YouTube's algorithm is constantly bombarding me with new territory to explore. Recently it was quite insistent I look into this documentary about Guy Clark, a singer songwriter I'd never heard of.
Here's the trailer:
The full documentary turned me onto a whole world of Texas songwriters, the Outlaw's outlaws, if you will. It became a rabbit hole of record buying and research. I've been a Gram Parsons fan for decades, but somehow missed Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and a handful of others doing similar things at the same time. This is where Emmylou Harris went after Gram's untimely death.
I grew up in L.A., and this song is the one that got me.
I paid a small fortune for a near mint original pressing of Guy Clark's first album, "Old No1", and was not disappointed. Then came Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, and Rodney Crowell.
Sorry I'm late today.
-BBJ
19 comments:
I was already very familiar with all these artists but I agree, this documentary is great. Possibly one of the best music docs I have ever seen.
Rodney Crowell is so great it hurts. Here's one he wrote for his sister-in-law. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3y1i2xSAAM&list=RDZ3y1i2xSAAM&start_radio=1
Guy Clark is the BEST. Everything he did was wonderful. His 1992 Boats To Build is one of those rare perfect records. And I mean perfect. Every track, every note, and a duet with Emmylou to boot!
Fantastic songwriters all. There was a great Austin City Limits episode that featured several of tgem & Lyle Lovett, about 20 years ago or more, a n d it's where I first saw Guy.
Guy could write a song. I've always been particularly partial to "Dublin Blues," but there's nary a bad one. Deep in the ATX punk scene, I'd still make my way out to see folx like him and the whole Soap Creek Saloon crowd. But if I coul only pick one, it'd be Mr. Clark and it'd be "Dublin Blues."
"I have seen the David, I've seen the Mona Lisa too / I have heard Doc Watson play 'Columbus Stockade Blues'"
I got to see Townes and Guy Clark on a double bill in a tapas restaurant in Columbus OH in the mid-60's. Townes lost a lot of steam as his set went along, but Clark killed everyone with his songs, stories and genial mood.
Wow. Just Wow.
I’m a big fan of the Go-Betweens. One of them, Robert Forster put out his first solo album, Danger In The Past, in 1991. It includes a song called Dear Black Dream with these lines:
My love and I sit in bed in the dark
My love and I sit in bed in the dark
Wondering who sings better in the dark
Is it Townes Van Zandt, or is it Guy Clark?
That song introduced me to both artists and they have been favorites of mine for a long time now.
- Paul in DK
I discovered Guy Clark way back in the 1970s. Loved him immediately and then proceeded to buy everything that came out for many years. Saw him every chance I got. Turned a lot of people on to him and all the other Texas Troubadours. The list of people that have covered his songs is a mile long. Sorry you missed him for so long. It is a shame that he passed away ( 2016) with very little money. The tribute album was to help with his medical bills. A great talent.
Guy seems to have really struck a chord around here.
More of the rabbit hole tomorrow.
Great documentary full of great music.
I lived in northern Louisiana for years & bumped into many other kindred souls who loved the music of Guy, Townes, Rodney, Billy Joe, Steve Earle, etc.
One of them, Aimee, became a good friend. She got to meet Billy Joe & Guy in their later years.
There’s an album of Guy, Townes, & Steve recorded playing live in 1995 called “Together at the Bluebird Cafe” that’s a gem of a listen if you ever have the chance to.
Guy Clark was really great. Saw him at McCabes years ago. What a storyteller!
I went down a path of listening to these terrific musicians in the late 90s following the release of Lyle Lovett's Step Inside this House, which was essentially his tribute album to them. I agree with the person who wrote that Rodney Crowell is so good it hurts. Glad you've discovered these amazing artists and songs.
bumppa (above) mentions the tribute album. It's called "This One's for Him" and is truly great. Two CDs long and not a bad cut on it. I know it's a cliché but Clark was a "songwriter's songwriter." The roster on the tribute record reads like an all-star team of country music.
There is ALWAYS more music to discover! Glad you hit this seam of riches. I assume The Flatlanders w Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock are part of the haul? More a legend than a band....
I live in the Bay Area and am fortunate to hit up the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival on a near-annual basis. These Texas singer-songwriters have/had been the staples of the three-day festival and I've had the chance to see most of them. Guy, Townes, Rodney, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely; they're all just wonderful. Oh, Emmylou's not bad, herself...
I could not possibly agree more - Boats To Build is unsurpassed!
Steve Earle & The Dukes’ GUY from 2019:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe-WQQHddpPPPvT-5mwAwhfbYxLajJW1q&si=dZGlIm_VYFUvjZIN
https://music.apple.com/us/album/guy/1447311634
So shocked that Guy Clark and Townes weren't at least on your radar to some extent. Glad that has been rectified. It was Steve Earle (Justin Townes is in part named for TVZ) who famously said, "“Townes Van Zandt’s the best songwriter in the world, and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.” And Guy Clark is an idol to most Texas musicians. Enjoy discovering so many of these gems. I have plenty of live performances from both should you or anyone desire. --Muzak McMusics
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