - Chart of % of songs she wrote
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 16:56:28
   From: Ron Hennessy (rhennesy@coserv.net>

Hi all!

Various posts talking about "Clock Without Hands" being Nanci's first 
album of her own songs since . . . (?) made me curious about how many of 
her own songs were on all her albums.  I thought a few of you might be 
interested in what I found.

I made a spreadsheet table which calculated the ratio of songs she at 
least co-wrote to total songs on each album.  I was surprised at some of 
the results.

In order starting with highest ratio:

Flyer - 93%
Poet in My Window - 91%
Storms - 90%
The Last of the True Believers - 82%
The Dust Bowl Symphony - 79%
There's a Light beyond these Woods - 78%
Late Night Grande Hotel - 73%
Blue Roses From the Moons - 71%
Once in a Very Blue Moon - 69%
One Fair Summer Evening - 67%
Little Love Affairs - 64%
Clock Without Hands - 57%
Lone Star State of Mind - 55%
Other Voices, Other Rooms - 0%
Other Voices, Too - 0%

For example, in "Clock Without Hands," Nanci wrote or cowrote 8 of the 14
songs, or about 57%.  (Any corrections to my figures will be appreciated.)

I just bought the album yesterday from Barnes and Noble in Plano TX.  
(They had 6 copies left.  My next stop if they hadn't had it was Borders!)
On first impression, I like it a lot.  It seems musically fresh to me, and 
I like hearing Nanci singing those beautiful low alto notes, which I seems 
to have missed on her other recent albums.  That low singing puts me in 
mind of "Marilyn Monroe/Neon and Waltzes" from the early days.

I plan to post a fuller review when the music has sunk (sung?) in more.

Best wishes,

Ron Hennessy
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: New Album...Dickey Chapelle
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 14:58:05 -0700
   From: Kati Rose (katirose@ez2.net>

I absolutely love the song Pearl's Eye View (The Life Of Dickey Chapelle). 
I keep replaying the song over and over again. I just can't get enough of 
it. This song to me kinda hits close to home. My grandfather was in 
Vietnam when Dickey was there. In fact, she was with his men for a time.
She's one of the few things my grandfather has talked about in regards to 
the time he was in Vietnam. I'm so glad Nanci wrote a song about her. I'm 
glad she gave Dickey Chapelle this awesome recognition.

Ciao

Kati Rose
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Vietnam Vets?
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 19:45:23 -0500
   From: Ron Hennessy (rhennesy@coserv.net>

Since "Clock Without Hands" is has such a strong Vietnam theme, I thought 
it might be appropriate to mention my own military experience.

I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 12/65 (a couple of months after Dickie
Chapelle was killed).  I was sent to Vietnam in 12/66 and served there 13
months as an Army truck driver, reaching the rank of Specialist 4 (same 
rank as corporal).  My company was based in Cam Ranh Bay and Phan Rang.

Any other Vietnam vets out there?

Ron Hennessy
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Favorite Nanci line from the St. Pete show
   Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 20:47:24 -0500
   From: Kim Diorio (kinno@netzero.com>

When introducing a song from her new album, Nanci said (not in quotes just 
in case I have a word that is not exact) with her usual charm:

Part of being a songwriter is knowing when to reach out the window and 
grab a song as it goes by.  And to do so before it finds its way to Harlan 
Howard's house.

Loved it.

Kim
_________________________________________________________________ 

 Subject: Re: NN: Favorite Nanci line from the St. Pete show
   Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 20:51:36 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Reid Mitchell (reidmitchell@yahoo.com>

> Part of being a songwriter is knowing when to reach
> out the window and grab a song as it goes by.  
> And to do so before it finds its way to Harlan Howard's house.

Arlo Guthrie has a similar line about writing songs by
having your hook out and baited but never fish down river from Bob Dylan. 

I mention this because the onliest time I ever spent
with Miss Nanci was when she and I and other folks
went to hear Arlo a few years back in Nashville and he
said it in that show.  I've tried to work out how to
get this story condensed further and carved on my
tombstone but my wife says she won't pay for it anyway.

Reid Mitchell
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Resemblance
   Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 19:27:42 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Dowdy Erin (trublever@yahoo.com>

Molly Wrote:
 (Does "White Roses on the Fourth of July" sound like "1957 PreWar 
  Kimball" to anyone else?>

YES YES YES! I just called my friend this afternoon and said that.  It 
especially gets me in the beginning.

I have to agree with the majority here about "Shaking
out Snow" and the triteness (if that is such a word)
of "Truly Something Fine." At first listen TSF REALLY
turned me OFF. I don't skip it anymore, but it's not a
favorite.  

I do love this album overall though.  THe first four
cuts to me are fabulous, and I love the documentary
tale of Dicky Chapelle. Nanci has always been
wonderful at telling meaningful stories through her
work, and I don't think that CWH is any exception!  

And no, I haven't found "the hidden cut, either." Can
anyone help me in my searching?

