CMT Blog: Archive

Patty Griffin has just released an album of gospel music, Downtown Church, but her longtime fans know that she's been writing inspirational music throughout her career. Griffin's gift as a songwriter is taking you right to the brink of despair, and then reeling you in with reassuring words. She's been doing this all the way back to her magnificent debut album, Living With Ghosts, and more recently with her theme of encouragement, "Up to the Mountain," on Susan Boyle's debut album. In the country world, Griffin's distinctive harmony has also lent gravity to Dierks Bentley's "Beautiful World" and Jack Ingram's "Seeing Stars." This morning, in the spirit of sharing and fellowship, I made this playlist of my favorite uplifting songs from her extensive and enduring catalog.

"Little Fire"
"Heavenly Day"
"Up to the Mountain"
"I Don't Ever Give Up"
"Love Throw a Line"
"When It Don't Come Easy"
"Love Be Heard"
"Rain"
"Making Pies"
"Nobody's Crying"
"Dear Old Friend"
"One Big Love"
"Go Now"
"Not Alone"
"Forgiveness"
"Song for the Graduates"

Bonus tracks:
"The Best Is Yet to Come" (from the Cy Coleman tribute album)
"Waiting for My Child" (with Mavis Staples)