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A Little on the CD Side Volume 17
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Unconditionally Guaranteed Volume 5 - Uncut"s Guide to the Month"s Best Music
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Merlefest Live! The Best of 2003
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The Dark
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Still writing great songs at 2003-07-18
I first listened to Guy Clark in my sisters living room way back in 1977. I was young and did not really absorb the lyrics at that time. Several years later I purchased the Old # 1 CD and was blown away with the lyrics to the songs. Nearly 30 years later Guy is still writing strong lyrics. I just received the The Dark yesterday and I am impressed with the quality of this recording. Every song is vintage Guy Clark and I find myself singing the lyrics to several of the tunes. I think it is Guys best work in several years. Guy never over produces his work and the accompanying acoustic musicians really help make this set shine. I really like the sound of the mandolin, the occasional dobro, on these songs. I personally believe that Guy is the best of the Texas genre songwriters. I make this statement knowing that Townes Van Zandt (another of my all time favorites) wrote some great songs, but Guy has been doing this for 30 years and continues to deliver quality original material.I must agree that some of Guys songs begin to sound alike, but when you have written over 1000 songs in your lifetime that probably happens. I strongly recommend this recording, and if youre new to Guys music, check out Old # 1 and listen to the lyrics
Guy Clark Album Review:
I could listen to this one all day at 2003-10-17
In fact, I have been listening to it all day. Its in the three disc rotation at work. Every couple of hours Ill start humming along with mud pie, mud in your eye and all the other choruses of all the other songs on the disc. I never grow tired of hearing it. My co-workers havent complained yet and its been in and out of the player for over a month now. The only other disc that has the distinction of lasting a month is Tim Obriens latest-the traveler. Guy Clark recordings are few and far between. Whether you like his unique style of songwriting(storytelling), his nicotine stained vocals, or the sparse acoustic accompanyment(great picking), this is a disc to cherish and grow old with. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Guy Clark Album Review:
not quite up to snuff at 2004-07-09
I normally wouldnt dare to say anything negative about a Guy Clark cd, but all of the rave reviews here need some balance. To put my opinion in perspective, Guy Clark is my favorite artist and I own all of his albums (including the LPs of his 3 warner bros. albums that you can only get on Craftsman). That said, this is his worst record (none of them are bad), and with the quality of all his other albums, I rarely ever listen to this one. I believe one reason is that ALL of the songs are co-written with other artists. That is not something that Guy did in his prime, although he has been leaning more towards that practice recently, perhaps by design. In any event, my point is, you may want to listen to the album before you buy to make sure the $17 is worth it. As for myself, if I had it to do all over again, I would have burned a copy from a friend. If you a relative newcomer to Guy Clark, begin with Old No. 1, Texas Cookin, and Dublin Blues.
Guy Clark Album Review:
excellent, deep, satisfying at 2005-10-30
The Dark is typical Guy Clark-deep ruminations on lifes complexities, touches of lighthearted whimsey, compassion and pure vitriol. A potent mix that when placed with outstanding music and Guys weathered vocals produces one of the most satisfying discs of the year.Mud reminds us where we come from and where we go. Songs like Arizona Star, Soldiers Joy, Dancing Days and Homeless sound like they could have been true stories. The title tune is on a par with The Randall Knife-about the highest praise I can give a song.The only reason this disc is not a 5 star project is that it isnt as good as Keepers, Boats to Build or Dublin Blues. But its REALLY good. Probably 4 and a half stars is most accurate. Buy this today
Guy Clark Album Review:
doesnt disappoint at 2004-12-30
The Dark by Guy Clark doesnt disappoint - its 12 well crafted, well performed songs by one of the best, if not THE best song writer on the planet.The first 7 songs on the CD are all classics and then it concludes with the excellent title song.As I expected the song writing was solid throughout but the moments on the CD that really caught my ear were the doses of great music injected throughout. The accordian solo on Arizona Star, the fiddle at the end of Soldiers Joy, 1864, and the mandolin on Magnolia Wind - that is some of the finest music Ive ever heard. I think maybe the best song on the CD is Dancin Days. Homeless is pretty good too, all the songs are good.
