''Flyer'' was the 11th studio album released by singer-songwriter

Nanci Griffith Nanci Caroline Griffith (July 6, 1953 – August 13, 2021) was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She often appeared on the PBS music program ''Austin City Limits'', starting in 1985 during season 10. In 1990, Griffith appeared on th ...

. Released in 1994, it contained 15 tracks, mostly of original material. It was nominated for the

Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1991 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. In 2007, this category was renamed Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album. As ...

at the

37th Annual Grammy Awards The 37th Annual Grammy Awards were presented on March 1, 1995, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Bruce Springsteen was the night's biggest winner with 4 awards, including Song ...

.Rock on the Net.
/ref> The album had contributions from

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.; he played the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his caree ...

Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British musician. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1995, and he is the one of the two members who stayed during the band's existence ...

Emmylou Harris Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, bandleader, and activist. She is considered one of the leading music artists behind the country rock genre in the 1970s and the Americana (music), Americana genre ...

Larry Mullen Jr. Laurence Joseph Mullen Jr. (; born 31 October 1961) is an Irish musician, best known as the drummer and co-founder of the rock band U2. A member of the band since its inception, he has recorded 15 studio albums with U2. Mullen's distinctive ...

Adam Clayton Adam Charles Clayton (born 13 March 1960) is an English-Irish musician who is the bass guitarist of the rock music, rock band U2. Born in Oxfordshire, England, he lived in County Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland after his family moved to ...

Adam Duritz Adam Fredric Duritz (born August 1, 1964) is an American singer, best known as the frontman for the rock band Counting Crows, for which he serves as a founding member and principal composer. Since its founding in 1991, Counting Crows has sold ov ...

the Chieftains The Chieftains were a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous w ...

, and the

Indigo Girls Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duet (music), duo from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. The two met in Primary school, elementary school and began performing together as Secondary school, hig ...

. Griffith wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks except "Southbound Train". She said that while much of her writing had been fiction, the songs on this album were more autobiographical. "This album is of songs that came internally from my life with no delays or fiction. They are of immediate reaction and inspiration."

Reception

Writing for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

, critic Vik Iyengar wrote of the album, "Although she falters a bit when choosing to tackle politics ("Time of Inconvenience"), this is her most consistent album of original songs in almost a decade."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Nanci Griffith except where indicated. #"The Flyer" – 4:23 #"Nobody's Angel" – 4:13 #"Say It Isn't So" (Griffith,

Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002) was an American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard is credited with writing more than 4,000 songs, over 100 of which reached country mus ...

) – 3:18 #"Southbound Train" (

Julie Gold Julie Gold (born February 3, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her musical composition " From a Distance," which became a hit for Bette Midler and won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1991. "From a Distance" ...

) – 4:32 #"These Days in an Open Book" – 3:33 #"Time of Inconvenience" – 3:48 #"Don't Forget About Me" (Griffith, James Hooker) – 3:00 #"Always Will" – 2:42 #"Going Back to Georgia" (Griffith,

, Brian Claflin) – 4:15 #"Talk to Me While I'm Listening" – 4:12 #"Fragile" – 3:26 #"On Grafton Street" (Griffith,

Fred Koller Fred Koller (born March 5, 1950, in Chicago) is an American singer-songwriter. He has been active in the music business since 1973. Fred lives and works in Nashville with his wife Trish and their cat Buddy. Music career Koller has written over ...

) – 3:58 #"Anything You Need but Me" – 3:08 #"Goodnight to Mother's Dream" – 4:03 #"This Heart" – 3:26

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes

Principal musicians

* Nanci Griffith - lead vocals (throughout), harmony vocals (except 11), guitar (throughout) * Al Anderson – acoustic guitar (13, 15), electric guitar (1, 2, 9, 14, 15) * Fran Breen – drums (1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15) * Bill Dillon – acoustic guitar (3), electric guitar (3, 7, 10, 15), mandolin (5, 12), guitar (unspecified) (5, 12), "Low 6-string Star Fire Guild electric guitar" (13) * James Hooker – keyboards (1, 4, 10, 13), Hammond B3 (3, 5), piano (3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14), harmonium and Wurlitzer piano (2), harpsichord (11), harmony vocal (4) *

David Mansfield David Mansfield (born September 13, 1956) is an American musician and composer. Mansfield was raised in Leonia, New Jersey. His father, Newton Mansfield was a first violinist in the New York Philharmonic. David played guitar, pedal steel guita ...

– dobro (5), electric guitar (7), mandocello (3, 11), mandolin (7, 9), violin (9, 10, 14) * Pat McInerney – percussion (1, 2, 6, 8–10, 13, 14), tom tom (15) * John Painter – electric guitar (7), electric slide guitar (3), electric baritone guitar (5), string arrangements (2, 14), accordion (13), flugelhorn (11) * Michael Rhodes – bass guitar (1-5, 9, 10, 13–15)

Other contributors

* David Angell – violin (4, 14) *

Eddie Bayers Eddie Bayers (born January 28, 1949) is an American session drummer who has played on 300 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for fourteen years, has three times won the Nashville Music ...

