The Last of the True Believers

Nanci Griffith

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philo / Umgd
• ASIN: B0000003S0
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  DVD Audio  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #54,349 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Folk > Singer Songwriters

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
The album cover shows Nanci Griffith standing outside a Woolworth's, holding a book of poetry--a recurring motif in her album art--while lovers dance behind her. That combination of the most quotidian, small-town details and the most committed but rarely pretentious poetic ambition is the key to Griffith's art. Her fourth and final album for Philo, a quiet masterpiece of the Texas singer-songwriter's style, weaves together a spunky, newgrass sound (courtesy of Bela Fleck and Mark O'Connor) and songs of leaving home and leaving lovers. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You've got to have this one, May 20, 2001

By	mike holtzclaw (Newport News, Va., Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

Nanci Griffith has made so much fine music that it's hard to pinpoint her best album -- but this one's got to be near the top of the list. Every song is a beautiful little story, with Nanci's unmistakable voice bringing passion and sincerity to each tune. If you're a Nanci fan and you don't have this one, shame on you. And if you're looking for an introduction to this wonderful artist, start with this one and the two "Other Voices" discs and go from there. A real gem.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nanci's best ever assembly of songs, October 2, 1999

By A Customer

I have been a Nanci fan for almost 15 years and this is my all time favorite CD. Here Nanci sings some of her best written songs ever as well as a few by selected artists such as Eric Taylor and Bill Stains. The Blue Moon Orchestra was better back then befor they became "synthesized". Just good pure folk-a-billy music coming from one of the most honest singer/songwriters of our time. A must for your collection!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bet you can't not love this album, January 24, 2001

By	Rob "nickwastakenalready" (Palm Bch, FL by way of Leucadia, CA) - See all my reviews

On what seems to be widely regarded as the-must-have Nanci Griffith album, this eminently loveable lady from Texas does just about everything she can to steal her way into your heart, your soul, your world, not to mention your cd collection. Using her trademark voice and brute honesty, she achieves her goal in every respect. Try as you might you'll find no misses, duds, or weak tracks on this album. Instead you'll hear delightful songs, one after the next, each recorded in a manner which suggests thoughts of sincerity, humility, even decency. Last of the True Believers should be listened to especially by any who swear they do NOT listen to country music. Those who try may soon realize that the genre is not the sonic wasteland they had once thought, rather one which can bring great joy into one's life of listening. (Okay, so you have to be reaally selective.) While enjoyable at any time or day of the week, like any great record, it might be best suited to lazy Sunday afternoons or quiet evenings at home. Just put it in, push play, and get comfortable. Don't waste any effort making sure that the remote is in an easily reachable place, in case you feel the need to skip over a dull track now and again. You won't, I promise. And the songs are indeed country, but they're each just great songs in themselves, regardless of the style they're played in. See what I mean on tracks like "The Wing and the Wheel" and "Love at the Five and Dime", as well as the very poetic "Goin' Gone". And don't be surprised to find yourself singing along with tunes like "St. Olav's Gate" with it's rousing, uplifting chorus. Nanci presents herself very well on this album, writing freely and openly about her life and her loves in a way which we come to admire and respect. Listening to her other work shows us that she truly is that open, that giving of herself to anyone who may want to share in her stories. Oh, and she plays a hell of a guitar and writes some seriously good tunes, too, just in case you don't care about all the rest. But my guess is, you will.