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Together at the Bluebird Café
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Guy Clark Album Review:
guy clarks dublin blues... at 2004-06-30
during dublin blues, guy clark says this might just be the best i ever played it. its amazing.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Great Music - PERIOD! at 2003-12-10
This is one of those CDs that you use to turn your friends on to great talents.Steve Earle - GeniusGuy Clark - Super GeniusTownes Van Zandt - Superdee Duper Genius.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Why songwriters are not always good performers at 2005-01-20
When I first saw this cd, I thought This has got to be great!I love all these guys, and I figured this cd has to be just wonderful! Wrong! After listening to as much as I could stand, I now realize why these wonderful songwriters sell their songs. With the exception of Steve Earle, (who also bombed on this cd),I dont think any of these guys are singers at all. You may not like this, fans, but I would definitely skip this one. Just my opinion, I only gave them a 2 for their songwriting.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Great company for lonely nights at 2006-07-17
Townes Van Zandts performance on this album made me appreciate his earlier recordings all the more, but he was still my favorite of the three. Hearing him do Pancho and Lefty in that rusty old voice made me weep, and his monologue about having a gold tooth extracted as a gambling debt made me laugh till I wept. It means even more now, knowing that this was very likely one of his last public appearances.Anyone expecting perfection here will be disappointed. But its the roughness of this performance that makes it so damned endearing.
Guy Clark Album Review:
3 Brilliant Songwriters in a Relaxed Setting at 2006-03-17
Did you ever wonder what would happen if three of Americas best songwriters got together to share songs and stories? This disk answers the question. Earle, Van Zandt and Clark are arguably among the best songwriters this country has to offer (Texas branch) and on this disk they share their songs with each other in round-robin fashion before a very small audience. Stripped of studio arrangements, the three performers proudly display their wares for what they are - classic songs that ought to last long after the songwriters are dead and gone.All three performers are (were, actually - Van Zandt died a few years back) great friends, with tremendous mutual respect for each other, so the camaraderie and friendship heard here is a rare and special thing. It must have been quite a special evening at the Bluebird Cafý that night. If youre a fan of any one of these three performers, then this disk is well worth your attention, since I can guarantee that you will soon become a big fan of the other two as well. A- - Tom Ryan
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Old No. 1/Texas Cookin"
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Classic at 2006-03-13
This album is filled with Classic Texas songs. From Rita Ballou, to LA Freeway, to Like a Coat From the Cold, you will not want to stop listening to this CD and will find yourself singing along every chance you get. Sung in a voice that is uniquely Guy Clark, his throaty version of each song makes it his own. A must for any fan of Texas Country or Guy Clark.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Seventies country-rock at 2005-05-16
Better known as a songwriter, Guys always-brilliant albums never sold in big quantities. Maybe Guys voice didnt appeal to mainstream country radio, or maybe his lake of stage presence when performing live counted against him. Although he never became a major star, Guy built up a significant fan base in Britain and America. More significantly, other singers appreciated the quality of his songs and have recorded many of them as well as lending their support on Guys own recordings. Thus, even if youve never heard any of Guys own music, you may well have heard some of his songs. This twofer contains Guys two albums for RCA - the first two albums of his career.Guys debut album (Old No 1) occupies the first ten tracks here and is generally regarded as the best album of his career. Among the stars providing harmony vocals are Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle and Sammi Smith. It is extraordinary to think that Steve Earle (whose own music was influenced by Guys to some extent) didnt make his own breakthrough until more than a decade after this album was recorded. The set opens with Rita Ballou, later covered by Vince Gill (you can find it on his breakthrough album, When I call your name). The most famous songs here are LA freeway (a minor American hit for Jerry Jeff Walker), Texas 1947 (covered by Johnny Cash) and Desperadoes waiting for a train (covered by many different artists).Following the critical acclaim of his debut, Guy followed it up with the almost equally brilliant Texas cooking, which occupies the last ten tracks here. Rodney and Emmylou again provide harmony, this time joined by Jerry Jeff Walker, Nicolette Larson, Waylon Jennings, Hoyt Axton and Tracy Nelson among others. Further classic songs are to be found here including The last gunfighter ballad (later covered by Johnny Cash).Subsequent albums provided further songs for others to record including Heartbroke (Ricky Skaggs), Shes crazy for leaving (Rodney Crowell) and Old friends (Lacy J Dalton). Guys versions of those songs can be found elsewhere.Whatever the reasons for Guys lack of commercial success, he has proved his worth as a songwriter while there are enough people (including me) who appreciate his music to warrant record companies re-issuing his old material.
