The Last Of The True Believers (studio album) by Nanci Griffith

"The Last of the True Believers" is the fourth studio album by Nanci Griffith and the most generally the highly acclaimed album by critics and fans.

Producer Jim Rooney captured lightning in a bottle with Griffith's third album "Once in a Very Blue Moon." But would lightning strike twice?

Yes! Rooney carefully crafted the record in similar to her Philo debut. It's organic and dynamic and has aged fairly well, compared to lots of overproduced 80s music. It's a delicate, detailed style that compliments her folk material and her country-folk vocals. Backing bluegrass musicians Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor and Roy Huskey Jr. return, and so does Lyle Lovett, on the heels of his own career, who contributes harmony vocals and appears on the front cover.

The material on the record is very strong, probably the most consistent out of all Griffith's records. All songs are written or co-written by Griffith, except Tom Russell's St Olav's gate and the collaboratively written "Goin' Gone."

A career highlight is the sentimental and nostalgic "Love at the Five and Dime." "One of These Days" is another early sentimental Griffith favorite, and "The Wing and the Wheel" is another suburb sentimental treat. But it's not all sickly sweet. There are plenty of upbeat tracks, especially "Looking for the Time" and "Fly By Night."

The Last of the True Believers is not only a career highlight, but also the end of an era. Following the release, Griffith finally scored a four record deal with MCA, and the most successful material of her career would come out of this late 80s early 90s period.

Again, the album cover contains references to the songs. The woman on the left references "Looking for the Time" and the dancing couple in the storefront are inspired by "Love at the Five and Dime." And perhaps Griffith herself references "Fly By Night," as she stands alone in on the streets watching the lonely hearts go by.

Essential.

Career Highlight: Love at the Five and Dime
Gems: St Olav's Gate, Looking for the Time, One of These Days, Fly By Night and Wing and the Wheel