Disco de Nanci Griffith: “MCA Years: A Retrospective”

Nanci Griffith is an undiscovered country/folk gem. Her voice is as sweet as a honeydew, and she makes you think, even as she's lulling you with a silky melody. MCA Years covers a lot of ground, 18 excellent songs that span most of her career. She sings mostly of the joys and heartaches of the Texas farmland, and of loves remembered, found and lost. But there is never any bitterness, or rancor. You can almost see her half-cocked smile, even as she's making us reach for a hanky or two. "Trouble in the Fields," and "It's a hard life wherever you go" are standouts. "Late Nite Grand Hotel" is eerily familiar without feeling like a rehash, and "Just Another Morning Here" is spiced with pinches of salt and irony. This is a must have for anyone who likes their country a little different, or is a Nanci completist.

After listening to Nanci's wonderful album "Other Voices,Other Rooms" which I reviewed on January 24,2011 ,and her book which I reviewed on January 30,2011;it was very interesting listening to this collection of her songs.While "Other Voices,Other Rooms " is almost totally Nanci and others singing songs that she did not write.As a comparison that collection shows her great versitility with other's songs and really shows what a marvelous singer she is.

This album."The MCA Years-A Retrospective" is 18 songs ,all written by Nanci,except two,"From A Distance" by Julie Gold,and "Deadwood" by Eric Taylor.

So, what you get here, is Nanci singing the songs she wrote,and what is personally important to her.This album was published in 1993 and consists of her music from 1987-1993.Since Nanci was born in 1953 ,these songs are from the period when she was between 34 and 40;in other words her earlier days.Nanci's career started in 1978 when she was 25 ,continuing with a string if songs and albums to the present.Nanci is now a mature Folk Singer at 57.

As with most Folk Singers;their music reflects the times in which they lived,and the concerns they had at the time.Things like wars,human rights such as mixed marriages,gay issues,illegal immigrants,politics,the enviroment ,etc are all concerns that are reflected in their music.

Not everyone,Folksingers,nor their fans,all agree on all issues.This is obvious in the Amazon reviews you will read here on her many albums. The good thing about Folk Music is that one can still enjoy all the music and performers;even though you might not aslways agree on all the positions and ideas.Wouldn't it be a dull world if we all agreed ?

I often wondered if Rodney King was a fan of Folk Music;somehow I doubt it;but he certainly had the spirit when he made that memorable comment;

"Can't we all, just get along."

I've never looked at the world as being Liberal or Conservative;Left or Right;that's for the politicans.What's important to the people is,what's Right and what's Wrong and what' Just and what's Unjust; and in the end what's Good and what's Bad.

That's what the these Folksingers like Nanci are trying to tell us. That's why my favorite photo of Nanci is the one where she's wearing two campain buttons;one saying "LBJ for the U.S.A." and the other saying "Nixon-Agnew".