Guy Clark Album Review:
A must for any fan at 2003-07-12
Anybody that enjoys Guy, or any other great country roots music should really check this one out. Old No.1 and TX Cookin were his two first releases, and to this day, they remain his best. No duds to be found on this 70 plus minutes of pure magic. His influence on other musicians is too important to overlook, and its too lengthy to cover in a review. If I were to talk about stand-out tracks, youd reading this for an hour. A super bargain that should not be missed!
Guy Clark Album Review:
Where It All Started at 2004-02-26
Guy Clark is still going strong as a song-writer and performer, but neither he nor anybody else has ever been any better than he is here, with searing, heart-rending songs of loneliness and hurt and exuberantly happy songs about the good times.There are some great songs here. I think that every small-town boy living in a big city has felt the homesickness that L.A. Freeway describes, but none of the rest of us has said it so well, nor has any other world-weary bachelor described his love for his new-found lady as well as Clark does in Like a Coat From the Cold. She Aint Goin Nowhere would be the best song ever written about taking charge of your life if Clark hadnt equaled it later with Better Days. Those are three of the best songs on this CD, but they arent the only great ones here.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Old No. 1 is still No. 1 at 2003-08-01
Old No. 1 is his first and possibly his best. I first heard the heart-tugging, homesick words of L.A. Freeway 25 years ago, and its still as fine today as it was then. Every song on this album is a gem. Not bad for an ol boy from Monahans, Texas.
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Cold Dog Soup
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Is there a bad Guy Clark CD? at 2003-12-10
Of course not. And this is another great one. Just stop putzing around and buy it.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Poet at Heart at 2005-12-20
Guy Clarks country roots and West Texas idiom are so disarming that a casual listener might miss the sly literate quality of his songs. Who else gets away with talking about William Butler Yeats and Townes Van Zandt in the same breath? Clark has a poets instincts and a sense of image unsurpassed by his contemporaries, most of whom are numbered among his admirers. And there is no finer side man around than Verlon Thompson, whose picking is as clean and fresh as a summer morning. God bless this music.
Guy Clark Album Review:
found another winner at 2005-10-18
Guy Clark was new to me, believe it or not. Found it at my library and checked it out...within 3 hrs I ordered it from Amazon. This is my kind of music and plan to check out simular artist and ALL of Clarks.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Great word pictures and plenty of pleasant listening at 2005-06-06
This is the first full CD Ive heard by Clark (borrowed from my local library) though I knew his name from the Highwaymens cover of Desperados Waiting on a Train. Judging from the inclusion of others of his catalogue on Listmanias invoking Sad Bastard Music, this is apparently a bit of an anomaly for him. Regardless of the fact that several tunes here involve musings on mortality, its not of the woe is me, Im gonna die variety. The philosophy expressed is more Since we die eventually, live NOW. I dont think of the word melancholy here...Id call it reflective but joyful.Clark is a definite wordsmith (check the title track for some of the best images..Ginsberg and Kerouac shootin dice and playin Ramblin Jacks guitar and At the door sat Tom Waits/In a pork pie hat and silver skates/Jugglin three collection plates [though Im uncertain why he felt the need to toss in the gratuitious religious epithet at the end]) and has a wonderfully soulful lived in voice. On many of the songs, its nicely matched with harmonies from Verlon Thompson and Darrell Scott (and Emmylou Harris on a couple tracks).HIGHLIGHTS:The picture of downhome feminism in Sis Draper (Uncle Cleve dropped his jaw/Said shes the best I ever saw/She must be from Arkansas) is set to an addictive jig. If there IS a melancholy tune here, Forever,for always, for certain is it: a rumination on the difficulty of finding lasting love. (Forever dont mean much in passing/Forgotten dont mean that its done) Indian Head Penny is a counterpart to Mary Chapin Carpenters I Am a Town, letting the tiny tender relate its travels through the hands of children, hobos, and bank robbers. (I rolled off the San Francisco mint in 1909/The last one they ever made, you shouldve seen me shine) Men will Be Boys is a folkie take on Mars vs. Venus. Die Tryin encapsulates a lesson to a life well lived. (Whats the use in dyin if you dont die tryin?/If you dont die tryin, whats the use?)LOWS:While I think calling them lows is a bit harsh, Id say I find myself least involved in Fort Worth Blues but thats more because of my personal prejudice in favour of strong choruses than any shortcomings of the songs. I just like a catchy hook in my songs usually and this one (a cover of Steve Earle) is more of a long narrative than an verse-chorus-verse style ditty.BOTTOM LINE:If you love singer-songwriters, you should love this. If you have anything by Mary Chapin-Carpenter, John Prine, or Richard Thompson in your collection, you owe it to yourself to give him a listen. Tasty bluegrass tinged country/folk with some meat to the lyrics.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Dont you wish you could write like him? at 2006-06-02
