The Texas-born singer-songwriter was popularizing Julie Gold's "From A Distance" long before Bette Midler recorded it. Whether interpreting a song by another writer or performing her own songs, she's a true original or, as one of her albums was entitled, The Last Of The True Believers.
MCA was Griffith's label after Kathy Mattea hit big with Griffith's "Love At The Five And Dime." She had already recorded four albums by then (There's A Light Beyond These Woods, Poet In My Window, Once In A Very Blue Moon and The Last Of The True Believers) so she was already a developed artist. She would record four studio albums for the label (Lone Star State Of Mind, Little Love Affairs, Storms and Late Night Grande Hotel) and one live one (One Fair Summer Evening). Her MCA years are represented in two collections: From A Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith and The Complete MCA Studio Recordings.
We recommend the latter.
Jim made the mistake of buying From A Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith. Now if that's all that's available to you, you're not going to regret it. It's a strong introduction to her work, twenty-two tracks. Jim just knew the new album (The Loving Kind), loved it and thought he should explore more by Griffith. He saw both albums at our local Borders and Complete cost a few dollars more. So he went with the cheaper version. When he listened, he couldn't stop raving and that's when Ty pointed out two things: 1) He could have grabbed a copy in the music room if he was just attempting to explore and 2) He could have gotten The Complete MCA Studio Recordings online, $14.97. (We're referring to the download; however, currently it is also onsale in CD format for that price at Amazon. We have no idea how long the sale will last.)
While From A Distance has 22 tracks, The Complete MCA Studio Recordings is a 46 track compilation. A lot of overlooked tracks don't make From A Distance. And anyone who's ever heard Nanci Griffith's "You've Made This Love A Tear Drop" (written by Griffith ) will wonder how you do a "very best" of Nanci without including that song?
What have you got to say for yourself now, baby?
Now that I am leaving you what have you got to lose?
The truth you tried to keep from me,
Well it nearly drove me crazy.
I have grown weary
From sleepless nights with you.
Is that a broken heart in the corner of your eye?
Something to remind you?
You made this love a teardrop waiting to fall
There are those who can't love right,
I just can't love wrong.
When you're lonely in the night,
I hope you will recall.
You made this love a teardrop waiting to fall.
That's from her album Storms which contains many classics including "I Don't Want To Talk About Love," "Drive-In Movies and Dashboard Lights," "Brave Companion Of The Road," "Listen To The Radio" and . . . Well the only way you could get them all was to buy The Complete MCA Recordings or the Storms album itself.
So what you're getting, for less than fifteen dollars, is all four of Nanci Griffith's MCA albums. Tracks that you know and love -- or quickly will -- like "It's Just Another Morning Here," "Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool" (the track the Everly Brothers should have recorded) and "Hometown Streets" (the track the Eagles should have recorded).
Mainly you'll have an overview of a strong artist and 46 tracks you can't stop listening to. A bargain at any price but especially at $14.97.