Erin

_________________________________________________________________ 

 Subject: NN: sarah elizabeth campbell benefit, amy farris
   Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 16:02:47 -0400
   From: David Ring (ringdw@snyoneva.cc.oneonta.edu>

Thanks to Shelly Brisbin for posting the note about the upcoming Sarah
Elizabeth Campbell benefits.  I was at the first one and it was a
magical night-it raised about 10 grand for Sarah's expenses.  Thanks
also for posting the link to Winker's photos.  It was neat to see some
of my Austin friends.  Of course, seeing the pictures of Art and Z did
make me hungry for some ribs-they are wonderful
(the ribs and Art and Z-if you are ever in Asutin, make sure you make
the trip down South Lamar for great food, great music, and great
people).

Finally, a note to Shelly and all the other Austin folks.  Go to
Jovita's on a Sunday whenever Amy Farris (Kelly Willis' fiddle,
mandolin, and harmony vocalist) is playing there.  The night I saw her
she had a great band (Chris Miller on guitar, a guy named Kevin on
guitar, Brad Fordham on bass, Lisa Pankrantz on drums).
She did old jazz standards, rockabilly, and her own tunes.  It was
great.  No cover, just tips (be generous), plus Amy was selling her
cards.  Its a great show at a great venue-and don't forget the Cornell
Hurd Band is there on Thrusdays.

Dave Ring

_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Clock Without Hands
   Date: 3 Aug 2001 22:51:27 +0000
   From: "Matt Bloomfield" (mailm@tthewb.u-net.com>

Couple of days late getting this one as I received it for my birthday
yesterday - cash, cards, presents and scantily clad ladies in giant
cakes to the usual address please.

First opportunity I had to play it was in the car on the way to work
this morning where I got to Pearl's Eye View and decided to reserve
judgement until I'd heard the whole CD through a few times.  Initial
impressions were good though.

Having now spun it several times while crawling around London and also
given it some play at home, I offer the following thoughts.

The first five tracks I love, Clock Without Hands is a
poetic masterpiece and Midnight In Missoula is one of the best tracks
I've heard this year, beautiful piano. Lost Him In The Sun rocks. 
This is set to become the Outbound Plane of future concerts.

6, 7, 8 I like.  TGIOM took a few listens to appreciate, Truely
Something Fine lilts along nicely and Cotton hooked me straight away.

9.  Another masterpiece, Nanci's characterisation at it's very best.
It reminds me of Tom Russell's The Eyes of Roberto Duran.

10. I like the Piano, very PWK as someone else said but nothing wrong
with that.  Lyrics are a bit sickly though.

11.  Shaking Out The Snow, I don't think this'll grow on me, I
think I like the song but not the way it's performed.  What on earth
happens to her voice at 1:15 and 2:37?  I generally like Nanci's
inflections and strange pronunciations but this song's got an album
full of them and it spoils it :(

12.  Odd choice of track this, doesn't seem to fit with the rest of
the album but has a clever twist at the end.

13.  Not sure I'm comfortable with the openess of this song. 
Normally, when Nanci writes these personal songs, they seem to be
coated in metaphor and often the words aren't aimed directly at the
person the song is about or for.  This song though, is almost like
reading a personal letter that wasn't meant for you.

14.  Didn't like this at first but it's grown on me.  I think it's
quite Christmassy.

Overall this is an very good album, only one track I can truely say I
don't like which out of 14 tracks isn't bad at all.

One thing I did notice (or thought I noticed) with the album is there
are quite a few recycled lyrics and or mentions of other songs, I've
noticed this before in Nanci's work but never so many on one album.
Maybe I'll do a list and see if I'm right or not, but has anyone else
noticed this?

Finally, Nanci has covered a few John Stewart songs.  I think I'd like
to hear more of his stuff, any recommendations?

Matt

-- 
http://www.mattbloomfield.co.uk
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Clock Without Hands
   Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 01:20:40 EDT
   From: NanciNetter@aol.com

> Nanci has covered a few John Stewart songs.  I think I'd like
> to hear more of his stuff, any recommendations?


John Stewart had a hit in the late 70s with the single Gold ("people out 
there turn the music into gold, into gold ... "), and if my memory serves 
me correctly, Lost Her In The Sun is on the same album (Bombs Away Dream 
Babies).  Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame both 
make appearances on the BADB album, Lindsey playing FWM-esque guitar and 
Stevie lending her vocals on "Gold" and "Midnight Wind" .. being a Stevie 
fan as much as a Nanci fan, this is a really cool album to own as it 
brings the circle full round, so to speak, now that Nanci has covered 
LHITS!
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: UPDATE: Sarah Elizabeth Campbell Benefit in Austin
   Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 12:49:05 -0500
   From: Shelly Brisbin (shelly@brisbin.net>

Folks,
 
Here is an update on the benefit for Sarah Elizabeth Campbell. If you 
wanna go, get your tickets through Star Tickets 
(http://www.startickets.com). Their ticket line is 512-469-SHOW. 
There is probably an 800 number but I don't know it off hand. There 
are also a few more details in the message below.

