Late Night Grande Hotel

by Nanci Griffith

Overview

Featuring some of Nanci Griffith's best and most original material -- as well as a few equally brilliant cover songs -- Late Night Grande Hotel blurs the lines between the singer/songwriter's Texas-rooted folk and the Nashville urban cosmopolitan country scene. Griffith has once again expanded her arrangements to include the five-piece Blue Moon Orchestra and also a few well-placed guest spots from Phil Everly (vocals), Mo Foster (electric bass), Tanita Tikaram (vocals), and Rod Argent (string arrangements/producer). The album's darker pop-oriented material can arguably be attributed to Argent's involvement. Of the 11 tracks, all but three are Griffith originals. Among them are some of the album's best material. As she had done with her crossover hit "From a Distance," Griffith beautifully interprets another Julie Gold composition, "Heaven." The cover of Vince Bell's introspective masterpiece "Sun & Moon & Stars" is not only one of this album's finest tracks, but it is also among the highlights of all the material during her five-year tenure with MCA. The remarkable intimacy she brings to the piece recalls her days on Philo and songs such as "Love at the Five and Dime" and "There's a Light Beyond These Woods." The third cover is of Tom Waits' somber "San Diego Serenade." While Griffith's vocals don't contain the huskiness and tragedy of the author, they add an even more distressing facet to the lyrics -- perhaps coming from a deeper place within the artist. There are a few all-stars among Griffith's compositions as well. "One Blade Shy of a Sharp Edge" continues the overtly political messages that she often credits to the enormous influence that Lyndon B. Johnson and Pete Seeger have had on her life and work. "It's Just Another Morning Here" is full of the wit and innocuous charm that have continued to make Griffith such an endearing composer and performer. While not her best disc during the late '80s/early '90s, Late Night Grande Hotel is a solid effort with some of her most mature material to date. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	09/17/1991
Label:	Mca
UPC:	0008811030629
Rank:	93222

Tracks

1. It's Just Another Morning Here
2. Late Night Grande Hotel
3. It's Too Late
4. Fields of Summer
5. Heaven
6. The Power Lines
7. Hometown Streets
8. Down 'n' Outer
9. One Blade Shy of a Sharp Edge
10. Sun & Moon & Stars
11. San Diego Serenade

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nanci Griffith   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic)
Phil Everly   Guest Artist,Vocals
Tanita Tikaram   Guest Artist,Vocals
Rod Argent   Guest Artist,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Vocal Harmony
Wilfred Gibson   Violin
Barry Burton   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
George Robertson   Viola
David Woodcock   Violin
James McLeod   Violin
Robert Smissen   Viola
Barry Wilde   Violin
Peter Gorisch   Cello,Fretless Bass,Bass,Bass (Upright)
Martin Loveday   Cello
Paul Kegg   Cello
Levine Andrade   Viola
Mitch Dalton   Guitar,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Classical)
James Hooker   Keyboards
Mo Foster   Bass (Electric)
Byrd Burton   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Peter Oxer   Violin
Mark Berrow   Violin
Gavyn Wright   Conductor
Fran Breen   Drums
Helen Liebmann   Cello
Pat McInerney   Percussion
Roger Garland   Violin
Peter Van Hooke   Drums,Percussion
Anthony Pleeth   Cello
Johnathan Rees   Violin
Roy Gillard   Violin
David Emanuel   Viola
David Wookdcock   Violin
Ben Croft   Violin
Tim Good   Violin

Technical Credits

Bernard Spever   Assistant Engineer
John Woodfull   Art Direction,Illustrations
Andy Engel   Design,Photography
Mary Beth Felts   Make-Up
Bill Kennedy   Engineer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
James Hooker   Composer
Pat Alger   Composer
Julie Gold   Composer
John Aguto   Assistant Engineer
John Acock   Studio Manager
Vincent Bell   Composer
Rod Argent   Arranger,Producer,String Arrangements
Nanci Griffith   Composer,Lyricist
Mike Ross   Engineer
Isobel Griffiths   Contractor
Tom Waits   Composer
Simon Hurrell   Engineer
Vartan   Art Direction
Peter Van Hooke   Producer
Caroline Greyshock   Photography
Laura Wills   Hair Stylist