Cold Dog Soup is typical Guy Clark; literate, tuneful, wry, funny, brilliantly crafted, wonderfully played. Opening with the title tune, Clarks images invade your mind and dont let you go. Fort Worth Blues and Sis Draper follow inviting the listener on a journey with a group of fascinating characters. Men will be boys takes a playful putdown and turns it into a celebration of helling around sung as a bunch of guys having way too much fun. The only difference between men and the boys is the size of their feet and the price of their toysVery well played, lots of great guitar and mandolin playing. Highly recommend
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Keepers
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Texas Pure...... at 1999-07-20
You yankees want to know what Texas is about? Hear it in his voice, words, and music. If you dont live here...listen to this cd and youll want to get here as fast as you can.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Texas Without Being There at 2001-10-05
Guy Clark is the unofficial music ambassador for the great state of Texas. His songs are simple and straightforward tackling the always tough relationship department and lightweight subjects like eggs, tomatoes, chili, trains and his home state. ( Texas 1947, Texas Cookin and South Coast Of Texas ) Hes also intelligent when it comes to a live recording, putting together a great band which includes brilliant sideman - Verlon Thompson. Guy is definitely ON this night balencing songs, stories and laughter. The album literally brings Texas to my home until I can make the next visit. The purists seem to like his first two LPs found on Essential, the critics pick is Boats To Build, but the real Guy Clark is Live and this one is for the Keepers.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Great atmosphere at 1999-11-30
The best thing about this record has to be the way its recorded. Anyone with a half decent hi-fi system will love it just for that.The small band Guy has gathered for this recording are as tight as can be and even Guy himself stays in control of his fingers...Great versions of Heartbreak, Texas Cookin and Home Grown Tomatoes. Hes at his best when you can hear the smile on his face. She Aint Goin Nowhere is a classic Guy Clark song too. Im less enthusiastic about some of the slower moody songs like Desperadoes (I can never understand the popularity of this one) and he misses out songs from Boats to Build - my favourite album. All in all though, a fine effort.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Not a keeper at 2004-07-11
One of lifes greatest joys is a Guy Clark performance. Though I left Nashville shortly before the one recorded here, I listened to Mr. Clark play every dive in town for 20 years, sometimes sick, sometimes overly fortified with alcohol, and he was always the consummate showman. As such, the idea of a live recording was very appealing to me. The result, however, is a little disappointing.The songs are indeed mostly keepers, and the track listing is typical of a Guy Clark set list. It relies heavily on his first album, with half the tracks coming from Old No. 1, and then a song or two from subsequent albums of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some, like Heartbroke, are pleasant surprises Ive never heard him perform live. I tend to be a little more sanguine about Mr. Clarks post-1975 oeuvre than he seems to be based on his shows and on this CD though - I think hes written a lot of other keepers that are conspicuously absent here, some from the Old Friends, Boats to Build, and Dublin Blues recordings that were released before the concert presented here, and that usually find their way into his sets.It is the performances that disappoint in the end, though, not the choice of songs. The songs are mostly tried and true classics. Guy Clark may or may not tire of singing his first album for 30 years, but he has remarkable stage presence and can play Desperadoes Waiting for a Train a thousand times and make me misty every time. In general, though, the vocal performances are better on the original recordings. There is something to be said for re-recording many of these songs using the acoustic sound found on Clarks CDs from Old Friends onward, or perhaps in the simple guitar and bass form often used in his performances. The electric instrumentation used on some of his older albums has left some of his best material sounding dated. But here, with Mr. Clark not hitting some of the notes, sometimes off-key, most of the time I felt Id be better off just pulling out Old No. 1. Or that hed have been better off re-recording the keepers in the studio. There are some fine moments here. Texas Cookin, though recorded perfectly well in the studio, is a fine performance, and I cant help but smile at Mr. Clark, Jr. on bass doing the riff from Hendrixs Third Stone From the Sun near the songs end.In short, the songs are keepers but the performances arent. I have every Guy Clark CD ever made, and I listen to several of them fairly regularly. He is a personal hero in the world of music, and in his corner of this genre, Ill say something hed disagree with - I think his work far eclipses that of Townes Van Zandt. But this CD has been in my CD player only twice over the years, once when I first bought it and was disappointed, and once today when I was disappointed again. The only good reasons to have this CD are to have a complete Guy Clark collection or to remember this particular concert if you were there.
