The Last of the True Believers

Last of the True Believers is singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith's fourth album, and her last with the folk music-oriented Philo Records. The acclaim accorded her from her previous Once in a Very Blue Moon and the current album would gain her a contract with a major recording company after this album. Here, Griffith continues her turn toward a more country-oriented work than her first two albums, which were primarily folk-sounding. One highlight is Mark O'Connor's fiddle playing throughout the album. Although Griffith would later get a major label contract, many of her fans agree that this album is one of the best of her career.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Cover

The photograph on the album cover contains several references to the album's songs. A couple can be seen behind Griffith dancing in front of a Woolworth's store as described in "Love at the Five and Dime." The male dancer is Lyle Lovett who also appears on the album as a vocalist. Another couple can be seen apparently acting out a scene from "Lookin' for the Time" as the man, John T. Davis, a journalist and music historian, is pointing at his empty wrist.

As with other Nanci Griffith albums she is pictured holding books by and/or about southern writers. On the front cover she is holding a copy of The Kindness of Strangers: The Life of Tennessee Williams by Donald Spoto. On the album's back cover she is clutching Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. ^[1]