From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith [Original recording remastered]

Nanci Griffith | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B000068TO0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,431 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Well, the title is misleading, as this collection showcases only her MCA era; a more accurate designation would be From a Distance: The Best Stuff Nanci Griffith Did After She Left Philo and Before She Went to Elektra, but maybe that's not catchy enough. What is compelling is the music itself. During the period of 1987 to 1991, Griffith wrote some of her best material. She also discovered Julie Gold's classic title song, but found herself floundering commercially in her transition from folkabilly queen to arch chanteuse. Griffith's Philo records are still the most memorable--loose and full of Texas ranginess and sawdust memories. But this compilation is surprisingly satisfying, as it ends just before she began to take herself too seriously. You can hear a tinkling banjo driving "Lone Star State of Mind" and a pedal steel guitar as hillbilly as the Grand Ole Opry on "Ford Econoline." Her little-girl voice modulates to fetching reediness when necessary and even dips into deep Texas in the spoken intros to several live performances. But what stands out is the overall quality of the writing, which turns stunning on the wistful "Gulf Coast Highway" and on "Trouble in the Fields." If the reason for Griffith's status as a cult artist has eluded you, this anthology should go a long way toward clearing up the mystery. --Alanna Nash

Product Description

Features 22 tracks from her 5 MCA albums. 96k/24-bit mastered from the original master tapes. Includes the signature tunes as well as live versions of her key Philo hits. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a Treasure, July 1, 2002

By 

PatrickO "Patrick" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith (Audio CD)

I was turned on to Nancy Griffith back in 1988 by a young country western singer attending Manhattan's American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Music. Knowing my interest in music, he convinced me buy "One Fair Summer Evening," which immediately became a seminal part of my music collection.

Now, on one CD you get some of the best songs from that album as well as many other favorites - all beautifully remastered. I compare this lady's musical progression (bear with me here) to Woody Allen's growth as a filmmaker. She is never satisfied to stick with what made her popular. She's always expanding her music to reflect her own personal interests and causes. Sometimes that has led to less than perfect albums. But you have to admire someone who wants to grow as a person and as an artist.

I finally had the privilege of seeing her in concert last December here in NYC (rescheduled from 9/14/01, for obvious reasons). And I repaid a longstanding debt to the guy who connected me with her music so many years ago - I took a lady to the concert who had never heard Nanci's music. In one evening she became a devoted fan.

Do yourself a favor and buy this CD. I'd have to highly recommend "One Fair Summer Evening" also. It includes the song "Red Brick Floor," which is just beautiful. My view is that Ms. Grifffith should be a lot more famous than she is. Her voice and talent are huge. But I have the impression that isn't as important to her as making little pieces of art with her Blue Moon Band.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Is This Necessary?, June 27, 2002

By 

IVE (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith (Audio CD)

As a fan of Nanci Griffith for many years, I was delighted at the prospect of a new "Best of" CD. That is, until I saw that 15 of the 22 cuts on "From a Distance" were previously released together on an earlier compilation, "The MCA Years: A Retrospective," issued in 1993 and still readily available. Which begs the question: Why is this CD necessary? If the material itself is glorious, the marketing motivation for re-re-releasing it is much less so. I would encourage potential buyers of this to instead purchase the earlier compilation, which also includes the great songs "Deadwood South Dakota," "So Long Ago" and "Listen to the Radio," and also buy the live CD "One Fair Summer Evening." Then one would have truly the finest of Nanci Griffith's music from those MCA years.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collection!, July 23, 2003

By 

Chris Barnes "DollyOn-Line" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith (Audio CD)

This CD is fantastic for fans looking for a good Nanci compilation. You get all her greatest songs, including my favorite track, which is a live version of her masterpiece "Love At The Five & Dime." In addition to this live gem, you get all of Nanci's classics, such as "Outbound Plane" and "Gulf Coast Highway," and you can hear how the Bette Midler standard "From A Distance" is supposed to sound!