Guy Clark Album Review:
A LIVE masterpiece at 2004-12-03
This CD is an ablolute must have for fans of Texas music and/or Guy Clark. If you are not a fan of either now, you will be a fan of both after listening to Keepers. You will understand why native as well as naturalized Texans describe their state more as a state-of-mind rather than a geographical location. Its sort of a Zen thing. Enjoy!
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The Essential Guy Clark
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Essential is an understatement at 2002-01-14
Guy Clark is a songwriter. His music is all heart, and you can hear that in every line he sings. His style of music is the pinnacle of singer-songwriters. The words paint a visual, and the music provides a background that sets the mood. Both elements weave together to allow the listener to believe in these songs, and this singer. Its impossible not to love this cd for its music.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Excellent! at 2006-03-01
Everything Guy has done haS BEEN TOP NOTCH IN MY BOOK.. Hey as Townes and the whole gang from Mr. Earl to Willie hit home with top writting. Greg Brown is someone else to investigate. Talk about todays top poet!
Guy Clark Album Review:
Foolin Us W/ The Sunshine at 2004-07-26
I own the original discs of OLD NO.1 (1975) and TEXAS COOKING (1976). Its a great idea to pair Guys first two albums together. The first 10 songs on ESSENTIALS are from OLD NO.1 but in a scrambled order. Song 11-13 are from TEXAS COOKING in order but songs 4.ITS ABOUT TIME and 5.GOOD TO LOVE YOU LADY from the single album cd are ommitted completely. Songs 14-17 continue in order to be followed by song 18.DONT LET THE SUNSHINE FOOL YOU that was not on the TEXAS COOKING album but they give credit to it coming from it. Is this an outake of that session? It doesnt say and the song can not be traced to any other album. Song 19 is the last song from TEXAS COOKING but wait song 20 is acually from his third album self titled Guy Clark (1978). Im not really sure why anyone who loves Guy Clarks music would drop those two songs from this collection.I would recommend getting the first two cds individually and of course the rest of his albums. If you love the style of Guy Clark give Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Wylie Hubbard a try. Another couple of great Texas guitarslinginsinger songwriters.
Guy Clark Album Review:
An American Treasure at 2003-03-19
Guy Clark is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. Just ask Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, or any of the hundreds of others who have been influenced by him. This collection contains all of Old No. 1 and all but one song from Texas Cookin. If you can find the Sugar Hill re-releases of those original albums, buy them. If you cant find these, buy this CD, then buy his later albums. Its a great starting point for any newcomer to Guys music. Youll still hear many of these songs in his live show.