-shelly

> >Subject: Advance tickets through Star tickets!
> >Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 23:36:37 -0500
> >
> >
> >Hi Guys, Just a note to let you know that we will have be selling 
> >tickets to BUMMERAMA 2 in advance. Call Star ticket outlets 
> >beginning Saturday morning August 4th to get your tickets. They will 
> >go on sale at 10:00AM. This will be a great show, so don't miss out!
> >
> >Hey everybody,
> >
> >
> >Put this on your calendar! The benefit for Sarah on August 12th is 
> >really coming together! We are going to have a GREAT LINE UP AGAIN!
> >They will include IRIS DEMENT, NINA GERBER, GREG TROOPER, RAY WYLIE 
> >HUBBARD, CHRIS WALL , CRAIG CALVERT (has a song he wrote with Vince 
> >Bell on Lyle Lovett' "Step Inside thes House"), DANNY BRITT (Chip 
> >Dolan, Warren Hood, Ron Welch and Glenn Kawamoto), and Sarah and THE 
> >BANNNED! We will also have Eliza Gilkyson and a couple surprise 
> >guests as well.
> >The benefit will be Sun. Aug. 12th @ La Zona Rosa and the doors will 
> >open @ 6:15. We will be selling Wonderful commerorative T-shirts and 
> >all the artists will have CD's there as well. The cover is $10.00. 
> >You will get a lot of bang for your buck!
> >So come on out one more time and support a great cause and hear some 
> >wonderful music!
> >Come Early and Stay Late, You won't want to miss a minute!

_________________________________________________________________ 


Subject: NN: Strictly speaking (NO Nanci)
   Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 09:12:10 -0500
   From: Sarah Wrightson (sarahwrightson@vincebell.com>

> > >CRAIG CALVERT (has a song he wrote with Vince
> > >Bell on Lyle Lovett' "Step Inside thes House")

Craig Calvert did not write a word or note...he titled it.

Apropos of nothing,
Sarah
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: websites
   Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 15:02:11 -0700
   From: Susan Peete (suepeete@cruzio.com>

Just a little reminder while the Official Nanci site is down that you can
visit our Unofficial Nanci Griffith Web Site at:
   http://nanci-griffith.com,/a.
It has a new "look" now in celebration of the new album.
 
Cheers,

Sue
The Official Denice Franke Web Site:
http://denicefranke.com
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: CWH (or ask and ye shall receive)
   Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:57:40 EDT
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

(( Now if only we can get someone to make that back page of the lyric booklet
available as computer wallpaper!!!!!  >>

Well, you should of asked for a million dollars. heh. I've gone ahead and 
scanned the pic and it came out pretty good, actually. If anyone is 
interested I can send it to them (not for public use, obviously, I like 
Nanci but don't want to go to jail for her) in any picture format and size 
they want. 

-Christina
bored and alone on a Friday night
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Same old songs
   Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 22:03:52 EDT
   From: Chipsbear@aol.com

Hello, I've been lurking for a long time, but I've come out of lurkdom to 
ask the question that begs to be asked...Why is Nanci playing the same old 
songs, concert after concert, year after year?  I'm reading with great 
interest the reviews of the recent shows with the setlists and they are the
same songs I've heard her do every time I've seen her which is about 6 
or 7 times.  What gives?  What happened to, "Last of the True Believers? 
More Than A Whisper? Always Will? Beacon Street?  It's Just Another 
Morning Here?"  
I mean, what's happened to these songs and so many more?  I really don't 
understand why she does the same show over and over.  Is it laziness?  Are 
these(This Heart, Flyer, Speed of The Sound,Hard Life) the only songs left 
that she likes?  Can someone enlighten me please?
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Same old songs
   Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 01:57:04 EDT
   From: Halesbop@aol.com

> the question that begs to be asked....Why is Nanci playing the same
> old songs, concert after concert, year after year?  


I'm afraid only Nanci can answer that, but you are not alone in finding 
this a disturbing trend. It's not like Nanci has had the kind of career 
that has generated certain *hits* that she should feel obligated to play 
every time out. A recent poster suggested in a concert report that "Hooker 
is losing it" or something to that effect, but I tend to wonder if he and 
other BMO members may simply be getting a little bored with the 
repertoire. I'm not sure if Nanci has a real handle on who her fan base 
is, and what they'd like to hear (not that she necessarily cares). The 
sets these days--and for the past several years--seem to be tailored as if 
the people in the audience are seeing her for the first time, not long-
time followers who are knowledgeable about her whole career and would 
appreciate her dusting off some rarely-played nuggets.

Then again, those of us who would like to see her sing something different 
than the set she seems comfortable with now may be in the minority. 
Perhaps if a poll were to be conducted here on NN or one of her websites, 
asking "what songs would you like to hear Nanci sing at your next 
concert?" the results would show that most of what she is currently 
performing is exactly what the masses want. I'd like to think otherwise, 
but have read some posts lately that said "she did every song I wanted to
hear".

