NanciNet Digest 12-15-03
// Hooker's back! And Nanci's headed for the studio!
// That and more...
// Enjoy! [BP]
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Subject: NN: New Album for Nanci?
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 12:18:50 -0500
From: (jameshooker@615songs.com>
Hi Gang
"Dwindling Numbers of NanciNetters" Huh?....I hope not!
I was told yesterday that the new album will be recorded "sometime after the
15th of Jan. '04."
The album will be ALL NEW songs either written or co-written by Nanci, with
a couple of outside, old friend songwriters contributing material on 1 or 2
songs. Album is to be basically just Nanci and BMO. Jan. '04 looks like a
lock, but could change a week or few!....dat's de biddness!
Merry Christmas to you all and back into lurkdom for me.
--
James Hooker
http://www.615songs.com
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Subject: NN: The Next Nanci
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 15:04:49 -0500
From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>
Most of the ladies who have been mentioned so far are already pretty
well known. Probably as well known as Nanci was when many of us
discovered her. I think it's interesting to go a little farther afield.
Obviously, there will always be talented musicians and songwriters who
never become well known- due to all the vagaries of the music business.
But, if the artist's work moves you, who cares (other than the artist,
of course!) how many people have heard of her.
My favorite discovery this year is Kathy Hussey. She's one of the
winners of the 2003 Kerrville New Folk competition. I noticed her
because both of us took part in the SouthEastern Regional Folk Alliance
(SERFA) organizational meeting. Also this year, I heard Jennifer
Daniels do an extended live set for the first time. She's one of those
folks who are very good on an album, but really shine in a live show.
You can find these and more artists and groups- and links to their web
pages - on the "Fiddlin' Around Recommends" pages of the website:
http://www.starchart.com/FidA/Artists/artists.html
By the way, if you want some nice Christmas music to listen to at your
computer, try the Rhino listening party for Carly Simon's new album:
http://www.rhino.com/fun/listeningparties/73891_partyplayer.lasso
Steve R.
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Subject: NN: Top Ten and New Discoveries
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 12:23:44 -0000
From: "Matt Bloomfield" (mail@mattbloomfield.co.uk>
Been a busy year this year and it's gone by so fast. Moved out from my
parent's, bought a house, it hasn't stopped...
I haven't bought as many new releases this year, which means I can only
get a top 6 and they are in no particular order:
Beauty of the Rain - Dar Williams
Stunning album, also one of the best live shows I've seen this year.
Dar is my new Nanci.
Soul Journey - Gillian Welch
World Without Tears - Lucinda Williams
My favourite Lucinda album so far.
Cock-a-hoop - Cerys Matthews
Cerys was the singer from the Welsh pop band Catatonia, she went to
America and went all folky, this was the result. Her quirky voice makes
this album
0304 - Jewel
Jewel took a bit of slagging for this album, lots of criticism saying
she was selling out, too pop etc. Well it's a whole lot better than
most pop and I think it's one of the best albums this year. There's no
shame in a bit of experimentation.
Modern Art - Tom Russell.
My best discovery this year was at Dar Williams gig at Dingwalls (now
Lock17). An Irish singer/songwriter called Juliet Turner was one of the
opening acts and she is excellent. Great songs, beautiful voice with
her wonderful accent poking through, a very modest women who deserves a
much bigger audience. She later had a solo gig of her own at the
Borderline and talking to her afterwards she was asking for people to
email their radio stations to try and get her some airplay. It would
appear this has worked as anyone who can bear to listen to Terry Wogan
on BBC Radio2 in the mornings should've heard quite a bit of Juliet this
past week or so.
