Two Collections Shine a Light on Nanci Griffith’s Genius

When Nanci Griffith died in 2021, there was an outpouring of love from fans and peers from all over the world, from her native Texas to her beloved Ireland, Australia, and, of course, Nashville. Writers and musicians that span genres and generations cited Griffith as an inspiration, sharing memories about her tireless efforts to give voice to fellow artists over the years.

To honor her legacy, Griffith’s first four albums are being repackaged and released this Friday as Working in Corners. Most of these albums — her 1978 debut, There’s a Light Beyond These Woods, 1982’s Poet in My Window, 1984’s Once in a Very Blue Moon, and 1986’s Grammy-nominated The Last of the True Believers — have long been out of print and now are available digitally as well as in LP and CD sets from Craft Recordings. For longtime fans, it’s a chance to revisit Griffith’s acclaimed early work. And for a new generation, Working in Corners offers an opportunity to discover a trailblazing roots music artist whose first few albums help lay the groundwork for what became known as Americana.