Steve "it's a hard life, hearing 'This Heart' at every show"

// It might be pointed out that the thousand or so of us who
// make up the NN are only a fraction of Nanci's fan base...[BP]
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Same old songs
   Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 23:15:30 EDT
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

You know, it's sort of funny to me to hear people complain about what 
Nanci chooses to perform... wasn't it just a few years ago we were all 
scared we'd never hear anything again (let alone the same songs) when she 
announced an end to touring??
(lets that sink in)

look, I'm glad Nanci doesn't pay attention to the list or what others 
want- she'd go crazy trying to please all of us at the same time! For 
every old song she'd bring back, there'd be some nut saying he or she 
wanted to hear this or he or she wanted to hear that... I mean, think of 
it!  Perhaps Nanci performs the songs she does because she thinks they are 
her best and they are the ones to entice new listeners. Kenn may call me a 
YAMENF*, but I'm happy just to be able to catch a glimpse of Nanci on the 
road and for those who are tired of the same *old* songs, perhaps you 
should let this tour just pass you by?

-Christina "has only heard This Heart in concert once" Myers
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Same old songs
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:52:42 -0500
   From: "Devin Bramblett" (bramblett@jcn1.com>

    Well, I hope you all are happy ... now I have to go back and listen to
Shaking...Snow AGAIN ... with HEADPHONES this time. I remember the time 
when I use to buy music and just vote whether I could dance to it or not 
... I don't miss those days :) Because of this list, I listened to OVORII 
while driving - someone suggested it made a big difference - and it did. 
Lots of folks have made numerous comments about Nanci's songs and their
interpretations of them to the point that I have had to get out certain 
CDs and listen to them all over again in a new light. 
    And don't even get me started on how many CDs I have bought from the 
suggestions given on this list - just let me say thank God for the thread 
that rolls around  every so often about how good Patty Griffins Living 
With Ghosts cd is - that is one of my all-time favorites thanks to this 
list (speaking of which - anyone know when a new CD is coming from her - 
it's been a long time since Flaming Red).
    While a little dissention does this list good from time to time ... I
have to agree with Christina on the fact that if Nanci says "retirement" -
almost all of us beg for her to keep traveling even if she only plays From 
A Distance and This Heart repeatedly for an entire tour.  Let us not 
forget that every time she performs This Heart, From A Distance, etc..., 
it is still yet another reminder that she has faced cancer twice and won. 
She isn't perfect. The people that work with her are not perfect. I most 
certainly am not perfect, so I probably shouldn't even be voicing my 
opinion (there is a reason why I lurk 99.9% of the time). Those of us who 
get to see Nanci often - if I were in your shoes, I would feel the exact 
same way - more variety, more Nanci. Since I've never seen her in person, 
I would be content to see her singing Love At The five and Dime all night 
long (one of my least favorites of hers).
    Don't look for a point in this message - their isn't one. Just another
way to spend a lazy Sunday.

Devin "sorry to waste your time with stuff and nonsense ... and double
apologies if I stepped on ANYONE's toes" Bramblett
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Nanci Pics
   Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 19:04:33 +1000
   From: Sonya Beneke (sonyab@mail.lisp.com.au>

   Not sure if anyone has posted this link to some Nanci and Others Pics .
http://www.kennedysmusic.com/tourphotos.html,/a>

Anyway here it is

Sonya, in OZ
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Nanci's new album
   Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 09:32:11 -0400
   From: "James Troiano" (James_Troiano@umit.maine.edu>

Hi folks; As you might guess, I love the new album. I had a headstart
listening to it since our folk station had played the majority of songs
before it was released. Now that I can play it in stereo and at leisure I
love it more than ever. Nanci is a true poet and you do have to listen
several times before you get the idea. Songs like Clock Without Hands,
Traveling This Side of You, Lost Him im the Sun, Pearl's Eye View, Ghost
Inside of Me got me right away.  Her covers of John Stewart songs, another
great writer, pulled me in immediately. Songs like "Roses on the Fourth of
July", "Truly Something Fine" "Shaking Out the Snow" took a few listens.
In "Something Truly Fine" Nanci takes on the many contradictions of love,
which often gives us pain and yet we need it so. As always her metaphors
and images are not something one digests right away. It may not be a new
theme, but she presents it in a unique way.  Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize
winning poet took this theme on in several volumes and I think Nanci does
a good job in tackling it . You can hear her voice cracking in "Shaking
Out the Snow" as she tries to exorcise the demons of indifference and
complacency. She could have sang it in her usual manner, but I don't think
it would have been nearly as effective.The title song is a masterpiece as
she her trys to appreciate love and life again . She longs to return to
the magic of childhood in "Midnight in Missoula." Joy is found in the
littlest things, as Wordworth wrote: "The Child is the father of man".  I
recall her dedicating this song for her nephew? in concert.  The John
Stewart Lost Him in the Sun is a powerful portrayal of loss and Nanci so
well understands it.  Wendy got it immediately  when we first heard it on
the radio when she said" Flyer" I am not alone in my admiration of the
album.  Many Nancinetters seem to agree and the wonderful critic from the
Boston Globe Steve Morse wrote: "The new album showcases Griffith's
unmistakable gift for wedding poetry and melody to quietly enriching,
acoustic-based arrangements." I was pleasantly surprised that even Alana?
Nash seemed to like it. She has been ripping into everything Nanci has
done in recent years and admits that she was not optimistic. She was won
over by the honesty of the project and the quality of the songs. The
review can read at Amazon.com. For those not enamored of the album at
first, give Miss Nanci a chance. She grows on you. I am still pulling out
old albums which I did not care for at first and now say wow.  She has
gone through a lot and I am elated that she is singing and writing again.
It is in all of our interest that she does not return to being a clock
without hands. Cancer has tried to bring her down twice and she has been
triumphant. May she stay forever young!
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Re: Clocks Without Hands
   Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 16:35:54 EDT
   From: BMiller224@aol.com

