NanciNet Digest 2-2-95
From: gt0179a@prism.gatech.edu
Subject: Re: Nasty habit!
> Hi all
> I must admit that the thought of Nanci smoking certainly does shatter the
> illusion of her doing no wrong.In a perfect world she wouldn't, all she
> would have to do is polish her halo and make music all day. However, this
> aint no perfect world by a long shot.
Yes, I agree I was a bit surprised when I read that Nanci smokes. I would
have never thought she would have such a nasty habit. Anyhow, maybe
that's what gives her voice that "something extra." Kinda like Tom Waites
(to a lesser extent).
Mike
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From: "Howard E Bussey"
Subject: confession & questions
Having been skulking here since day 1, I should probably admit to it. I want
to ask some questions, and I added an introduction at the end.
So my questions
1. Sometimes Nanci has a high, clear, almost bell-like voice (mostly her
introductions on OFSE). Some other singers have the same, or similar, voice
quality. Carla Sciaky is one that comes to mind (Is the "propinquity"
recording known by more than just a few Boulder folks?) Does anyone know the
acoustics that produce that quality of voice? By way of contrast, Joan Baez
sang high, but with a "rich" quality--I suspect a lot of overtones. What
other singers come to mind?
2. I found a Mary Chapin Carpenter tape, Hometown Girl, for sale for a few
dollars recently. Listening to it, I was really struck by the difference
between the cuts on it and the more recent MCC cuts. Having first heard one
of her older works just a month ago, it was hard to believe this was the same
artist who gave us that "sometimes you're a windshield, sometimes you're a
bug" song. So my question--has NG made the same evolution, from simple,
straightforward accompaniment to the more complex & produced sound. Is it
inevitable among musical recorders/performers in general? Does NG switch
back & forth with produced recordings, and sometimes minimal accompaniment in
concerts? (I remember Gordon Lightfoot did--he performed the song with just
a couple of guitars accompanying him at a Red Rocks concert way back. But he
recorded the song and the sound with more complex arrangements and
accompaniment.)
My intro
One Saturday in the small town where I live I answered the doorbell to find a
student from our local school selling tapes & CDs. (You know, one of the
infinite variety of fund raising "systems" that have been devised for
schools.) I scanned the list, didn't see anything I wanted that I knew, so I
picked a tape at random. (Since our community is small, and my wife was on
the school board at the time, I wanted to get the urchin off my porch without
being too much of a grouch.) The tape was One Fair Summer Evening. Honest.
Since then I have bought a few more NG CDs, but not the complete set. My
wife and even my kids like listening to them.
[N.B. My other success in picking at random was Archie Fisher--A Man with a
Song--when a friend was sending an order off to Folk Legacy.]
Howard Bussey. Formerly of Boulder, now of the west coast of New Jersey.
// If I understand what you're talking about with regard to
// vocal quality, some singers with similar qualities would be
// Allison Krauss, Clare Lynch, and Kate Jacobs.
// The topic of accompaniment and production has been discussed
// before, but it's not clear that there's a "trend" in Nanci's
// case -- she went from overblown production on LNGH to rather
// restrained accompaniment on OV/OR. The choice of producer
// is a major factor. But the earlier records as a group did
// have fewer musicians in the stew than the later recordings.
//
// In concert, her current tour is definitely on the LOUD side.
// But she has appeared solo or with one accompanist (e.g.,
// James Hooker) as recently as last year. - MF
_________________________________________________________________
From: Ancient Chinese Secret
Subject: Nanci WWW pages
Howdy! I'm just wondering if anybody else has created
any WWW pages devoted to Nanci? Just visited the one
at http://www.nvg.unit.no/~paul/nanci/nanci1.html which
is pretty nifty. But, seeing as how there are supposed
to be more than 150 folks on this mailing list, I was
suprised to see that there haven't been more people
voting for their favorite Nanci albums and Nanci songs
on the fan statistics page.
