- Music
- 02 Apr 01
NANCI GRIFFITH: "Best Of" (MCA)
NANCI GRIFFITH: "Best Of" (MCA)
HAVING ENDEARED herself to this country like few other artists have in the past, Nanci Griffith remains enormously popular here and this long overdue anthology proves just why.
Though she'd recorded with two independent labels previously, the 19 tracks on this collection cover the period since her debut with MCA in 1986 - "Lone Star State Of Mind", right up to this years "Other Voices/Other Rooms" album of covers of her own favourite songwriters.
Her gift for storytelling and her compassionate perspective on the everyday trials of life permeate the songs and she always manages to appear genuinely sincere without lapsing into mushy sentimentality. Look no further than her sensitive treatment of "From A Distance" compared with Bette Midler's whining (hit) version or Cliff Richard's pious attempt for proof.
She's essentially a folk singer rather than a country performer and this distinction is crucial to her success, allowing her to avoid some of the cliched formulas of Nashville while still dealing in rural themes and human relationships. As the liner notes state perfectly: "She sings of broken hearted lovers, dusty roads, pick up trucks, back porch wisdom, high hopes and whooping spirits".
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Personal favourites included here are: "Trouble In The Fields", "Love At The Five And Dime", "Listen To The Radio", "Late Night Grande Hotel" and John Prine's "Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness" (with Prine himself on "lonesome harmony vocals"!). Also included are "Lone Star State Of Mind", "Ford Econoline", "Gulf Coast Highway" and of course the aforementioned concert favourite, "From A Distance".
She also does a good version of Ralph Mc Tell's "From Clare To Here" and a recent live recording of "The Road To Aberdeen". The musicians she's worked with over the years are testimony to the esteem in which she is held: Mark O'Connor, John Stewert, Albert Lee, Rod Argent and Phil Everly are just some of the distinguished luminaries helping out. The Irish connection is strong too with Fran Breen on drums, Philip Donnelly on guitar and Maura O'Connell on occasional backing vocals.
A delightful collection and a timely reminder of the unique talents of one of the last of the true believers.
• Colm O'Hare