Nanci Griffith Album: “One Fair Summer Evening”

I was first exposed to Nanci Griffith when I stumbled upon her music videos on CMT many years ago. This prompted me to buy a cassette of 'One Fair Summer Evening', and I liked it, but lost interest. Years later I stumbled on it again, and the fire was rekindled. Now I have almost all her works on CD, including several imports and a pirate CD or two.

This album is delicious in its mix of songs, made all the more delectable because it is a live album. What's interesting is how much Nanci's stage presence had developed by that time, and how much more it has done so since. Here she still has that timid little-girl voice during the conversations between songs. This has gone away in the proceeding years as she has matured.

Nanci has a huge following in the genre, most probably because of the depth of feeling in her songs, and the warmth that comes through.

This album would rate third or fourth on my list of her albums, preceded by 'Sound Of Loneliness' (a live-concert import from England) and Blue Roses From the Moons. However, I agree with a previous reviewer that I would be hard pressed to choose between them if I could only choose one.

I, too, have several copies of the album, managing over the years to acquire it on LP, CD, and cassette, as well as the video of the concert.

I must disagree with several of the other reviewers in comparing this album to 'Other Voices, Other Rooms'. While OVOR is an important work, and does contain excellent performances, 'One Fair Summer Evening' as a whole is a better reflection of what Nanci is about; where she comes from and where she is going. OVOR is not in my Top Five, and definitely would not be on my list for a desert island. '

This recording by Ms. Griffith exemplifies the axiom that "less is more," and if I were told that I could only listen to five CD's for the rest of my life, this one would be included. While I've enjoyed her studio recordings, this CD stands alone as a window into the heart and soul of this remarkable artist.

_One Fair Summer Evening_ is the finest live CD I've ever heard. It's about the finest CD of any type I've ever heard, for that matter, except for possibly another Nanci CD like _Other Voices, Other Rooms_. Nanci has brought me back to my roots (my people hail from the head of a holler near Hazard, KY), something I was taught by mainstream society to be ashamed of. This CD opens up your heart and gets you singing. I finally found someone I can sing to in my *native tongue*, as Nanci puts it. This woman is a major talent and I'm shocked that it took me so long to find her. This CD is a good one to start with if you're just getting to know Nanci Griffith. Included are spoken introductions by her to the songs, and most of what she says is a hoot. She's just a plain ol' country gal with an intelligence of the heart that you rarely see. The music on this CD has gotten me through some rough times. What are you waiting for? So many people have taken the time to write reviews about this CD, so that tells you something. Nanci is a Goddess. Even if you collect all her other CDs with these songs, you won't beat this live version.

God this is a great album. Nanci Griffith is a national treasure.

Emerging on the wobbly legs of a foal in the late 70s, with anonymous production from people who didn't understand how to package her mousy persona, what MCA sold us was a cutesy, virginal, perky gal. This is not where Nanci's presence is now. If I play one of the early MCA CDs for someone, I know the first question will be "Are you sure this is the right speed?" because she has a high, nasal delivery. Griffith hung in there and has become a deeply affecting & personal singer-songwriter. Without changing terribly much about her voice, and singing the same songs at her live shows, and on this cd, Griffith has transformed both herself and the material. A tribute to taking your licks and developing your delivery/voice at live shows.

Usually live versions of studio songs suffer by comparison. Not here! Stripped of the earlier folky instrumentation and resung as a wiser, older woman, some of these songs become astonishing. In other hands, her standard topics (spinsters, wallflowers, living alone) would be ruminating or miserable, but Nanci's talent is to make anyone love these songs; witness Pearl Jam fan below, and I'm a young urban guy.

She pulls emotional devastation out of the one-two punch of "Working in Corners" and "More than a Whisper" in newly austere, stripped down versions. Both of them embody a "hanging in there despite my pain & regret" mood. I have a hard time getting to the other songs, which are almost all great, in deference to these two; over and over.

My favorite cds complement her voice with minimal, calm orchestrations. When a producer steers her back to over production, I've not enjoyed them as much. I allow myself to forget this CD (and Flyer) every now and then, so that I can rediscover them again. The impact of a fresh listen has never diminished. Both provide a rich pick me up.

Nanci Griffith is profound without being pompous. After a listen you want to write her a thank you note.

(Note: This review focuses on her emotional depth, but she's also darned funny & charming on this cd.)

This CD will leave you "Spinning on a Red Brick Floor" (the final track, and my personal favorite on the album). There is a nice mix of styles and speeds...covering a wide range of emotions. The live performance of favorites is simple and heartfelt. The introductions to each song make me feel like we're having a conversation as Nanci entertains a small group of friends. Nanci's voice is unique...and may need to "grow on" unfamiliar listeners. But this is the album to buy whether you're trying her for the first time or find her to be a familiar friend.