Let Us Praise Guy Clark!
The casualties in the music world continue unabated this year, with the deaths of Prince and Merle Haggard being among the most recent high-profile losses. But one death that many people missed — or perhaps one that didn’t ring a bell with the masses — and the one that saddened me the most, was that of Guy Clark on May 17.
Okay, Guy Clark was far from a household name. But in certain circles of the music world (country, or “outlaw country”, folk music) Guy Clark was a legend, both a songwriting genius and an exceptional singer-songwriter in his own right. He hailed from Texas, running in the same musical circles as Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Willie Nelson. I first heard Guy Clark on an episode on Austin City Limits back in the late 1970s and was instantly smitten. I went out and bought his debut album from 1975, Old No. 1. That album featured classics such as “L.A. Freeway” (a song that was a hit for Jerry Jeff Walker), “Desperados Waiting for a Train”, “Rita Ballou” and other gems. Truly, that ranks as one of my favorite albums of all time. His following album in 1976, Texas Cookin’ was just as great, packed with more wonderful songs that other songwriters could only envy, or at least record their own cover versions.
After those two albums for RCA, Guy Clark switched labels and started recording for Asylum Records. The next three albums (1978-1983) weren’t quite as strong as his first two sets (hey, it would be almost impossible to top those two gems!), but they still boasted classic songs such as “Homegrown Tomatoes”, “Randall Knife”, and “New Cut Road.” After leaving the major labels behind, Clark recorded a consistently good to great series of albums for independent labels in the 1990s and 2000s. His final album, 2013’s My Favorite Picture of You,” was a tribute of sorts to his late wife Susanna (who passed away in 2012) and ranks among his very best efforts. A truly moving collection of songs. Then again, you would expect no less from someone like Guy Clark. His style was far from the cartoonish, sappy country music that so often tops the charts. Instead his songs shone with honesty, emotion, and intelligence. Cerebral country?
For a sample of how engaging he was in concert, check out Together at the Bluebird Café, a 1995 show held to benefit a dental clinic in Nashville that he recorded with Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle. The set featured tender love songs, emotionally powerful tunes, and plenty of humor (thanks to some very entertaining “tales” the musicians told between songs); hallmarks of Guy Clark’s songwriting. For another fascinating look at the early years of Guy Clark, look for Heartworn Highways, which is both an acclaimed documentary (much of the footage recorded during live jams in Clark’s home) and a live album featuring Clark and the other musicians.
Another “must listen” is an album of other artists performing Guy Clark songs, This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark. Among the participants on this musical love-fest from 2011 are Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Lyle Lovett, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson, Patty Griffin, Radney Foster, Jerry Jeff Walker, and many more. It’s a 2-CD set, so rest assured that there are plenty of great songs to he heard.
Meanwhile, here are the other CDs soothing my soul and getting heavy play at my home and bookshop recently:
The Jayhawks – Paging Mr. Proust
Hank Thompson – Vintage Collection
Eleanor Friedberger – New View
Jimmy Buffett – Coconut Telegraph
Pete Yorn – Arranging Time
Dexter Story – Wondem
The O’Jays – Family Reunion
Cannonball Adderley Quintet – Pyramid
Cheap Trick – Bang Zoom Crazy Hello
Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression
Various Artists – Angola 2: 1969-1976
Fleetwood Mac – Tango in the Night
Hank Crawford – Down on the Deuce
Jim Lauderdale – Soul Searching
Black Uhuru – Sinsemilla
Various Artists – Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Soul Vol. 2
Little Barrie – King of the Waves
Johnny Hammond Smith – Legends of Acid Jazz
Cornel Campbell – Original Blue Recordings 1970-1976
Nektar – Sunday Night at London Roundhouse
The I Don’t Cares (Paul Westerberg & Juliana Hatfield) – Wild Stab
Various Artists – Another Late Night: Kid Loco
Little Beaver – When Was the Last Time
Lee Michaels – Highty Hi: The Best Of
The Bats – Volume 1 (3-CD set)
The Counts – It’s What’s In the Groove
Commodores – Live
The Toure-Raichel Collective – The Paris Sessions
The Posies – Solid State
Paul Simon – Stranger To Stranger
Various Artists – Harmony of the Soul: Vocal Groups 1962-1975
Waco Brothers – Electric Waco Chair
Dungen – Allas Sak
Tracey Thorn – Solid: Songs and Collaborations 1982-2015
Leon Bridges – Coming Home
Specials – More Specials (2-CD Special Edition)
Harpers Bizarre – The Complete Singles Collection
Lana Del Rey – Honeymoon
American Music Club – Love Songs for Patriots
David Bowie – Blackstar