I've listened to *Clocks Without Hands* enough now to have some kind of opinion
on it.

The three John Stewart songs ("Lost Him", "Ghost" and "Armstrong") were 
excellent choices.  
Nanci's voice and Stewart's songs go very well together. And her delivery 
is good on these cuts, though she does seem to be straining (as Bob Phelps 
said) on "Ghosts." 
"Armstrong," in particular highlights Stewart's ability to focus his
listeners' attention and say, "Hey, this is something special and it's 
worth stopping a moment to think about it." Nanci conveys a real sense of 
wonder in her version, which so far is my favorite cut on the album.

Reid Mitchell made a good point about the fans' experience of this album, 
which is that Nanci has done so many different kinds of songs over the 
years that people may be expecting very different things from a new album.
And she does have a variety on *Clock Without Hands*.

I remember several years ago she said she would like to go another album 
like *Poet in My Window*.  I don't think that the new one is necessarily a 
close match to *Poet*.  But someone already noticed echoes of "Marilyn 
Monroe-Neon and Waltzes."  But she certainly reminds us with the new album 
of her ability to create vivid stories in a brief song, like she did in
"Marilyn Monroe" or the "Ballad Of Robin Winter-Smith" (from the *Once in 
a Very Blue Moon* album). 

The musical picture of war photographer Dickey Chapelle on "Pearl's Eye 
View," like both those songs, tells a dramatic story about an interesting 
person with a tragic ending (Marilyn, Robin and Dickey all die in the 
end).  Lively song, good lyrics, I'm sure it would be a good concert 
number for her.  

That and the other two "Vietnam" songs show how Nanci is able to use her 
experiences with the anti-landmine effort in her songs without beating the 
listener over the head with a "message."
"Roses on the Fourth of July" is a sweet song that also weaves a vivid 
story about a long-lasting love.  I would make a *Poet* connection here, 
too, with "Waltzing with the Angels", another sweet love song with tragedy 
hanging over it (the lost lover in "Angels," the lost son in "Roses.")

We know from Nanci's comments that "Traveling Through This Part of You" is 
largely autobiographical.  But it also stands on its own as a story about 
someone coming to understand the war experience of a loved one.  Her 
involvement in the landmine effort seems to have been a good experience 
for Nanci in more than one way.

After Reid mentioned Randy Newman in connection with "Cotton," I can 
definitely hear what he means.  Even after repeated listens, I still think 
it's a very interesting song that manages to be sad, romantic and upbeat 
at the same time, and Nanci's delivery brings out those qualities.

The title cut, "Midnight in Missoula" and "Last Song for Mother" are all 
nice new Nanci songs, and it's good to get a dose of several new NG 
composition on the new record.  She also continues in the "art music" vein 
of *Dust Bowl Symphony* with Paul Carrack's "Where Would I Be" and her own 
"Shaking Out the Snow," the attempt being rather more successful with the
former than the latter.  I wish she had picked more new tunes along the 
lines of "Midnight in Missoula" for her orchestral album; the arrangement 
on the new album would go very well with the kind of heavy string backing 
that characterized *Dust Bowl Symphony*.

While I agree that Nanci's voice sounds strained at points, in the case of 
"Shaking Out the Snow," I think a large part of the fault is in the song 
itself.  The references to Gershwin and Benjamin Barber in "Missoula" are 
reminders that NG has been paying more attention to classical/art music 
songs in recent years.  My guess is that the somewhat "dissonant" sound in
some of the music and her voice were intentional in this case; it just 
doesn't work very well. Part of the problem is that the dominant mood of 
the song is sad and nostalgic.  But the image of the narrator as a little 
girl being locked out in the snow by her brother, dressed only in her bathing
suit and plastic skates, comes off as bitter, even grim. 