For those of you who haven't dropped in lately,
_Last of the True Believers_ is the current #1 fave
whereas "From a Distance" and "Workin' in Corners"
are tied for the fave song (well, the latter is
listed 2nd, but I suspect that's due to alphebetization
'cause they both have the same number of points/votes).
just fyi,
--mark.
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_________________________________________________________________
From: BuckeyeRan@aol.com
Subject: Nanci in Denver
Hi !
It was just announced yesterday (Wed) that Nanci will be in Denver at the
Paramount on March 23, tickets go on sale tommorrow (fri) at Ticketmaster.
No word of any other western dates.
Sarah in Colorado
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From: rbush@vt.edu (Robert J. Bush)
Subject: Re: confession & questions
Howard Bussey wrote (in part): " So my question--has NG made the same
evolution, from simple, straightforward accompaniment to the more complex &
produced sound. Is it inevitable among musical recorders/performers in
general?"
My local station aired the Austin City Limits with NG and Iris DeMent two
nights ago. IMO the best part of the "Nanci" portion was the clip from the
1985 show (Is this show available on tape?). The younger Nanci appeared
straightforward and somehow "purer" (in the musical sense). I preferred it
for this reason. Iris displayed the same qualities and was fantastic.
However, I think that she is earlier in her career. My conclusion (and this
is a leap) is that it is the rare artist that does his or her best work late
in his or her career. To my ear, NG is no exception.
Disclaimer: I still enjoy her music (read: please don't kick me off NanciNet)
// Hey don't worry, no one gets "kicked off" NanciNet! :-)
//
// I agree with your comments about the ACL show. But don't
// judge Nanci's current performing ability by her appearance
// there -- she wasn't at her best. See her in concert if you
// possibly can and then decide if you like her less now. - MF
_________________________________________________________________
From: Doug.Landauer@Eng.Sun.COM (Doug Landauer)
Subject: Re: confession & questions
> 1. Sometimes Nanci has a high, clear, almost bell-like voice (mostly her
> introductions on OFSE).
It is that high, almost girlish tone that (I believe) prevented her
for a long time from becoming as well-known as she deserves. Some
people are really turned off by it. (Not me.)
On later CDs, e.g. Flyer or especially her cut on "Red, Hot & Country",
she sings with a fuller tone.
> Does anyone know the acoustics that produce that quality of voice?
There's a newsgroup "rec.music.a-cappella", which I bet would
have some readers who know the answer to that question.
> By way of contrast,
> Joan Baez sang high, but with a "rich" quality--I suspect a lot of
> overtones. What other singers come to mind?
Joan Baez forced an extremely annoying vibrato into her voice,
and I've always thought it a great shame that she took her strong
and pleasant voice and ruined it (for me) by consciously adding
that vibrato.
By contrast, Maddy Prior (lead singer from Steeleye Span) has the
cleanest, clearest, strongest female singing voice I've ever heard.
Still my favorite.
> ... Mary Chapin Carpenter tape, Hometown Girl, ... hard to believe this
> was the same artist who gave us that "sometimes you're a windshield,
> sometimes you're a bug" song. So my question--has NG made the same
> evolution, from simple, straightforward accompaniment to the more
> complex & produced sound.
... and back again. "Storms" and "Late Night Grand Hotel" are her
"pop" albums, though there are several good songs on LNGH. (I don't
have "Storms" ...)
In OVOR she headed back toward simpler arrangements. Flyer is a bit
more produced, but not as overdone as LNGH.
-- Doug "Power Lines != Phone Lines" L.
_________________________________________________________________
From: Treeford@aol.com
Subject: nanci in little rock
greetings to all. after having been away for two weeks, i've finally sifted
through all the messages from the nanci net. sounds like y'all had some good
talk during my hiatus.
to anyone in or near little rock, nanci will be here feb. 28 at robinson
center. tickets go on sale tomorrow (friday, 2/3) at 10 a.m. yeeee
haaaaawwwww!!!!!!!! i didn't think this would come to pass. i'll be seeing
the feb. 18 show in nashville (bought the tickets for that one just in case
she didn't play here), and then she'll be gracing our fair city a mere 10
days later. sorry. i'm not gloating. i'm just ecstatic.
take care, y'all.
treeford
_________________________________________________________________
From: sschwarz@skidmore.EDU (stephen schwarz)
Subject: Re: Nasty habit!
gt0179a@prism.gatech.edu writes:
> Yes, I agree I was a bit surprised when I read that Nanci smokes. I would
> have never thought she would have such a nasty habit. Anyhow, maybe
> that's what gives her voice that "something extra." [...]
