My Life (Grace Griffith album)
Encyclopedia
My Life is the fourth studio release for American artist Grace Griffith
. The album was released March 14, 2006 on Blix Street Records
and was produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams who were long-time associates of Griffith who were the production team behind her previous album Sands Of Time. Chris Biondo credits as a producer include Eva Cassidy
who also recorded with the record label.
on her 1994 album My Life which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category. Griffith first recorded it on her Minstrel Song album in 2003. On this recording strings were added and ultimately it became the title track as it set the tone for the album’s central theme of the all-healing power of love, hope and inspiration.
Shape Of My Heart written by Sting and Dominic Miller
) appeared on Sting’s 1993 album Ten Summoner's Tales
.
For the album Griffith choose an eclectic mix of styles adapting poems, traditional (fourth track The Cuckoo) and contemporary songs.
Track seven Song For A Winter's Night was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot
.
The poem and ninth track Passing Thoughts was written by her older brother Fred Sisson and set to music by Carey Creed. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease six years before Griffith, Sisson left his government job to devote himself to photography and poetry. According to Griffith, it's not unusual for people with Parkinson's to spout creative wings and celebrate life in and with new directions.
The tenth track If I Can’t Dance was a song she performed at the World Parkinson’s Congress in February 2006 which Griffith dedicated to other fellow Parkinson's Disease sufferers.
because of the albums "exquisite and haunting" values the fact that My Life was recorded for Blix Street, the label that made Cassidy a "posthumous phenomenon". Wildran also pointed out the sadder connection in that "Griffith has been battling Parkinson's Disease since 1998, and who knows how much longer her voice will be as stunning and pure as it is here? " He said that listeners would pay attention to the "heartbreaking, inspiring opening ballad, My Life ". He went on to say that "If this is the last heard from Griffith on disc, it will indeed be a tragedy "
Technical personnel
Grace Griffith
Grace Griffith is a folk and celtic singer based in Washington, DC. She has been honored with multiple Wammie awards by the Washington Area Music Association. In 1998, she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.-Biography:...
. The album was released March 14, 2006 on Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records
Blix Street Records is a United States-based record label located in Gig Harbor, Washington, overseen by president Bill Straw. Blix Street features a diverse group of Instrumental, Vocal, and Celtic albums. Among the more famous artists who have recorded with Blix Street Records are Eva Cassidy,...
and was produced by Chris Biondo, Marcy Marxer and Lenny Williams who were long-time associates of Griffith who were the production team behind her previous album Sands Of Time. Chris Biondo credits as a producer include Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
who also recorded with the record label.
Background
My Life was recorded at 2 separate studios and consisted of twelve tracks. They are all cover interpretations. The title track My Life was written by Iris DementIris DeMent
Iris DeMent is an American singer and songwriter. DeMent's musical style encompasses the genres country and folk music.-Early life:...
on her 1994 album My Life which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category. Griffith first recorded it on her Minstrel Song album in 2003. On this recording strings were added and ultimately it became the title track as it set the tone for the album’s central theme of the all-healing power of love, hope and inspiration.
Shape Of My Heart written by Sting and Dominic Miller
Dominic Miller
Dominic Miller is an Argentine-English guitarist who toured and recorded with World Party and King Swamp, worked on Phil Collins' solo album ...But Seriously and played guitar on every Sting album and tour since 1990...
) appeared on Sting’s 1993 album Ten Summoner's Tales
Ten Summoner's Tales
Ten Summoner's Tales is the fourth solo studio album by the rock musician Sting. The title is a combined pun of his given name, Gordon Sumner, and a character in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, the summoner...
.
For the album Griffith choose an eclectic mix of styles adapting poems, traditional (fourth track The Cuckoo) and contemporary songs.
Track seven Song For A Winter's Night was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...
.
The poem and ninth track Passing Thoughts was written by her older brother Fred Sisson and set to music by Carey Creed. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease six years before Griffith, Sisson left his government job to devote himself to photography and poetry. According to Griffith, it's not unusual for people with Parkinson's to spout creative wings and celebrate life in and with new directions.
The tenth track If I Can’t Dance was a song she performed at the World Parkinson’s Congress in February 2006 which Griffith dedicated to other fellow Parkinson's Disease sufferers.
"MY LIFE feels different than any of my other albums," explains Griffith. "It was recorded during a time of profound change in how I define myself. A lot of that change has its origins in my experience with Parkinson's Disease. This album is not about sweating the small stuff. It's about embracing the big stuff—like comforting someone or making them smile, savoring the light of a candle on a winter’s night or the sunlight in the whispering summer leaves on a walk in the woods. This album is about connection and how essential connection is to our survival and growth as human beings. I think I’ve gone a bit further into the dark side of living than on my other albums, but I’m hoping this eyes-wide-open look at struggle makes the beacon—the light of love in a friend’s eyes or the spark to dance in the face of an avalanche—shine more brightly.”
Critical reception
Jonathan Widran of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars. Widran said that Griffith’s voice had an "ethereal, emotional magic of Sarah McLachlan", and he made comparisons to the late Eva CassidyEva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
because of the albums "exquisite and haunting" values the fact that My Life was recorded for Blix Street, the label that made Cassidy a "posthumous phenomenon". Wildran also pointed out the sadder connection in that "Griffith has been battling Parkinson's Disease since 1998, and who knows how much longer her voice will be as stunning and pure as it is here? " He said that listeners would pay attention to the "heartbreaking, inspiring opening ballad, My Life ". He went on to say that "If this is the last heard from Griffith on disc, it will indeed be a tragedy "
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians- Grace Griffith – lead vocals, harmony vocals, alto recorder
- Chris Biondo – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Marcy Marxer – mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, guitar, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, harmony vocal, pennywhistle - Lenny Williams - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Al Petteway - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, harmony vocal - Roger Scott Craig – Piano, synthesizer, synthesised strings
- Anderson Allen – Zabumda-Brazilian drum
- Carey Creed – pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Jon Carrol – piano
- Mark Evans – strings
- Cathy Fink – banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, harmony vocals - Ralph Gordon – standup bass
- Paul Henry – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jody Marshall – hammered dulcimerHammered dulcimerThe hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
- Zan Marshall – bouzouki, guitar, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
- Richard Miller – nylon stringed guitar
- Jennifer Mondie – stringsString instrumentA string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
- Richie Simpkins - fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
- Amy White - harmony vocals
- Ann Louise White - harmony vocals
- Jesse Winch – bodhran
- Rhonda Winter - pennywhistle
Technical personnel
- Irene Young - photography
- Lois Gerard - graphic Design