"Truly Something Fine" is not bad, but it's more of a filler track.  This 
one sounds like it started out as a nice first verse that the rest was 
just tacked on to complete.  I like the closing cut, "In the Wee Small 
Hours," which I think someone said was a song Frank Sinatra had down.

On the whole, I would say this is an eclectic collection of songs that 
highlights some of Nanci's strengths both as a performer and a songwriter.  
Although I would say the vocals were more uneven than on her previous 
*Dust Bowl Symphony*, it's great to her a set of new songs from Nanci.

Bruce Miller
Oakland CA

_________________________________________________________________ 


Subject: Re: NN: Re: Clocks Without Hands
   Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2001 08:50:28 -0400
   From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>

BMiller224@aol.com wrote:

> But she certainly reminds us with the new album of her ability
> to create vivid stories in a brief song, like she did in "Marilyn 
> Monroe" or the "Ballad Of Robin Winter-Smith" 


Most of us on this list are sticklers for giving songwiters proper credit,
so I'm forced to point out that "The Ballad of Robin Winter-Smith" was
written by Richard "Don Ricardo" Dobson. Don Ricardo was an integral part 
of the early East Texas group that included TVZ, Rex "Wrecks" Bell 
(proprietor of the original Old Quarter bar in Houston, now relocated to 
Galveston, and bass player for Lightnin' Hopkins) and others. Dobson (who 
now lives somewhere in Europe) has written a book about that era called 
"The Gulf Coast Boys". I've heard it's interesting, but haven't bought it 
myself yet.
Don Ricardo and Wrecks both are still making good music. The easiest way 
to get their CDs is to order them directly from the artist:

http://nativetexas.com/_dobson/

http://www.galvestontexas.com/oldquarter/ After Reid mentioned Randy Newman in connection with "Cotton," I can
> definitely hear what he means.  Even after repeated listens, I still 
> think it's a very interesting song that manages to be sad, romantic and 
> upbeat at the same time, and Nanci's delivery brings out those 
> qualities.

It's interesting what different people hear in a song. Someone said this
song sounded like Stephen Foster. Reid hears Randy Newman. To me, the song
is clearly "variations on the theme of 'Dixie'". But between Foster and
Newman, I can hear a little Foster, but no Newman.
-- 
>From the Georgia Pines,
Steve Robertson
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Re: websites
   Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 14:39:01 EDT
   From: BMiller224@aol.com

I just checked out Bill and Sue Peete's new-look Nanci fan site that Sue just
mentioned at:

     http://nanci-griffith.com

Nanci should be grateful for really devoted fans like Bill and Sue.

How can Nanci's *official* Web site be down the week they release the new
album and Nanci has a  national TV appearance on David Letterman? Is the
recording industry really so clueless about the Internet as they appear to
be? Could their timing on the Web site downtime be any worse?

Anyway, the http://nanci-griffith.com "unofficial" site is there for fans 
and the curious alike.  With a cool introductory picture, too!

Bruce Miller
Oakland CA

_________________________________________________________________ 

 Subject: NN: Shaking the (Fragile) Snow
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 04:16:59 EDT
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

Okay, netters of old and new and anyone else been "itchin" for the good 
old days, be prepared, what you are about to read is a good ol'SONG 
INTERPRETATION. 

I've holded off posting any views of the new album for a reason; I wanted 
it to sink in. Too easy to dismiss after one listening and too in depth to 
delve into without the appropriate time gone by, most reviews lack... 
comprehension. 
(save the ones on the nanci net of course) But a couple things strike me 
about this album. 

1) The first 6 tracks are clearly vintage Nanci and a reason for life, let 
alone a reason to buy the thing. 

2)Even when it appears the album falters a bit, there is strong evidence 
our Miss Nanci does, in fact, know what she's doing- even with the 
addition of "Truly Something Fine" (my least favorite). 

3) The raw emotional outpouring of "Shaking Out the Snow" may not ring 
well in some ears, but the song is so much the better for it, believe me. 
Wasn't it Maggie "MaryMargaret" herself that said, "when there's tears in 
your eyes as you sing, how can your voice not help but break?"  
Oh wait, that's right, that's what Maggie said about St. Theresa, eons 
ago, another time and another place, but again, people were hemming and 
hawing about Nanci's choice of vocals. Which just goes to show, what goes 
around comes around.

Even Nanci's lyrics. As someone has pointed out, there seems to be a 
recycled feel to this album and I don't think it's an error on the part of 
Ms. Griffith. I think she chose these songs for a reason, chose their 
themes for a reason. Nanci has long offered me solace in my quest for 
something better and these songs are no exception.

For instance, the aforementioned, much boo-hooed, Shaking out The Snow. Does
anyone see the Fragile connection here? 

   "Snowing- through South Dakota I once drove
    with the wife of my best pal
    who cloaks her heart from cold with gold
    it was well into the winter
    of December in the cold
    Off to see Mount Rushmore staring through the snow
   And to gamble with the boys of Deadwood, as we drove."

