There's a Light Beyond These Woods

Untitled

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There's a Light Beyond These Woods is singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith's debut album. It was recorded live to two-track over four days, December 9 to 11, 1977 and January 3, 1978 in Austin, Texas. Griffith wrote most of its songs, as she would on almost all of her subsequent albums.

The album cover features a photograph of Griffith taken in the Autumn of 1978, tinted by Frank Golden, as well as lettering by Eric Taylor. The cover was designed by Pat Alger and Griffith's father, Marlin Griffith.

LP track listing

All songs written by Nanci Griffith except as indicated.

Side one

1. "I Remember Joe" - 4:23
2. "Alabama Soft Spoken Blues" (Nanci Griffith, Maggie Graham) - 3:47
3. "Michael's Song" - 4:01
4. "Song for Remembered Heroes" - 3:23
5. "West Texas Sun" - 3:43

Side two

1. "There's a Light Beyond These Woods (Mary Margaret)" - 4:35
2. "Dollar Matinee" (Eric Taylor) - 4:51
3. "Montana Backroads" (Bruce Carlson) - 4:59
4. "John Philip Griffith" - 4:06

Personnel

• Nanci Griffith - Lead vocal, acoustic guitar
• Eric Taylor - Lead vocal & acoustic guitar on "Dollar Matinee"
• Tom Pittman - Banjo
• Stephen Doster - Acoustic lead guitar
• Rick West - Acoustic lead guitar, dobro, mandolin
• Tom Ellis - Mandolin on "Montana Backroads"
• Hugh Sparks - Bass guitar, supporting vocals
• Paul Kelly - Bass guitar
• John Hagen - Cello
• Mike Williams - 12-string guitar, wind chimes, supporting vocals
• Richard Cooper - Electric piano on "Alabama Soft Spoken Blues"
• Carla Cain - Supporting vocals
• Lela Cain - Supporting vocals
• Maggie Graham - Supporting vocals
• Franci Files - Supporting vocals
• Frank Delvy - Supporting vocals