More Than a Whisper – Honoring the legacy of Nanci Griffith…
Various Artists – More Than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith – Rounder Records # 1166101791 – 58:44: ****
Nanci Griffith was a much beloved American folk singer and composer, who was taken from us much too early, at age 68, in 2021. During her career she toured and recorded with a “who’s who” of popular music artists covering many musical genres (such as Jimmy Buffett, John Prine, Judy Collins, and The Chieftains.) She won a Grammy in 1994 in the Contemporary Folk Album category for Other Voices, Other Rooms.
To honor her legacy, Rounder Records has just released a tribute CD, More Than a Whisper, where on 14 tracks, other musical greats cover some of her most well known compositions. It’s a lovely homage to an artist, who nicknamed her influences as “folkabilly.” Nanci had an innate knack, after growing up in Texas, of describing life there, especially the hard knocks that rural women must endure.
Her songs are sung by both her contemporaries ( Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Iris DeMent) and by the next generation, who have taken on the mantle of Americana influenced folk music ( Sarah Jarosz, Molly Tuttle, Shawn Colvin.)
John Prine revisits, “Love at the Five and Dime,” while Iris DeMent brings “Banks of the Pontchartrain” to new heights. Nanci’s crystalline voice was a perfect match for a male partner, and Lyle Lovett and Kathy Mattea, bring back that magic on “Trouble in the Fields,” from Griffith’s 1987 release, Lone Star State of Mind.
Todd Snider’s rendition of “Ford Econoline” gives cause for celebration of Nanci’s innate ability for giving strength to hard scrabble women fighting for a better life. Steve Earle sums up Nanci’s grit on “It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go.”
As you can see, there is much to love here. Many of Nanci Griffith’s songs are a part of Americana folk lexicon. The 14 tracks presented here are a moving honorarium helping keep Nanci’s song writing greatness alive.
—Jeff Krow
More Than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith
Musicians:
Artists including: Sarah Jarosz, John Prine & Kelsey Waldon, Billy Strings & Molly Tuttle, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett & Kathy Mattea, Brandy Clark, Shawn Colvin, Ida Mae, Steve Earle, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Todd Snider, Iris DeMent, Mary Gauthier, The War and Treaty
Tracklist:
You Can’t Go Home Again (Sarah Jarosz)
Love at the Five and Dime (John Prine & Kelsey Waldon)
Listen to the Radio (Billy Strings & Molly Tuttle)
Love Wore a Halo (Back Before the War)(Emmylou Harris)
Trouble in the Fields (Lyle Lovett & Kathy Mattea)
Gulf Coast Highway (Brandy Clark)
Outbound Plane (Shawn Colvin)
Radio Fragile (Ida Mae)
It’s a Hard Life Wherever You Go (Steve Earle)
Late Night Grand Hotel (Aaron Lee Tasjan)
Ford Econoline (Todd Snider)
Banks of the Pontchartrain ( Iris DeMent)
More Than a Whisper (Mary Gauthier)
From a Distance (The War and Treaty)
More information through Rounder Reords