There are actually a couple of references in this passage, but let me 
stick to the Fragile one for now-

   "I stared up at the faces in the mountain just a year ago
    laughing in the spirit of America 
    And singin' in the snow 
    Now I wish I felt as strong as that mountain 
    just carved in stone."

What Nanci has done with these two songs is juxtapose the two characters- 
in one she sings of bringing her lover home, with the help of the warm 
gulf water to guide him. In the other she has come to the decision that no 
love can reach her because she is frozen, she is cold. That no matter how 
many "passages she clears" or shaking that she does, her heart is an 
icicle and she doesn't know how to thaw the freezing any longer. Obviously 
the latter of the two, is, unfortunately, bleak and depressing. It seems 
only fitting that its vocal deliverance be the same. 

Once you get past the bleakness of Nanci's voice on Shaking, you hear the raw
emotionality of it. The tenderness as she starts at the begginning of 
each verse tumbling into the peak of heartache: " A four year old in a 
swim suit and brand new plastic skates, out into the snow to catch this 
cold, I cannot shake." 

This strikes a chord of sadness, because it illustrates that the character 
in this song has had this frozen feeling since they were a child- a trick 
played by a sibling resulting in a lifetime of feeling "left out" "alone" 
and "cold". That no matter how many "shields of heather", in the end, she 
just doesn't seem to know how to fight off the bitter weather, because it 
is, as she says in Fragile, "in her bones".  

The references to Deadwood, South Dakota and This Heart I think are fine 
examples of Nanci's knowledge of her own history. She knows what she's 
told us, she knows where she's taken us. I think at this point in her 
career she has realized that she made her mark with her own voice (the 
best voice there is to use, she said many moons ago) and that her gift now 
is to pass on the songs of others (hence her decision to have so many non-
griffith tracks) and to finish the stories she started so long ago, for 
all of us.  

Songs like Pearl's Eye View, Clock without Hands, Midnight in Missoula & 
Roses on the 4th of July illustrate that she's just not about to become 
complacent about it. 

And that reminds me of another song....... hmmmm.

-Christina "where's the moon and that big hole to hide in?" Myers
_________________________________________________________________ 

 Subject: NN:Cotton
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 09:35:40 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Reid Mitchell (reidmitchell@yahoo.com>

--- Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com> wrote:
> It's interesting what different people hear in a song. 

Dear Steve,

Since you are my editor & publisher, I dasn't disagree with you.  

Would anybody like to comment on how "Cotton" works in the album?  
Poetmuse, perhaps?

Here we have this song that's very 19th c. musically
on an album that generally grounded in the Viet Nam
and post Viet Nam years.  The singer has come from the
north to ask for her love back and says if she's
denied, she'll never come south again.  It comes right
after a song in which the singer uses images of
barreness for her relationship to love and says while
she can have a taste of something fine but of
something truly lost.  A not very optimistic paen to
love but pretty ambiguous at the end.  And a few songs
after "Cotton" we have "Shaking Out the Snow"--which I
LIKE--which equates inability to love with cold and
snow and announces it snows in Tennessee.

So in "Cotton"--yes I know Nanci didn't write it but
she chose to sing it--this sojourner in the north
returns south for love she isn't certain of receiving.
 Is the personae in this song the same as the others? 
I can hear it that way but I can also hear the singer
as somebody come south to Tennesee to ask Nanci for
love?

Even though written by Hooker, would you agree,
Poetmuse, that "Cotton" also has an allusion to "This
Heart" or is that too far-fetched?

Reid Mitchell
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: website woes: an explanation
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 16:03:30 EDT
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

I think we're missing out on the REAL reason the website crashed, 
people...I mean it's obvious- all those people that got early copies 
basically flooded the server and crashed poor nanci.com to pieces!!!!! 
They didn't count on Nanci having a million new fans!

(yeah right)

working on her dissertation of "Cotton" as we speak,
Christina "technologically disinclined" Myers
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Shaking Out The Snow
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 13:08:24 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Martin Jack (gatesuk@yahoo.com>

I agree with all of what Christina (poetmuse) said
about this song.  I think I've never heard Nanci so
angry and tormented before, listening to it on my
headphones the chorus blisters out at you with
rawness, Nanci just screams through the 'like a
hurricane through Florida' bit.  I'm with Christina,
I'm pretty sure tears were shed singing this one.
Maybe Nanci should have counted down 1,2,3, cry to
this one too.

This is one of the highlights of CWH for me.

Martin
________________________________________________________________ 

   Subject:    NN: Re: Shaking Out The Snow
      Date:    Sun, 5 Aug 2001 22:25:04 +0100
      From:    "Mike Barrett" (mikebarrettuk@hotmail.com>

> This is one of the highlights of CWH for me.

Agreed.  I really like this song, but it took several hearings to 
appreciate it fully.   Initially I didn't like it at all, but now it's one 
of my favoutites on CWH - and in such a fine album, that's high praise 
indeed.

