Search - Nanci Griffith :: Winter Marquee

DAVID P. from SALT LAKE CTY, UT
Reviewed on 7/15/2010...

have yet to hear a Nanci Griffith CD that I didn't love. I'll keep collecting them as long as she keeps creating.

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Nanci's greatest songs--LIVE!

Kori Frazier | Kent, OH United States | 09/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1986, folk luminary Nanci Griffith released ONE FAIR SUMMER EVENING, a live album showcasing the finest music of her career's early years. Comprised of classic tunes from THE LAST OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS, ONCE IN A VERY BLUE MOON, and her other Rounder releases, the album introduced Nanci to music listeners as a young woman with a delightful sense of humor, creative grace, and indescribable talent. Although Nanci has released a great many wonderful albums over the last sixteen years, she has never again returned to the world of live albums...until now.If you have ever seen Nanci Griffith in concert, you are well aware of the fact that it is an amazing experience. Her breathtaking music, emotional lyrics, and occasional quips for humor and politics all express her talent and make her live performances unforgettable. The newly released live CD WINTER MARQUEE captures the essence of her amazing shows. From John Prine's "The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" to "Traveling Through This Part of You" to the phenomenal new version of "I'm Not Drivin' These Wheels (Bring the Prose to the Wheel)," the album surveys the greatest music from Nanci's first album (1978's THERE'S A LIGHT BEYOND THESE WOODS) all the way to the present. The album is actually far more oldies than recent songs, as WINTER MARQUEE seems to pay a long deserved homage to the folk styled beauty of Nanci's early recordings--new versions of Nanci's tribute to Loretta Lynn, "Listen to the Radio" and the uptempo "I Wish It Would Rain" give fans a new glimpse of favorites they have missed for years. The true highlight of the versions of these old classics, though, is a new recording of "Gulf Coast Highway," which (FINALLY!) features duet vocals by Blue Moon Orchestra pianist James Hooker. While Nanci and Hooker have performed this together in concert since the song's release in the late '80s, this is the first time their version has been released publically.But WINTER MARQUEE isn't all oldies but goodies. The album also features four new songs that showcase Nanci's current talents at their finest. "Goodnight, New York," a beautiful tribute to those who immigrated to our country a century ago, has been performed by Nanci in concert since last fall, and is included here with lovely duet vocals by country veteran Emmylou Harris. The country flavored "Last Train Home" and "White Freight Liner" seem to pay tribute to the influences of music that have been lost to us over the last year, and the folk tune "What's That I Hear" gives Nanci's haunting vocals a chance to shine.While WINTER MARQUEE fails to match the greatness of her previous live album, it will NOT fail to impress the typical diehard Nanci fan. With new versions of old favorites, new versions of new favorites, and the talent and creativity that goes into every one of her albums, Nanci's second live album is a triumph."

She's still got it

David A. Bede | Singapore | 12/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After two disappointing albums from Nanci Griffith, "Winter Marquee" is a delightful surprise. Not to mention a definite improvement over her one other live album, "One Fair Summer Evening," which I give five stars for performance but one star for sound quality - that one always sounded to me like the final mix was phoned in. This time around, Griffith and friends are in fine form and it feels like you're in the audience.Most of the songs are among her best-known ones, but Griffith is one of those performers who can make even old favorites sound fresh on stage. Classics like "I Wish It Would Rain" and "Listen To the Radio" are just as addictive here as the first time you heard them, and "Gulf Coast Highway" (never among my favorites from her catalog, but I know I'm outvoted on that one!) gets yet another righteous revival. "I'm Not Drivin' These Wheels" and "Traveling Through This Part of You" get my votes for this collection's biggest revelations; the studio versions of both were always a bit forgettable for me, but the performances here are irresistible. The covers are also terrific. This performance of John Prine's "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" tops both the original and Griffith's previous recording of it, but Julie Gold's "Good Night New York" really steals the show. Written years before 9/11 as a tribute to past generations of immigrants, it unavoidably has more than one meaning now. There is only one new original song featured here, "Last Train Home" (at least I think it's new), but it's a scorching Texas tale which features some of her all time best lyrics, guaranteed to make good use of your "repeat" button. Here's hoping she's written more songs like this one for the next album - and in the meantime, this one is a more than welcome addition to her collection."