Another Guy Clark Tune

**Mandobart** · Aug-15-2010, 10:56am

Here's a great, darker Guy Clark tune with some good mando work:

**Jethrob** · Aug-16-2010, 6:58am

WOW! That is some heavy S**t! Guy Clark is the man.

**Ed Goist** · Aug-17-2010, 10:11pm

Love it! What awesome lyrics...
Thanks for posting...Guy Clark is the man indeed!

**bagpipe** · Aug-18-2010, 7:37am

There's lots of great mandolin playing on Guy Clarks records. I discovered the multi-talented Darrell Scott through Guys records.

**Jason Kessler** · Aug-18-2010, 12:55pm

Funny: as I'm reading this thread, I happen to be listening to my first Guy Clark album, "Dublin Blues." I'm only 4 songs in, but lovin' it.

His is a name I've heard a lot, of course, but have finally grabbed an album. I love his lyrics, not just the imagery, but the sure-footed sense of meter. I like Elvis Costello's lyrics too, but whereas Elvis is contorting himself blue-in-the-face to achieve his effect, Clark is falling off a log.

**Mike Bunting** · Aug-18-2010, 3:07pm

I've been a fan of Guy and Townes for about 30 years, just can't figure out why this thread is in a rock based forum.

**Mandobart** · Aug-18-2010, 6:06pm

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

I've been a fan of Guy and Townes for about 30 years, just can't figure out why this thread is in a rock based forum.

Sorry, I guess the "folk rock, roots rock and rockabilly" part of the forum name led me to think Americana might fit in here.

**Mike Bunting** · Aug-18-2010, 6:32pm

No problem. I guess that it's not such a great name for the thread.

**Ed Goist** · Jun-01-2011, 12:39pm

The recent thread about Steve Earle (with its menion of Guy Clark), has me thinking that I should get to know this artist better than the few YouTube videos I have seen (including the fantastic one that started this thread).

Some quick research today revealed that Verlon Thompson & Darrell Scott are credited with playing mandolin family instruments on just about all of Clark's releases! Also, Cold Dog Soup & The Dark are noted as having "stripped-down" production (something I like very much) by many reviewers.

Hence; for those more familiar with this artist than I, which 3 to 5 of his releases would provide me with a good overview of his work (of course, the more mandolin content, the better).

Thanks.

**Alex Orr** · Jun-01-2011, 3:40pm

Originally Posted by Ed Goist

Hence; for those more familiar with this artist than I, which 3 to 5 of his releases would provide me with a good overview of his work (of course, the more mandolin content, the better)

He's not a very mandolin heavy artist, but it shows up here and there.

His first album is easily his best, and probably one of the best "Texas songwriter" albums ever recorded. I wasn't as impressed with his follow up as most folks seem to be, but it's a good album nonetheless, and at least when I bought them a few years back, you could get the first two albums bundled as one CD. That would be your best place to start. Dublin Blues and Boats to Build are also pretty good.

**MikeEdgerton** · Jun-01-2011, 5:12pm

I've been a fan since before the first album. I can honestly say I've never been disappointed in any of them. Some of them may not jump right out and grab you right away but they grow on you. Ed, go over to youtube and just go through the list. The stuff he has out there will amaze you more as you go along. His work with just him and Verlon is probably the best duet stuff I've heard, right up there with Tom Russel and Andrew Hardin (not much on Youtube unfortunately). Guy Clark's first two albums put him on the map. He's never been a top 40 guy but the number of people doing his stuff is pretty much a testament to his songwriting abilities. When a singer-songwriter can go on stage with one other instrument and sound as good as he does, then there's something to be said about the performer. Anyone can sound good with a full band behind them, even me.

**Mandocarver** · Jun-02-2011, 2:55am

Originally Posted by Alex Orr

He's not a very mandolin heavy artist, but it shows up here and there.