Guy Clark Album Review:
An old master, here presented as a young upstart... at 2002-03-25
Not really a best of CD, but pretty much a re-issue of his first two records for RCA back in 75 and 76. They probably sell more now than they did then. Guy Clark was never a comfortable fit with commercial country trends, and the folk revival was already gone when he got started. So he did not achieve mass appeal in his early days. But he sure wrote some fine songs. This CD will give you 73 minutes of good stuff. I actually dont play this as frequently as I do his more recent album, Old Friends, but when I do play it, I find myself wondering why I hadnt pulled it out sooner. My faves on here include Like a Coat From the Cold and That Old Time Feelin and Dont Let the Sunshine Fool You and Broken Hearted People. Probably every listener will have different choices. He is personal, intimate, simple, pleasant and worth getting to know. Anyone who can be a friend to Ramblin Jack Elliot, the cantankerous old folkie who was one of the last singers to work with Woody Guthrie and one of the first to champion Bob Dylan, has to have what they call people skills. He also coped with the tormented genius Townes van Zandt and has been an inspiration to Nanci Griffith, among many others. This CD gives you a good idea why Mr. Clark is valued by so many artists who sell more records than he does.
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Craftsman
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Guy Clark Album Review:
consistent at 2004-09-26
if you walk around claiming to like this album, youre lying. perhaps unknowingly, but your just lying to yourself. you probably just heard somewhere that you should like this Guy Clark fella and you like the way it looks in your cd collection. sittin there with your john denver and your neil young harvest moon album.its amazing to me that Clark could start his career of with a couple of excellent albums and then follow it up with three of the most consistently boring albums released in the late 70s. THE LATE 70S!!!!!!!now i know the first of these 3 albums guy clark is praised for its experimentation. for instance he uses some atypical country music instruments like the harpsichord and the clavinet. wow , big deal he still sounds like conway twitty, only conway twitty with a clavinet and a harpsichord. now if you like conway twitty fine, ill pay you 50 cents to take my copy of this album off my hands, but if you like what guy was doing on those first two albums then pitch the idea of getting this and buy his later period dublin blues album which kicks an immeasurable amount of hole.
Guy Clark Album Review:
The only non-rapper song sympathetic to drug smugglers... at 2002-12-08
Supply and Demand is a fine song for those who might wonder what business today is for country people like Prohibition was in years gone by. What do some Gulf Coast fishermen do to not go bankrupt? Listen and learn... Rappers arent the only folks with something to say on the issue. Anyone know of any other contemporary song with mainstream values thats sympathetic to the drug problem?Speaking still of a whole slice of our culture that is basically unknown, The South Coast of Texas is just a wonderful song. Welcome to the world of small family shrimp fishing. And, like many other things that represent a functional America, say goodbye to them in the same breath. Then theres Randall Knife thats got all you could want in a tune that pays respect to the generations as they roll on.But Ill let you discover the rest... Lets just say Im VERY HAPPY to have discovered this guy finally. --JP
Guy Clark Album Review:
CraftsMAN, not men at 2001-08-06
This is a valuable compilation of Guy Clarks three Warner Brothers CDs. Alas, these are not Mr. Clarks best outtings. His first Warners effort, the self-titled Guy Clark, was a real mess, featuring lots of songs by other songwriters -- always a bad sign for an singer-songwriter who is more the latter than the former. His second turn on Warners, South Coast of Texas, produced by fellow songwriter Rodney Crowell, was the best of the lot, featuring sharp songwriting and a nice understated production style. Better Days, the final of the 3 Warner LPs, featured a great flock of songs (including two of his best ever, Homegrown Tomatos and Randall Knife), but the production, again by Crowell, was a little too heavy, an overt attempt to garner country airplay.Clarks first two recordings on RCA, and his subsequent work on Sugar Hill and Asylum, are more representative than these recordings. But, for a completist, Craftsman is a way to get three recordings in one fell swoop. Undoubtedly, this collection wont stay in print long, so you are advised to act soon if you want to take advantage of this bargain-priced set. A big-time boo to Robert K. Oermann, apparently the only person allowed to write liner notes for country music reissues. As always, he gets an awful lot wrong here (example: suggesting that South Coast of Texas predated Crowells work as a producer for Rosanne Cash and Cissy Spacek), and provides little new detail nto Clarks career or these CDs. (Cant the writer assume that anyone buying this set already knows who Guy Clark is?) The tale of how a visionary poet like Clark both resisted and failed to resist being remade as a Warner Communicator is probably a very interesting one. Unfortunately, the liner notes dont let us in on that secret...
Guy Clark Album Review:
Clark captures real life in his songs at 2000-01-01
For those who dont know Guy Clarks music, or only know his recent works, Craftsman is an essential and delightful find. His three early albums put together for this re-release give a complete overview of who Clark is and what he writes about. An absolute must to know the complete Clark musical history.