At the Borderline, Juliet had some very good support of her own. Astrid
Williamson and a band called The Lovers. Astrid's albums make great
listening. I have not been able to find much info on The Lovers, they
are headed by a lovely singer called Jen Charlton. They have a sort of
bluesy, folky sort of feel to them. The only album, which Jen was
selling from her bag is a five track CDR recorded live at the 12Bar it's
one of the finest things I've heard this year. Catch them if you can.
http://www.folkandroots.co.uk/Jen.html
http://www.acousticroutes.co.uk/lovers.mp3
http://www.julietturner.com
http://www.astridwilliamson.net/
Matt
It's Back:
http://www.mattbloomfield.co.uk
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Subject: NN: The "new" Nanci
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 07:37:27 -0000
From: "Caroline Grew" (c.k.grew@btopenworld.com>
The radio waves here in the UK are at present being flooded with a cover
version of the Lindisfarne song "Can't do Right for Doing Wrong". This
single is being tipped to be the British No.1 single for Christmas.
This 16 year old schoolgirl, Erin Rocha, has a voice that is very
reminiscent of Nanci. However, although she has been singing since she was
6, I don't know whether she has songwriting skills to match Nanci's talent.
Read more at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/dorset/3293673.stm
Best wishes to everyone out in the madness for peaceful, joyful and safe
holidays.
Caroline,
London UK
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Subject: Re: NN: New Album for Nanci?
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 11:31:15 EST
From: Tricia9999@aol.com
Well, thanks ever so much for Mr. James Hooker's contribution. And I am so
ecstatic to hear that Nanci and the BMO will be back in the studio to
record. And even more glad to hear that it will be all new and original
material.
Thanks for that wonderful news!
Tricia
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Subject: NN: NanciNet/Molly story, Thank You's, & post-Flyer commentary!
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 19:17:29 EST
From: Mildredgibson@aol.com
First, I kindly Thank Cate (from Atlanta, of course) and Conor for their lovely
replies to my NanciNet intro message. I'll be writing both directly, but,
suffice it to say, Cate's lovely words put me to tears.
And Thanks to David for putting his recovery out there, as well.
Addicts/alcoholics are much like obsessed music fans: when we meet, it's as if
we've known each other a lifetime.
I read Deb's powerful commentary on post-Flyer NG material. I've been reading
lots of stuff like this for the three or so years I've been a voyeuristic
lurker on this list (save the occasional direct message; we all take steps, of
course). It is the rare musical artist whose every release is a masterpiece
from start to finish. Still, I think it's dangerous to discount "lesser" work
when there are jewels to be found on any great artist's work.
To my mind, "Flyer" and "Other Voices, Other Rooms" are, unquestionably,
masterpieces. I, too, have never much cottoned to "Time of Inconvenience" (I
prefer Miss Griffith when she's in the gutter with melancholy and love lost),
though, for what it is, I can more than endure it (and it's one of the rare
instances when I really appreciate the Indigo Girls, so there's something;
sorry, they're a bit too earthy for me).
It's true, none of the releases since those albums have matched up to their
accumulated brilliance (by the way, some of my comments on "Flyer" made Zagat's
Music Guide recently--I'll post them if anyone's interested---did anyone else
submit comments for them?), but I cannot hear her reconfigured "The Wing and
The Wheel" on TDBS without shedding a tear or two, nor can I hear "Yarrington
Town" without a couple more tears and moments of reflection. Without doubt,
the first five cuts on CWH are almost completely perfect to me. "Two For The
Road" is out of this world, and the long wait during the opening strains of
"Not My Way Home" on TDBS, so mournful and longing, is blissfully
moving...then, when it breaks into the opening chords, Oh My! An
already-lovely post-Flyer song made even more lovely.
I'll concede that I'm one of those NG-can-do-no-wrong sorts, but a fine artist
seldom totally missteps, to the point of artistic death. I think of my other
favorites and how they each have one or two albums which soar above the rest:
Mary Chapin Carpenter ("Come On Come On" and probably "Shooting Straight in the
Dark"), Tish Hinojosa ("Destiny's Gate"), Julia Fordham ("Concrete Love" and
most of her first two releases), and Reba ("For My Broken Heart" and
"Reba"--no, not the show). And the vast majority of my other loves don't have
ssingle masterpieces, but lots of diamonds in the rough.
Damn, I write far too quickly and too much.
