Artist:Nanci Griffith w/John Prine
Song:Speed of the Sound of Loneliness
Album:Other Voices, Other Rooms
Nanci Griffith was a country singer who had great success as a songwriter. So it's ironic that this 1993 album of covers was her most successful. It won a Grammy and she recorded a 1998 sequel. She was born July 6, 1953 in Seguin, TX but she grew up in Austin. Her father was a graphic artist and barbershop quartet singer. Nanci started singing in local coffeehouses at age 12. Her father introduced her to folksinger Carolyn Hester and took her to see Townes Van Zandt. He was her biggest influence. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in education, Nanci took a job as a kindergarten teacher. She continued singing in clubs. After winning the 1978 New Folk Competition, she signed with the folk label Philo. Though her early albums were critically acclaimed, it was not until Kathy Mattea scored a major hit with Nanci's song Love at the Five and Dime got Nashville's attention and she signed with MCA. She recorded four albums for MCA. She was still critically acclaimed but she never had that big hit. So in 1993 Nanci moved to Elektra where there would be less pressure for commercial success. Other Voices, Other Rooms was her first Elektra album. It's an album of covers. Nanci's recording of John Prine's Speed of the Sound of Loneliness was the first single. Though Prine appears in the video, it's not a duet. Prine sings a harmony vocal. Special guests include Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Carolyn Hester, Guy Clark and Iris DeMent. Bob Dylan plays harmonica on Nanci's cover of Boots of Spanish Leather. And Chet Atkins plays guitar on a couple of songs. The album won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. This album is available as a budget CD. The 1998 album Other Voices, Too was a sequel. Nanci left Elektra in 2001 after six albums. She didn't record much after that as she suffered from writer's block for several years. She also suffered from a disease which made it difficult for her to play guitar. After touring to support the 2012 album Intersection, Nanci retired from music. She died on Aug. 13, 2021 at age 68. Here's the video of Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by Nanci Griffith with John Prine.
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