Guy Clark Album Review:
The best country songmaster/troubadour artist in our era. at 1999-02-20
Aptly named. Craftsman is what this consumate song stylist and writer is. Most of these songs you know as sung from other artists. None are styled or done proper when you here the phasing of the author. His songs are original, and range from heartfelt ballads, to the humorus, to toe tapp`n. The word troubadour in the dictionary must include his name. He`s the Deacon of country music.
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Dublin Blues
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Guy Clark Album Review:
texastentialism at its best at 2000-05-10
Guy Clarks *Dublin Blues* has the feel of a diamond cutter at work. Every word, every phrase is like a diamond cutters blow, exact, giving more by cutting excess away. Dublin Blues, the title cut, portrays a haunted, worldly guy -- hes been to Spain, seen the David, heard Doc Watson -- but his heart is broken, he longs for forgiveness, and none of the beauty hes found in the world can relieve his sufferering. Its the first of a series of searching, bluesy country songs exploring loss, hope, faith, dreams, and grief. If you like minimalist art, if you enjoy laconic, soulful songs and pared down musical arrangements, Guy Clarks *Dublin Blues* achieves near perfection.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Wonderful Words at 2002-02-23
This was my first Clark CD. I have since purchased two more. I love the words to his songs. As you listen you are either inspired to do great things or feel saddened by a lost love. Guy definitely makes my commute a wonderful experience by focusing on whats real and what you feel.I highly recommend this album.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Guy Clark rules at 2001-09-20
Guy Clark is the man, this album is pretty fantastic, although it doesnt compare to some of his earlier stuff. The Randall Knife however, is one of the most heartbreaking, poignant, songs ever written. If you like this one, you will love Keepers, a great live album.
Guy Clark Album Review:
One of Guys Best at 2004-09-04
Guy Clark is a slow and careful songsmith. He doesnt release many CDs, so each one is meticulously crafted. This is one of his best.Listen to the words and absorb the rhythms of the title track, IMO simply one of the finest songs written by any modern singer-songwriter. Who else could write a love song that admits to being too proud to come in out of the rain; unapologetically equates the works of Michelangelo, da Vinci, and Doc Watson; and book-ends it all with the unforgettable, acidic verse, I wish I was in Austin, in the Chili Parlor Bar, drinking Mad Dog margaritas, and not caring where you are -- all in 4:20 ?From the sage wisdom of Stuff that Works (w/R. Crowell, a long-time friend of his), to the uplifting message and wry humor of The Cape, to the painful mourning of his fathers death in Randall Knife, this disk includes some of his finest songwriting. If you are new to Guy Clarks music, this is a fine way to start appreciating his poetry set to music.
Guy Clark Album Review:
masterpiece at 2006-06-02
Here I am in Dublin...from there Im hooked. Some of Guys best writing. The title tune with the odd acoustic riff and the spooky sense of sorrow and joy at the same time. Stuff That Works, the collaboration with Rodney Crowell that includes a really sweet turn toward Guys wife Suzannah, Black Diamond Strings, the obligitory this could be a drunken sing along song if you want it to be, not to mention a tip of the cap to Rodney and those strings every guitar player started out with.The highlight though is a beautiful version of what is arguably the best song Guy has ever written, The Randall Knife. Its one of those songs that when its over you say if I could write anything as good as any line in that song I could die a happy man. The tune about a relationship with a father is one most of us can relate to.This is one another of those take it to a desert island records. Buy it today
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Old Friends
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Guy Clark Album Review:
COMES FROM THE HEART/DANCES LIKE NOBODYS WATCHING at 2002-08-06
A deep songwriters album, both Guys and his wifes songs as well as the great Townes Van Zandts song To Live Is To Fly Surprisingly COMES FROM THE HEART ,the song that has become a cult classic and quoted all over the internet, is written by Susannah Clark and Richard Leigh. The lyrics just connect with people in a positive encouraging way. The chorus is:You got to sing like you dont need the money Love like youll never get hurt You got to dance like nobodys watchin Its gotta come from the heart if you want it to workI believe this is the first recording of it but many singers have recorded it by now. I just wanted to let people know about this amazing song and where it came from.As far as Im concerned all Guy Clark albums are good and some are great. The songs stick with you and hes mesmerizing live as well. Hes an accomplished singer who uses his lived-in voice to communicate extremely well. Hes sure knows how to write, co-write and pick the best songs of other artist. Ive found lots of other artists just by researching the writers and pickers associated with Guy Clark. Check out all his cds and live shows.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Guy Clark...an amazing talent at 2000-03-15
I LOVE Guy Clark and have since the 70s. I have every album he ever made and am now in the process of purchasing his music in CD format. Bauldie needs to grab a beer, sit back, relax and listen to what Guy Clark has to say. Theres more to his music than Mr. Bauldie realizes.
