Songs and Stories

by Guy Clark

Overview

Guy Clark is a superlative songwriter, a fine and thoughtful vocalist, and a compelling live performer, so it's a bit surprising that he hasn't released more live recordings, which would allow him to show off these three talents to their best advantage. Songs and Stories is only the second live album of Clark's career, coming 14 years after 1997's excellent Keepers, and there are some telling similarities between the two albums. Guitarist Verlon Thompson is still the anchor of Clark's acoustic band, Kenny Malone is still playing percussion, and both sets begin with the song "L.A. Freeway" from the earlier live collection. Songs and Stories is dominated by hardy perennials from Clark's songbook such as "Dublin Blues," "The Randall Knife," and "Homegrown Tomatoes." However, while Keepers captured Clark at a near ideal point in his career -- seasoned enough that he had become a top-notch performer but still lively and in strong voice -- Songs and Stories documents him at 70 years of age, and his voice is rougher and his vocals less supple than they once were, though he still has the presence to hold an audience in the palm of his hand and a band that serves the songs beautifully. And along with a paucity of recent material, this album also finds Clark taking an intermission at the set's mid-point, with Thompson and Shawn Camp taking over the show for four songs (a considerable percentage when Clark only sings nine). While Keepers captured Clark on a great night when he sounded fully engaged, Songs and Stories suggests he's coasting just a bit, and though he's still one of the true legends of the Texas songwriting community, this simply doesn't capture him at the top of his game. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	08/16/2011
Label:	Dualtone Music
UPC:	0803020153325
Rank:	33883

Tracks

1. Introduction
2. L.A. Freeway
3. Story: Sometimes They Come Easy
4. Maybe I Can Paint Over That
5. Story: Townes¿¿¿ Road Keets
6. If I Needed You
7. The Cape
8. Homegrown Tomatoes
9. Shawn and Verlon
10. Story: The Legend of Sis Draper
11. Sis Draper
12. Magnolia Wind
13. Story: I¿¿¿m from Greasy Bend
14. Darwettia¿¿¿s Mandolin
15. Story: Hang in There
16. Joe Walker¿¿¿s Mare
17. A Nod to Rodney Crowell
18. Stuff That Works
19. Out in the Parkin¿¿¿ Lot
20. Intro: The Randall Knife
21. The Randall Knife
22. Curtain Call for the Cast
23. Dublin Blues

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Guy Clark   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals
Shawn Camp   Vocals,Guitar,Mandolin
Kenny Malone   Percussion
Verlon Thompson   Guitar,Vocals
Bryn Davies   Bass (Upright)

Technical Credits

Susanna Clark   Composer
Chris Latham   Mixing,Mastering
Russ Long   Engineer
Verlon Thompson   Composer,Storyteller
Rodney Crowell   Composer
Scott Robinson   Executive Producer
Guy Clark   Composer,Storyteller
Darrell Scott   Composer
Townes Van Zandt   Composer
Konrad Snyder   Assistant Engineer
David McClister   Photography
Matt Hamilton   Assistant Engineer
Josh Sumrall   Assistant Engineer
Joey Luscinski   Graphic Design
Jim Janousky   Composer
Shawn Camp   Composer