The Dust Bowl Symphony

Amazon.com
Important artists have grand ambitions, but the best of them recognize the importance of not letting their majestic aspirations get the better of them. A couple of decades into an illustrious career that's seen her successfully stray from her folk roots into country and pop, Nanci Griffith tries to scale symphonic heights with The Dust Bowl Symphony, only to take an awkward tumble. The Dust Bowl Symphony finds the Lone Star soprano renovating some of her most popular tunes with backing by her regular unit, the Blue Moon Orchestra, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra. But extravagant arrangements smother these songs; it's hard not to listen to the likes of "It's a Hard Life (Wherever You Go)" and "Late Night Grande Hotel" and not long to hear the life-sized originals. --Steven Stolder

Tracks:

Trouble In The Fields
The Wing And The Wheel
These Days In An Open Book
Love At The Five And Dime
It's A Hard Life (Wherever You Go)
Late Night Grande Hotel
Tell Me How
Not My Way Home
1937 Pre-War Kimball
Waiting For You
Nobody's Angel
Always Will
Drops From The Faucet
Dust Bowl Reprise

Amazon.com

Important artists have grand ambitions, but the best of them recognize the importance of not letting their majestic aspirations get the better of them. A couple of decades into an illustrious career that's seen her successfully stray from her folk roots into country and pop, Nanci Griffith tries to scale symphonic heights with The Dust Bowl Symphony, only to take an awkward tumble. The Dust Bowl Symphony finds the Lone Star soprano renovating some of her most popular tunes with backing by her regular unit, the Blue Moon Orchestra, as well as the London Symphony Orchestra. But extravagant arrangements smother these songs; it's hard not to listen to the likes of "It's a Hard Life (Wherever You Go)" and "Late Night Grande Hotel" and not long to hear the life-sized originals. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Nanci album (of many).......2007-02-16

The Dust Bowl Symphony was my first introduction to Nanci's music and I was transported. Not just with her voice, the amazing lyrics and unique phrasings, but with the lushness of the orchestrations and the haunting Celtic mood in some of the selections. Then I bought The MCA Years - A Retrospective, which contains her folksy, acoustic version of Trouble in the Fields as well as seventeen of her other classics in their original recordings. I loved it too and play it often (especially Deadwood, South Dakota -- Nanci's history lesson). Later I bought her tribute CDs, Other Voices and Other Voices, Other Rooms and still later, the Vietnam War-tinged Clock Without Hands.

But when I want to recapture the mood I first encountered in listening to the music of Nanci Griffiths, I turn down the lights and curl up with The Dust Bowl Symphony. Magical! And one of my all-time favorite CDs.

This will just blow you away!.......2005-07-17

Nanci Griffith surpasses herself with some spectacular arrangements of old material such as ALWAYS WILL, TROUBLE IN THE FIELDS(from Lone Star State of Mind, but this version's much better with one of the best album intros you will ever hear),THESE DAYS IN AN OPEN BOOK(from the Flyer album) done as an orchestral ballad; LOVE AT THE FIVE AND DIME, with Darius Rucker guesting on vocals and also ITS A HARD LIFE WHEREVER YOU GO from her earlier STORMS album, here done much better and the lyrics are just as relevant today as they were when she first recorded it. Especially the line about poisoning the children with hatred - in the wake of the London bombings and the investigations that are following, somehow this strikes a chord big time. Nanci displays her vocal talents with finesse at all times on this CD. As well as the full orchestral accompaniment which gives her songs new depth and meaning, you also get BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN guesting on vocals on 1937 PRE WAR KIMBALL, a song written about a piano donated to a children's music school. To hear Nanci and Beth sing together was awesome, they are two of my absolute favourites. The best track has to be DROPS FROM THE FAUCET, a Peggy Lee style number you can imagine your partner slow dancing with you to - written by Frank Christian - which will just raise your temperature - WOW! Positively HOT. Like BEAUTIFUL on Hearts In Mind, this is just different from a lot of her other songs, just surprisingly out of character and a hell of a surprise. Check out James Hooker's piano playing on this too, he's just one hell of a musician. The final instrumental piece, the Dust Bowl Reprise, would not sound out of place in a movie or as the intro to a Mickey Mouse parade at Eurodisney!!! It's just great, though! I could go on more, but this CD is one no Nanci fan should be without. Uplifting, awesome, moving, powerful and simply one which sounds great in surround sound as though you were in the concert hall!

Ignore the Critics.......2003-08-31

I could have downloaded these songs off the internet but bought the album instead to show my support. Critics Steven Stolder and Stephen Erlewine (allmusic.com)haven't a clue. I agree with the other true listeners and fans who rated this album. Having the full orchestra has added a depth and rishness that enhances what are already a beautiful voice singing wonderful songs.

A timeless collection of songs........2002-04-23

This is the first album of Nancy Griffith songs I have owned and it is a gem. I just don't tire of listening to the songs. The Wing and a Wheel is pure poetry and the part where she describes the places she has been is nothing short of songwriting genius. The Dustbowl Symphony is heart-rending and the bluesy, Drops from a Faucet, although not written by Nancy is sung in fine style. Love at the Five and Dime with Darius Ruckert is alone worth the price of the album. In my view this is a must-own album for Nancy Griffith fans or for anybody who likes folksy blues.

A great arrangement and delievery.......2001-10-29

Nanci Griffith music is heaven to my ears. She has one of the purist voices I have heard and her ability to create and deliver a song is excellent. I first heard her sing on an album with the Chieftains. I love the music of Ireland and even though her rendering was not of a pure Irish song, it is easy to see you could produce an Irish album that would be wonderful. I also appreciate country, folk, pop and for that matter and good expressive music. All music is inter-related. Having become a Nanci Griffith fan since then I have believed she should do more music in a popular style. This album is one in that direction. I hope she keeps it up and does more albums with classical arrangements and background.

Music Album:

Music Album