– "famous kick drum" (3) * Derek Bell (

The Chieftains The Chieftains were a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous w ...

) – harp (12) * Byrd Burton – acoustic guitar, electric guitar (5) * Andy Carlson – violin (8) * John Catchings – cello (2, 4, 14) * Frank Christian – acoustic guitar (1, 2, 9, 14), electric guitar (15), guitar (unspecified) (10) *

( U2) – bass guitar (5, 7, 12), bass pedals (12) *

Sonny Curtis Sonny Curtis (born May 9, 1937) is an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of the Crickets and continued with the band after Holly's death. Curtis's best known compositions include " Wa ...

– supporting vocals, "rhythm Stratocaster electric guitar" (15) * David Davidson – violin (2, 4, 14) * Ron de la Vega – cello (8) *

– duet vocal (9), harmony vocal (2, 10) * Ramm Eberhard – French horn (4) *

Martin Fay Martin Joseph Fay (19 September 1936 – 14 November 2012) was an Irish fiddler and bones player, and a former member of The Chieftains. Fay was born in Cabra, Dublin, Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is ...

(

) – high fiddle (12) *

– backing vocals (11) * John Hedgecoth – jug (1) * John Keane – electric guitar (6), steel guitar (8) * Seán Keane (

) – low fiddle * Mary Ann Kennedy – percussion (3), backing vocals (7, 11) *

Jennifer Kimball Jennifer Kimball is a singer and songwriter who formed the folk duo The Story with Jonatha Brooke. Career Jennifer Kimball and Amherst College friend Jonatha Brooke began playing music together in the 1980s. They performed regularly during the ...

– backing vocals (11) *

– electric guitar (7) *

Tony Levin Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer specializing in electric bass guitars, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (19 ...

– didjeridu and bubble bass (2), bass guitar (11), Chapman stick (1, 10, 15) *

Sam Llanas Samuel J. Llanas (born February 6, 1961) is an American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter in several rock and roots rock bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including BoDeans and Absinthe. Career Llanas was one of the founding m ...

– harmony vocals (15) *

Jerry Marotta Jerome David Marotta (born February 6, 1956) is an American drummer who resides in Woodstock, New York. He is the younger brother of Rick Marotta; Rick is also a drummer and composer. Career Marotta was a member of the bands Arthur, Hurley & ...

– drums, percussion (3) * Pat McLaughlin – mandola (13), supporting vocals (7, 12) *

Matt Molloy Matt Molloy (born 12 January 1947) is an Irish musician, from a region known for producing talented flautists. As a child, he began playing the flute and won the All-Ireland Flute Championship at nineteen. Considered one of the most brilliant ...

(

) – flute (12) *

Paddy Moloney Paddy Moloney (; 1 August 1938 – 12 October 2021) was an Irish musician, composer, and record producer. He co-founded and led the Irish musical group the Chieftains, playing on all of their 44 albums. He was particularly associated with the re ...

(

) – whistle (2), penny-whistle (12) * Larry Mullen, Jr. ( U2) – drums and percussion (5, 7, 12), "leg & boot" (5), "bongos, cowbells, percussion and closing drumstick toss" (15) * Kurt Neumann – backing vocals (15) *

Mickey Raphael Michael Siegfried Raphael (born November 7, 1951) is an American harmonica player, music producer and actor likely best known for his work with Willie Nelson, with whom he has toured as part of The Family since 1973. He has performed or record ...

– bass harmonica (1, 3), harmonica (3, 5, 9, 10) *

Amy Ray Amy Elizabeth Ray (born April 12, 1964) is an American singer-songwriter and member of the contemporary folk duo Indigo Girls with Emily Saliers. She also pursues a solo career, releasing ten albums under her own name, and founded the independent ...

(

) – supporting vocals (5), "accidental a cappella intro 'Time'" (6) *

Pam Rose Pam Rose is an American country music songwriter. In her career, she has been a member of the groups Calamity Jane and Kennedy Rose, both times pairing with fellow songwriter Mary Ann Kennedy. Rose's co-writing credits include the Grammy Award- ...

– backing vocals (11) *

Emily Saliers Emily Ann Saliers (born July 22, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter and member of the musical duo Indigo Girls. Saliers sings soprano and plays lead guitar as well as banjo, piano, mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki and many other instruments. Ea ...

(

) – supporting vocals (5), "accidental a cappella intro 'Time'" (6) * Lee Satterfield – backing vocals, choir arrangement (11) *

Dave Schools David Allen Schools (born December 11, 1964) is a bass player and founding member of American rock band Widespread Panic. He is also a record producer, songwriter and journalist with articles published in a wide variety of music magazines. Schoo ...

– bass guitar (6, 8) * Holly Tashian – backing vocals (11) * Tim White – Hammond B3 (6) * Kathi Whitley – backing vocals (11) * Kristin Wilkinson – viola (2, 4, 14)

References

{{Authority control Nanci Griffith albums 1994 albums Elektra Records albums Albums produced by Peter Collins (record producer) Albums produced by Peter Buck Country folk albums