Nanci Griffith - Other Voices, Other Rooms

During the '80s, Texas singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith graduated from modest folk celebrity to find herself signed to a major label and making thoughtful, better-heeled studio albums that were critical favorites but commercial anomalies in the country market where she was initially positioned. This 1993 project finds her returning to her roots, reunited with the producer behind his earlier folk triumphs, Jim Rooney. Taking its title from Truman Capote's first novel, Other Voices, Other Rooms is a gentle but whip-smart anthology of excellent songs from acknowledged masters (Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Woody Guthrie, the Carter Family, the Weavers, Gordon Lightfoot) and lesser-known but hardly less-skilled writers including Kate Wolf, Frank Christian, and Vince Bell. Griffith's clear-eyed vocals and unswerving intelligence are well served by members of her own band, augmented by vocal cameos from a roomful of fellow folk veterans including Prine, Arlo Guthrie, the Indigo Girls, and John Gorka, among others. --Sam Sutherland Amazon.com essential recording

Simple, stunning, folk at its best

Nanci Griffith has a beautiful voice and uses it on this album to sing some of the most beautiful songs written by contemporary folk artists. This CD has been one of the most heavily played in my house for the last decade and I never tire of it - in fact I am currently writing a novel and the only CD I listen to while writing it is this one. That is the scope of its breadth and power, of its shimmering and relentless beauty.

It's a captivating work of collaboration that fills the spirit with the sort of haunting loneliness that feels good. Infinitely listenable. November 3, 2007

An old favorite of mine.

I discovered this album in my Aunt's car on a camping trip. It has some really good songs on it. After acquiring my original copy of "Other Voices/Other Rooms," I eventually bought all of Nanci's other albums, but I still think that this is her best album. It's a great album to listen to when cooking in the kitchen, taking a nap, doing housework, riding in the car, or just about anytime.

I really love the songs on this album. "Night Rider's Lament," is one of my favorite songs to sing around the campfire when I go camping.

"Turn Around," was written by the late Malvina Reynolds. And before Nanci sang it, it used to be part of a Kodak ad on TV. I submitted Nanci's version of that song to my High School's "Senior Slide Show," and although they didn't like it, my Aunt used that very same version for her daughter's graduation slide show.

I actually saw Nanci in concert at the Kennedy center in 2001, 3 years after discovering her. It was worth the wait!

So go ahead and buy yourself a copy of this album. You will not be sorry. May 12, 2007

folk ambrosia straight from the taproot - drink deep, my friend.

This music is soul balm. Every song here is searingly gorgeous. Each an American classic, simply yet elegantly delivered by one of the lushest female voices in the business. With just a touch of Texas twang.

I own Nanci's greatest hits album, as well. It's good, but I have to say that this album is better, since the songs here are just transcendant. I'm unfamiliar with her other albums, but based on these two, I can assure you I intend eventually to collect everything she's ever done.

I really encourage you to buy this album. If you like folk or country, you absolutely will not regret it. May 17, 2006

An amazing album

Need I say more? I adore this CD - not only do you get Nanci Griffith at her best, you also get guesting with her - Emmylou Harris, the Indigo Girls, Arlo Guthrie, Odetta, John Prine and even Bob Dylan on harmonica on her brilliant version of the Dylan classic BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER! This is her first covers album and the better of the two I think, but only just! ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE, a Kate Wolf song, has some beautiful harmonies in the vocals. TECUMSEH VALLEY is another of the strongest tracks and is both a joy but heart-wrenching as well as you listen to the lyrics. If you read Nanci's book OTHER VOICES - A PERSONAL HISTORY OF FOLK MUSIC then you will appreciate these songs even more and maybe be inspired to check out the original versions. DO RE MI is a fun, uptempo track orignally done by Woody Guthrie. SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS has been much covered and is another live favourite with a repetitive but infectious riff throughout. FROM CLARE TO HERE is a true classic - orginally done by Ralph McTell, which shows there's more than just the Streets of London for this guy - this one has some Celtic sounds thrown in for effect and works well. NIGHT RIDER'S LAMENT is an old cowboy song done well, but watch out for the yodelling! This is fun, however, done by one Don Edwards. The CD closes with WIMOWEH, a familiar tune which was massacred by Tight Fit in 1982 under the guise of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, itself a 1960s pop hit - WIMOWEH in its proper form, a protest song sung by waiters back in Africa in the 1940s so it would seem, is far better! This CD is recommended to anybody with a love for old folk music done by perhaps the finest female vocalist to ever come from Texas! April 29, 2005

One of Nanci's best

I feel that this shines through as an exceptionally well crafted album - Nanci endeavours to highlight that she owes a lot to individuals who have paved the way for folk musicians such as herself. She includes songs by giants like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan(she sings this particular song as it is the one that he requested she perform at his historic Madison Garden 30th anniversary concert), Townes Van Zandt, Tom Paxton and many more. But my favourite song on this album is one by a lesser known, but equally as qualified, singer-songwriter - Kate Wolf: "Across The Great Divide" pulls at the heart strings and is treated with tenderness by Nanci, as Wolf would have wanted.

As a 17 year old Nanci fan with nearly every album of hers, I feel that some reviewers are being slightly unreasonable in their criticism of this one and its sequel. I concede that her voice is not quite as strong as when she started out making records but with age has come depth, as is illustrated in her albums subsequent to this, which I advise you to have a listen to(particularly "Clock Without
Hands").

Listen to this album and I guarantee you you'll want to hear more, and her other albums are superb as well. She has a warmth that will reel you in and capture your interest. Her storytelling equals that of some of the individuals being covered on this record, which is something special. Once you've heard Nanci, their's no going back! April 14, 2005

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