His first album is easily his best, and probably one of the best "Texas songwriter" albums ever recorded. I wasn't as impressed with his follow up as most folks seem to be, but it's a good album nonetheless, and at least when I bought them a few years back, you could get the first two albums bundled as one CD. That would be your best place to start. Dublin Blues and Boats to Build are also pretty good.

One Guy Clark album that has loads of great mandolin in it is "Cold Dog Soup" - highly recommended.
Dean

**Mandotarian** · Jun-05-2011, 4:44pm

I'm a big Guy Clark fan. Old Friend, Boats to Build, Workbench Songs and Together at The Bluebird Cafe with Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle are must own in my opinion. Not to mention Dublin Blues, Old No. 1, Texas Cookin and Cold Dog Soup. Sam Bush plays mandolin on Old Friends and there is mando sprinkled throughout most of his releases. Some of the greatest hits collections are pretty good too.

One of the great songwriters from the fruitful state of Texas.

**Santiago** · Jun-05-2011, 10:01pm

Wow. I like this!

**Theo B** · Jun-05-2011, 10:10pm

My Texan family is acquainted with him! He's great... And a wonderful musician.

Great song. Thanks for sharing!

**Fretbear** · Jun-05-2011, 10:34pm

He's also a luthier who builds his own guitars.

**MikeEdgerton** · Jun-06-2011, 8:44am

Originally Posted by Fretbear

He's also a luthier who builds his own guitars.

Yes he is but I've noticed in the last few years that he's started playing Martins in concert.

**citeog** · Jul-04-2011, 9:28pm

I think that he makes classical guitars, for the most part.

My favourite song of his is "Stuff That Works." Great imagery in the lyrics.

Guy Clark is some of the "stuff that works" for me.

Paul

**Ed Goist** · Jul-04-2011, 9:48pm

Originally Posted by Mandocarver

One Guy Clark album that has loads of great mandolin in it is "Cold Dog Soup" - highly recommended.
Dean

Originally Posted by citeog

I think that he makes classical guitars, for the most part.
My favourite song of his is "Stuff That Works." Great imagery in the lyrics.
Guy Clark is some of the "stuff that works" for me.
Paul

Thanks again to everyone for their comments on this thread.

I recently picked-up Cold Dog Soup, The Dark, Dublin Blues, & Old No. 1. Last month I listened to all of these (a few times) during a long drive to and from Columbia, SC.

I was profoundly affected by this experience. Clark's music is exceptional, and it seems to speak directly to me. Moreover, his songwriting is deep, powerful, visceral, and very intelligent. As Paul point out, wonderful use of imagery.

I'll end by agreeing with Dean that Cold Dog Soup is an fantastic mandolin album...One of my new favorites!... Now a "Top Ten Mandolin Album" for me for sure. Hats off to Darrell Scott for his exceptional work on mandolin and mandocello on this great album!

**Ed Goist** · Jul-12-2011, 9:18pm

Here's Clark's Picasso's Mandolin from the album "Boats to Build". That's Sam Bush on mandolin.

**Ed Goist** · Jul-26-2011, 3:56pm

Just had to add...I recently picked-up three more Guy Clark albums (Workbench Songs, Somedays the Song Writes You, and Live from Austin, TX). Fine mandolin playing is interspersed on all of these great records.

However, Live from Austin, TX is really something special musically. Clark's vocals and guitar are brilliantly accompanied by Edgar Meyer on double bass and Stuart Duncan on fiddle and mandolin. Some of Duncan's mandolin work here is just spectacular. Highly recommended!

**Patrick Sylvest** · Jul-26-2011, 4:46pm

Excellent! I hadn't heard this one!

I had the pleasure of opening the show for Guy Clark in October 2010 in Baton Rouge at the Red Dragon Listening Room. A career highlight and an honor to be sure!

**Ed Goist** · Jun-29-2012, 11:33am

I was sad to hear today that Guy's life-partner for the past 40+ years, Susanna Clark (a great songwriter in her own right), has passed away. Here's an obit.