One last note about the NanciNet: right before I hit my "bottom," Molly offered
to record Austin City Limits with NG and MCC for anyone interested. She gladly
answered my request. By the time it reached me, I was in the throes of
complete self destruction. A few months into sobriety, I wrote to her and
explained what happened and how I could repay. She answered back, so simply,
so beautifully: "Don't worry about it. I hope you enjoyed it and take good
care of yourself."
That, along with smart, funny, touching messages from the likes of those at the
top of this diatribe, are why the NanciNet has made such a difference my life.
Jonathan Gibson
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Subject: NN: Re: The Next Nanci
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 20:09:38 -0600
From: "Daniel Horan" (dhoran@wylelabs.com>
I have been very impressed by an artist I discovered in Chicago a couple of
years ago...and seeing the thread of the conversation I have to avail myself
of the opportunity to mention her. She is Eva Hunter and her writing and
singing are both excellent...
One of the first things I asked her after hearing her play was if she had
ever heard of NG, she had and mentioned that she had, in fact, opened up
for Nanci's ex-husband at a show of his. She was very surprised that I was
immediately able to name him (Eric Taylor, of course)....
anyway...you can preview her new CD on her website:
http://www.evahunter.com
--Daniel
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Subject: NN: The New Nanci
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 13:40:42 EST
From: Mildredgibson@aol.com
I wonder if David Gray might not become a sort of New Nanci, though I'm in
total agreement with the impossibility of a truly new Nanci Griffith. An
acting friend once told me her acting teacher said that true artists can
never be completely imitated or aped, but that lesser talents can be easily
mimicked. However true that statement may be (on occasion I can do rather
serviceable impersonations of Jodie Foster and Holly Hunter, both easily
included in the "artist" category), our NG embodies such a mysterious
alchemy of styles and choices that she is, indeed, in an artistic category
unto her own. Newcomers may learn from her, but they shall never fully "All
About Eve" her.
But back to David Gray. Though he has enjoyed a commercial success beyond
Miss Griffith's (notwithstanding her acclaim and fame in the UK), in spirit
and melancholy, he definitely alights in the same company. He, too, is a
fine songwriter, melding several different musical energies into one
eclectic and vibrant mix. I could see him playing similar venues and stages
as our Lady (heck, he's done Austin City Limits), particularly if "Babylon"
serves to be his "From A Distance," and he moves over into the Critical
Darling with a solid, sizeable fan base, but no future, major hits grouping.
To top all this off, judging from her recommendations on the Official
website, he certainly meets with her approval, though Dar Williams receives
her loudest lauds, so perhaps Dar is the New Nanci; Officially, that is. I
had hoped to hear more from a singer I picked up on a whim in Tower Records
in NYC when I was attending NYU, solely because she was in the folk section
and the cover and her physical appearance were reminiscent of NG: Kimberly
M'Carver. She thanks NG in the liner notes on that album. From everyone
I've heard over the years, she comes closest to the vocal and aural spirit
of NG.
And, by the way, this light bulb as I write this: Haven't we been witness to
the New Nanci for years? Iris Dement?!? Without giving it much thought, I
always thought of her Little Nanci.
Thanks.
Jonathan Gibson
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Subject: NN: BBC 4 womens country night (Sat 20/12/03)
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 22:59:25 -0000
From: "Paul Reeve" (paul@preeve.plus.com>
Hi all,
Following my lifting of the Friday night show from the Emmylou Harris list,
here is a follow up with details of the Saturday night programmes, also from
the ELH list. I suspect the typo is the BBC's!
COUNTRY LADIES NIGHT ON BBC FOUR
7.00pm Lost Highway Ladies
8.00pm Dolly Parton
9.00pm Nanci Griffiths
10.00pm Alison Krauss and Union Station Live
11.50pm Emmylou Harris - From A Deeper Well
12.50am Emmylou Harris - Old Grey Whistle Test
01.30am Down From The Mountain - Storyville
---
On Saturday 20th December BBC Four hosts a special evening of
programming around women in Country Music. The evening includes
documentaries, sessions and profiles looking at great female country
artists such as Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris Nanci Griffiths, Alison
Krauss and Patsy Montana.