As to the dissonance, the perhaps straining voice, this is clearly an
emotional, meaningful song for Nanci, a form of catharsis.  I very much
doubt that she'll sing it in concert, and my guess is that this was a "one
take" session, with any "imperfections" being there to stay because she
wasn't going to do it again.  I must say that her performance of this song
considerably adds to its impact for me, as does the sudden ending.  That
threw me to begin with, but now it seems perfect.

Mike Barrett

n.p.  er, three guesses......
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: NN: Cotton: it's the fabric of our lives
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 16:48:56 EDT
   From: Poetmuse@aol.com

Okay, I just need to go on record here before anyone thinks I *really* 
don't have a life- there are only 3 (4 counting Nanci) artists I truly 
analyze/obsess/think about in depth like this; R.E.M (they're my beatles, 
what can i say?) Natalie Merchant (she's who I wanna be when I grow up) & 
Paul Simon (he's my Dylan).  (yeah, I know, I still don't sound like I 
have a life, but oh well)

At first listen, Cotton is that return to whimsy I think Nanci is very 
capable of. On a surface level, it's a sweet song that I can see a lot of 
Hooker in. I can't pinpoint it, but I can hear James's voice as Nanci 
sings it. What intrigues me the most is it's placement on the album- it's 
directly after Truly Something Fine- which I've already said isn't my 
favorite cut in the least (although I caught myself humming it this 
morning). What Reid said about the character in the song coming south to 
ask someone (nanci) to love them is interesting. Take the character she 
sings with in Truly Something Fine- in this song I would say she is the 
one leaving or being left- "with you, you're back to love, with me, I've 
run from mine."  And actually, I think this song has a definite connection 
to Eric Taylor: "From the shallows of the Mekong to my Liffey, Dublin's 
wine, the tide turned me around and brought the taste of something fine."  
This is just guess work here, but could the song being about Eric's 
remarriage and how Nanci feels about that? That she's let go the 
feelings of the past and seen them for what they are- a love, a hand to hold,
yet still cut by the thorns of the rose? 

Cotton's first verse contains the line "old loves lost are ne'er 
forgotten, that's the way it's supposed to be."  And in fact, this emotion 
ends the song. Not forgetting the loves and dreams of the past has always 
been a theme in Nanci songs.  
The second verse again, points back to Truly Something Fine:

"Are you short or are you long?
Are you easy to see
Are you weak or are you strong?
Makes no never to me."

Isn't this basically the phrase "love is blind" dressed up in tender 
metaphor? In this instance the fact that love is blind is positive rather 
than negative as the character in the song doesn't care what the other 
person looks like- he/she is there to strike up an old flame once thought 
put out. 

"Oh love is a hand you hold
when you think you've lost your mind
it is bitter with persimmons
yet as sweet of rose on vine."

"I'm standing at your door
with my heart in your hands
ain't you gonna ask me in?
If you say "no" I'll understand dear
and never come south again."

In these two passages we have hands and hearts being offered. It's the 
taking of the chance for love which I think Nanci would categorize as 
something truly fine. Old loves, new loves, loves we thought we lost- 
these all weave themselves around us as we move through life. Haven't we 
all, at least once, thought of heading home again to capture that lost 
love? 

Cotton is a fine song and I hear a bit of dixie whimsy in its notes. The 
two songs seem like complements of the other and had Reid not thrown down 
the gauntlet there, I might have missed it. :) 

Damn. This means I have to take Truly Something Fine off my least favorite 
list.


-Christina "a leaf of autumn" Myers
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Cotton: it's the fabric of our lives
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 17:35:25 EDT
   From: Catelaw@aol.com

Poetmuse@aol.com writes:

> And actually, I think this song has a definite connection to Eric
> Taylor

Seems to me that the whole CD is permeated by Eric Taylor.  I feel the 
same kind of near-voyeurism listening to some of the original numbers as 
Kenn Lippert (I think?) once described on hearing Lyle Lovett cover 
Taylor's Memphis Midnight/Memphis Morning on Step Inside this House.  But 
this whole thread is probably going to get a big HUH, so...

Kenn, I like this CD a lot.  You should probably hold off on buying it (g>

Cate, in Atlanta
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Cotton: it's the fabric of our lives
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:03:31 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Reid Mitchell (reidmitchell@yahoo.com>

Thanks Christina.  I too sometimes somehow hear it as
Hooker or somebody singing to Nanci.  Now if we can
sort out the meaning of returning south for love, when
sung by somebody who's one) has used the image before
("Spin on a Red Brick Floor") and yet who is
notoriously ambivalent toward her home state....
Reid
_________________________________________________________________ 

Subject: Re: NN: Cotton: it's the fabric of our lives
   Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:07:23 -0700 (PDT)
   From: Reid Mitchell (reidmitchell@yahoo.com>

> Seems to me that the whole CD is permeated by Eric
> Taylor

Absolutely.  He's the nexus between the Viet Nam songs
and the lost love songs.

Reid Mitchell
_________________________________________________________________ 


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