Nanci Griffith Album: “Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful)”

Sweet Nanci has done it again! This follow-up to the excellent OTHER VOICES OTHER ROOMS also boasts an impressive line-up of guest performers and Nanci's fantastic vocals and guitar talent to boot. This was one of the first Nanci Griffith albums I heard and was taken aback with CANADIAN WHISKEY thinking 'where did this guy come from and what's THIS?' but this one's a grower, a classic folk song about a woman wronged by a man she thought loved her and became a recluse(drining the aforemnentioned booze, now I wonder why I like drinking the stuff now . . .). WALL OF DEATH(and other tracks) features Richard Thompson guesting, YOU WERE ON MY MIND is a 1960s pop cover which Nanci belts out with some gusto - loved the vocal delivery at the start! WALK RIGHT BACK, written by and featuring Crickets stalwart Sonny Curtis we all know from The Everly Brothers' hit single version, this I have to say is equally as great. Listen out for some fantastic vocal harmonies on WINGS OF A DOVE by Lucinda Williams, Nanci and Lee Satterfield. DESPERADOES has some funny Southern hillbilly vocals and is a bit cheesy, but entertaining nonetheless. The real tearjerkers for me on here WHO KNOWS WHERE THE TIME GOES(for Sandy Denny) and HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE, this is enhanced by Celtic influences, both moving and uplifting. Other highlights - WASN'T THAT A MIGHTY STORM - loved the screaming vocals and the telling of the story in the song of the Galveston hurricane and floods in 1900 - you also get CAROLYN HESTER and EMMYLOU HARRIS guesting on here too(yesss!), and the wonderful and touching YARRINGTON TOWN along with the Hester and Harris daughters; DEPORTEE with the bit in Spanish and its harmonies, not to mention Odetta guesting; STREETS OF BALTIMORE with the entertaining John Prine on additional vocals and the(apparently) legendary HArlan Howard's VERY cheesy spoken word interlude and IF I HAD A HAMMER, an old standard done brilliantly which will have everyone singing along before you know it! Overall, this is a CD which can be enjoyed by all ages and many thanks to Nanci and her buddies for keeping these great and entertaining songs alive for future generations to appreciate!

This recording, and its fine prequel, Other Rooms, Other Voices, has resorted my faith in folk music and sent me in search of other music by writers of these great songs.

I find incredible, the criticism of this recording. So Nanci affects some voices in spots and maybe it wasn't quite what we expected. That doesn't detract from the many, many wonderful songs she's given us. In support, she doesn't offer a bunch of golden-throated, Nashville slicks; instead, they're a who's who of folk singer/songwriters trying to capture the feeling of the songs without doing multiple takes; it sounds very live--even a little rough--as we might expect from folk music. They've clearly succeeded in their delivery.

I'm delighted by several songs I'd not heard before: Ian Tyson's "Summer Wages" and the Rush/Von Schmidt tune "Wasn't That a Mighty Storm"--as well as songs I've heard, don't know where, whose existence I'm glad to remember: "Walk Right Back" (has a love left you?--listen to this), and "I still miss someone" (a heartbreaker if any)--and old favorites well delivered in "Deportee" and "If I had a Hammer." Nanci, of course, recruited nothing but the best musicians (and songwriters) to back these up as evidenced by the fine dual guitar of Clive Gregson and Doug Lancio on "Wall of Death," the turn-of-the-century sounding slide on "Storm," the soulful singing of Tom Russell on "Summer Wages" and the ethereal backing vocals on "Yarrington Town."

I've had this recording for a couple years now and haven't yet tired yet of these fine songs and their fine delivery. Thank you, Nanci Griffith for putting together all these wonderful songs for us to enjoy.

I loved "Other Voices I." But, while that album had a natural, settin'-round-the-campfire feel, "Voices II" sounds forced -- as if Nanci's trying to cram too many singers and songs into one CD. For example, "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train" almost sounds like a Highwaymen song, with no less than six singers trading leads, sometimes in the middle of sentences, never harmonizing, never connecting. I admire the range of material and singers represented -- an "A" for effort. But, as far as pure listening enjoyment, well, I have to rank this significantly lower than that.....

Perhaps my review is a bit prejudiced in that I have been a fan of Nancy's for years and feel that her music gets better and better. "Other Voices, Too" is a wonderful blend of down home country and stirring folk ballads; second volume of the very successful release entitled "Other Voices,Other Rooms" released in 1992. "Other Rooms, Too" carries on the tradition of heartfelt storytelling in music as only Nancy can do it. "Try The Love" by Pat McLaughlin is a favorite. McLaughlin and Ms Griffith sing togather on this wonderful call back to the love that was "once hidden." One of my personal favorites, "If I Had A Hammer" written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes inspires the listener to consider, once again, the legacy of fighting for justice that became the political voice of the volatile 60's social movements. Nancy, joined by Odetta, Gillian Welch and many others makes the listener want to once again take to th! e streets in protest of injustice. Not since Peter, Paul and Mary's rendition of the song has there been a better and more moving commentary. James Hookers piano and Ron De La Vega's Bass have established the Blue Moon Orchestera (Nancy's Band) as a serious and artful band, able to blend the new and the old in a way that is exciting, making the listener anticipate the next release.

The first few times I listened to "Other Voices Too" I must admit I was a bit disappointed. In comparison to the extraordinary "Other Voices, Other Rooms" this sequel, of sorts, seemed to pale. The songs were not as instantly appealing as on the first, and the arraignments seemed more labored and contrived.

But with each listens I found my resistance being chipped away. Sure, there are a few tracks here that probably worked better on paper then they did in reality, and overall this does fall a bit short of "Other Voices, Other Rooms." But Nanci's enthusiasm is quite contagious and I am amazed that anyone willing to give this more than a casual listen could be able to write it off. So give it a chance. You'll be glad you did!