Lost Highway Ladies - Sweethearts Of The Rodeo 7.00-8.00pm
While acts such as Shania Twain or the Dixie Chicks sell millions,
it's easy to forget that women's dominance in Country has been an
uphill struggle. This episode tells the story from the original
cowgirl, Patsy Montana, to the outspoken big-haired icons of the
Sixties and Seventies and today's stars such as Gillian Welch.
Dolly Parton: Platinum Blonde 8.00-9.00pm
A special profile about Dolly Parton, one of the best loved and most
prolific singer/songwriters in the world today. Featuring exclusive
interviews with Dolly, her friends, family and producers, the
documentary - originally shown on BBC One - takes an in-depth look at
Dolly's life and career from her childhood right up to the present
day. Featuring exclusive interviews with Lily Tomlin, Shirley
MacLaine, Shania Twain, Lee Ann Womack, Billy Connolly, Kenny Rogers,
Dolly's family and Fred Foster - the producer who discovered her.
Nanci Griffith 9.00-10.00pm
Nanci Griffith has a well-deserved reputation as a top-notch
singer-songwriter. During her 25-year career, she has successfully
straddled the genres of folk and country, while always managing to
stay above industry trends. She is a Grammy award-winner whose songs
have been covered by influential artists, such as Kathy Mattea and
Suzy Bogguss. This is another chance to see her breathtaking
performance Winter Marquee filmed at the historic Tennessee Theatre
in the spring of 2002. Winter Marquee is also the name of Nanci
Griffith's spectacular live album. The concert features Nanci backed
by her long-time band, The Blue Moon Orchestra and guest appearances
by her friends, Emmylou Harris and Tom Russell. The concert features
Nanci's most loved songs, along with four new compositions.
Alison Krauss and Union Station Live 10.00-11.00pm
Alison Krauss and Union Station received rave reviews for their album
Live, a recent example of the rise of bluegrass music. This
atmospheric live performance includes many of the songs from the
album such as When You Say Nothing At All, Let Me Touch You For
Awhile and I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow, which featured on the
soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? Recorded on their spring
tour in 2002 in the Louisville Palace, Kentucky, Alison Krauss's
haunting voice and spirited fiddle playing are matched by exemplary
performances by Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Ron Block and Barry
Bales.
Emmylou Harris: From A Deeper Well 11.50pm-12.50am
Made with her full co-operation, this documentary is a portrait of
one of America's most respected musical artists, Emmylou Harris. For
over 30 years Emmylou has been a jewel in the crown of American
music, boasting a breadth of work and commanding the respect of a
disparate group of peers. The programme features exclusive interviews
with Emmy, friends and band members including Rodney Crowell, Buddy
Miller, Glen D. Hardin, Ricky Scaggs, Phil Kaufman, aka the Road
Mangler, and fans like Steve Earle, Keith Richards and Elvis
Costello. It features extensive musical footage, both new and
archival. As well as providing a comprehensive look at Emmy's life,
the programme also examines the changing face of Country Music and
its relationship to Nashville itself.
Emmylou Harris - Old Grey Whistle Test Special 12.50-1.30am
A special concert recorded in 1974 at the Television Theatre,
Shepherds Bush featuring Emmylou and her band performing some of her
classic songs. Beginning with Feeling Single, Seeing Double from her
1975 album Elite Hotel, she moves through a variety of hits from her
the best-selling Luxury Liner including I'll Be Your San Antone Rose,
Poncho & Lefty, Making Believe, You Never Can Tell, Tulsa Queen and
Luxury Liner returning to Elite Hotel for Together Again and
finishing with Gram Parson's Ooh Las Vegas.
Down From The Mountain - Storyville 1.30-2.30am
Down From The Mountain is a joyous and free-spirited celebration of
American roots folk music. In May of 2000, artists on the soundtrack
of the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou? gathered to play
music from the film for a concert at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. A
sprawling mix of authentic bluegrass musicians and contemporary
alternative Country stars, including Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss,
Gillian Welch, John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, David Rawlings and Chris
Thomas King among others give startling and entertaining
performances. Down From The Mountain documents that concert - both
onstage and backstage - of a truly American musical form
Must find some video tapes!
Paul
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