Guy Clark
Somedays The Song
Writes You
Dualtone Records
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also available on amazon
This collection of eleven songs, ten written by Clark and an assortment of his cohorts and collaborators, as usual contains some that are destined to be classic gems. This master of the story contained in a song feels comfortable writing with friends, and the results are amazing. He has been around the block a few times and knows what he is talking about and those who have even the smallest smattering of intelligence listen when he talks of songwriting; after all he has written such classics as “L.A. Freeway,” “Home Grown Tomatoes,” “Heartbroke,” and “Desperados Waiting For A Train.” Just for keeping things straight the eleventh song on the disc was written by another master storyteller, and his late friend, Townes Van Zandt. Guy Clark it seems has been around forever, Jerry Jeff Walker had a hit with, “L.A. Freeway,” but Clark did not release an album until 1975’s, Old No 1. He writes comparatively slowly but what he writes is quality material with very little throwaway. He grew up in windswept Texas and though he may not live there it is infiltrated into his whole being, and manages to express in his succinct way what many writers take volumes to say.
On this disc he writes with some of his old friends Rodney Crowell, Shawn Camp, Gary Nicholson and Jon Randall among others; but he widens his circle to include some new songwriters such as
Ashley Monroe, Patrick Davis, and Jedd Hughes and a couple of others. His songs have that same quality as that Texas wind, the get into all the nooks and work their grit into the system until they become a part of you. He has that rare ability to bring a chatoyancy, depth, to words and phrases. Take a look at the second verse of “Somedays You Write The Song,”
There’s no rhyme or reason
Ain’t a damn thing you can do
Somedays you write the song
Somedays the song writes you
As usual he has his usual cronies playing along with him Verlon Thompson (guitars and harmony vocal), Kenny Malone (drums and percussion), Bryn Davies (upright bass, cello, and harmony vocal), and Shawn Camp (mandolin, fiddle, guitars and vocal) make up the core. An extra fine collection from one of the true troubadours around today. If you haven’t seen him don’t pass up the chance.