Ruby's Torch

Nanci Griffith steers clear of her usual country rock territory on this collection of cover songs. However, it’s not quite her own, personal take on the Great American Songbook a la Rod Stewart – she largely avoids the obvious contenders in favour of some more recent, and obscure, material.
Thus, she includes a trio of Tom Waits songs, including ‘Ruby’s Arms’, ‘Grapefruit Moon’ and ‘Please Call Me Baby’, as well as tackling Jimmy Webb’s gorgeous ‘If These Walls Could Speak’. It’s a brave person, meanwhile, who would take on a song such as ‘In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning’, long associated with Frank Sinatra. Nonetheless, she makes a decent job of it, summoning the required emotion and pathos. In fact, her dusky, husky vocals perfectly suit the mood of the song. Griffith’s own ‘Late Night Grande Hotel’ – one of her best and most popular numbers – also receives a makeover and benefits from a sumptuous string arrangement.
Other highlights include the country ballad, ‘When I Dream’ (recorded in the past by Crystal Gayle and Willie Nelson among others) and a reading of Irish songwriter Donal McDonagh Long’s ‘Never Be The Sun’.