Deep Dive: Nanci Griffith, FLYER

Today we celebrate the birthday of self-described “folkabilly” singer Nanci Griffith, and we do so by diving deep into her catalog and saying a few words about one of her albums that might have flown under your radar: FLYER, which was released in 1994.

Griffith released her debut album, THERE’S A LIGHT BEYOND THESE WOODS, way back in 1978, after which she released a trio of indie albums (POET IN MY WINDOW, ONCE IN A VERY BLUE MOON, and THE LAST OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS) before signing a major-label deal with MCA. She stayed with the label through the release of 1991’s LATE NIGHT GRANDE HOTEL, but when she issued her next album, 1993’s OTHER VOICES, OTHER ROOMS, she did so on Elektra, the label which remained her home for the better part of the next decade.

The reason FLYER might have flown under your radar is because it was her second album for Elektra, and you know how it goes with sophomore releases. In this instance, though, it’s an album that absolutely shouldn’t be missed, as it’s chock full of guest appearances by folks whose names should leap out at you. For instance, it’s co-produced by Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Peter Collins, who’s worked with everyone from Air Supply to Suicidal Tendencies. The list of players, however, is downright staggering, including – but not limited to – Al Anderson (NRBQ), Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. (U2), Sonny Curtis (The Crickets), Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Tony Levin (King Crimson), Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann (BoDeans), Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls), and John Painter (Fleming and John). Here’s the video for the single, “This Heart”:

Now that you’ve watched that, we’d highly recommend that you listen to the entire album, and if you don’t already own it, it’s well worth adding to your collection.