Howdy all. This thread reminded me of two smoking stories that I've
heard about Nanci...
1) I have heard a rumor that Ms. Griffith was suspended from high
school for smoking. She was suspended with Mary Margaret (obviously,
of "Light Beyond These Woods" fame). Mary Margaret's father called the
school authorities, and she was immediately allowed back into classes,
but Griffith was not. At the extreme, I was told that Nanci was
expelled from high school, and never received a high school diploma
for this incident (though she did graduate from college). I would
assume that this extreme is a myth, but the suspensions seems
plausible at least.
2) Ms. Griffith was.. well, I tell you what: I'll reprint the entire
"transcript" that I was given. "Princess Margaret came to America for
a private concert of her favorite artists, and she chose me and
Emmylou Harris and Chet Atkins and Jimmy Buffett. And after the
concert she had a private meeting with the performers, and we were all
so nervous, y'know; and Emmylou and I indulge in these sweet little
cigarettes now and then that we get from Ireland called Sweet Afton's
(y'know Robert Burns' poem "Flow Gently Sweet Afton") andP Anyways,
um, Emmy said, "Nanci, do you thinkP" (Princess Margaret chain smokes
and is known for thatP her cigarettes and her scotch, y'know). So in
this private audience that we had with Princess Margaret, Emmy said,
"Nanci, do you think I should go and offer her a Sweet Afton?" And I
said, "Emmy, I don't think it's a good idea but I'll go with you if
you really think you have to do this." Here go Ethel & Lucy over to
uhP over to Princess Margaret. And Emmy said, "Ma'mn, would you like
a Sweet Afton from Ireland? It's the sweetest cigarette in the world
and it's soP it's so much better for you than cigarettes with
chemicals." And Princess Margaret said, "Noo thank you... I have my
ooown brand." And we were trot back over to the corner... Jimmy
Buffett said it was the most historical moment in American history.
Yikes! You can't let Ethel & Lucy out anywhere. They belong strictly
in a television screenP not in real life. And never let them alone in
the room with Princess Margaret." (Oops. I see a conversion problem.
The out of place "P"'s are actually "--"'s.)
Umm.. can anyone verify any of these Nanci trivia tidbits? Wowsers!
How rude of me! I failed to privide a formal introduction. Hi. I'm
Step. I'm a student of sociology and economics at Skidmore College,
and hmm.. um.. lalalalalalalaaa.. oh, yeah, now I remember, I'm a
Nanci G fan. My father, for no apparent reason, purchased "Little Love
Affairs" in a local Strawberries. I had never been exposed to "that
kind of music" before, so I took all of my Public Enemy and Paula
Abdul CD's to a yard sale, sold the lot, went back to Strawberries,
bought a Bill Morrissey album (for no apparent reason).. and the rest,
my friends, makes even less sense. Take care, all..
Cool beans, --Step.
Step Schwarz '97 now i'm in this clothing store and the sign says
Skidmore College less is more / more that's tight means more to
Saratoga Spr NY 12866 see, more for them not more for me / that
sschwarz@skidmore.edu can't help me climb a tree in 10 sec flat -dw
_________________________________________________________________
From: "MICHAEL H. ROSS" (mhross@delphi.com>
Subject: Re: Nasty habit!
Greetings!
Well, I guess *someone* has to stand up here. Nanci's smoking
just makes her that much more appealing to me, particularly
since she smokes cigars as well as cigarettes (at least,
according to Uptown's tobacco shop in Nashville). A fine cigar
is one of life's great pleasures and it is good to know that
Nanci also enjoys the great things is life.
A True Believer,
Michael H. Ross
_________________________________________________________________
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