Guy Clark Album Review:
A simple Guy at 2001-07-13
Texas folk music is the best way to describe this one. Catchy tunes and great lyrics make this one a timeless piece of music. Seems to get better with every listen.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Gentle, simple, slice-of-life humor, wit and insight... at 2002-03-25
Guy Clark writes nice songs, and once you get used to his past middle-age voice, you realize he is a skilled performer as well. The best numbers here include All Through Throwin Good Love After Bad (which deserves and rewards repeated listening) and To Live is to Fly, written by his good friend Townes van Zandt. He also does a nice job on the Joe Ely song The Indian Cowboy and the title tune, which he co-wrote with his wife and Richard Dobson. This is one of those albums which grows on you.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Simple and well-crafted at 2000-03-23
Guy Clark will never be a country superstar. Hed feel ridiculous in music video with a 22 year old female model hanging around his neck. He doesnt sing with an exaggerated country twange. He may wear a black cowboy hat to keep the sun out of his eyes, but I doubt that he would ever wear one as part of a costume. His voice sounds like Burl Ivies.What Clark does well, as demonstrated on Old Friends, is write simple and well-crafted songs. It is as comfortable to spend time listening to Old Friends as sitting beside the fireplace with, well, old friends. Childhood is celebrated in `Watermelon Dream, `Immigrant Eyes is a song of gratitude, and `Heavy Metal is a tale of individualism. Clark follows a valuable (but too often forgotten) rule taught in Writing 101; that is, keep it simple. I only wish that I had more Old Friends like Guy Clark.
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Guy Clark Album Review:
Great songwriting at 2000-12-18
This is a great CD. The songwring is extremely focused - not many wasted notes or words here! The words and music fit together seamlessly. The performances is inspired, and Emmylou Harris guests on the wonderful I dont love you much do I. True, Guy Clark may have a limited vocal range, but his vocals are always highly distinct, and his singing here is more assured than on previous albums where his voice sometimes cracks uncomfortably. Excellent musicians. Highly recomended.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Let it sink in at 2002-04-07
This is awesome. I didnt like it at first, but after a while I realized this was a masterpiece. The duet with Emmylou Harris is probably the best duet I have heard in ages. If you like good songwriting and artistry, you will like this. But please dont judge it until you have listened 10 or 12 times
Guy Clark Album Review:
Incredible Song Writing at 2002-01-21
If you are looking for twang and edge, this isnt your album right now. If you are looking for an incredible array of folky songs with a soft, compassionate feel, this IS your album. It is one of the best I own.
Guy Clark Album Review:
Not my style at 2001-07-23
I like Old No. 1 and really enjoy Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris, but I cant really get into this album. It is nice, but seems to really lack something. There is no grit or rawness to the music, which to me is essential in the folk/country music Clark plays.
Guy Clark Album Review:
The Best Guy Clark album at 2001-04-28
Well, its my favourite anyway.First thing that struck me was the sound: sharp as a knife, right in the room, yet rich and comfortable. The band are as tight as anything, and the whole record feels like it was was put together by somebody who knew how to get exactly what they had in their mind.Good songs too, all by Guy Clark of course. The title track is probably my favourite, and one of Guys best ever songs. A very appealing combination of a great lyric, good chorus and neatly woven acoustic guitars.I like the blues songs on this album too. Like Howd You Get This Number and Picassos Mandolin - the latter an interesting combination of off-the-wall lyrics and crystalline guitar work.The duet with Emmylou (I Dont Love You Much Do I) tops off a great album.
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