From Amazon.com
In a class with Woody, Townes and Bob Dylan
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I found Guy Clark late and have been working hard to catch up ever since. Not only are his lyrics and arrangements gorgeous, his sand and sagebrush Texas voice is highly listenable, too.
"Workbench Songs" is a mix of a lot of styles and emotions. Texans would joke it's like the weather--if you wait around, it will change.
The first cut, "Walking Man" sounds very Celtic and relates the lives of folks like Woody Guthrie, Ghandi, and all the others who have walked the hard world to make this a better place:
Was a walkin' man come by here
A hundred years ago
Walkin' down the trail of tears
Out to Oklahom-i-o out to Oklahome
Clark mixes the serious with humor, too--"Tornado Time in Texas" talks about the havoc storms create in the South Central plains all done to a swingy beat. One line--"when pigs fly, no I mean really fly" is very typical of what a real storm does. He's got the sight, sound, and effect of the storms down in rhyme:
Got your hailstones big as hen eggs, boys
Clouds as green as can be
Old Mother Nature raising h###
She parked a pickup in a tree
There's also some blues. "Funny Bone" talks about a rodeo clown losing his love and living with a painted on smile. "Expose" talks about someone writing their memoirs and telling tales "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
I've got this CD in the car changer and it may well stay there for quite a while. Both my husband and I have played it extensively and repeated songs.
Highly recommended
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Guy Clark is one of the few artists about whose cds that I know will please me. He's one of the best finger pickers. "Workbench Songs" helps me relax after a hard day of doing nothing. Everything he does sounds like music.
Dublin Blues Part II
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: The first album I purchased by Guy Clark was Dublin Blues and that was about six years ago. I still love the CD and listen to it all the time, without skipping any songs. I later purchased Essential Guy Clark, but did not like it nearly as much, the production was lousy and the songs just did not hit me the way the songs on Dublin Blues did. I hemmed and hawed on picking this new one up, but finally did a few weeks ago. Glad I did, this is a wonderful album, very similar in style to Dublin Blues, good tunes and good stories. I guess if you have a winning formula stick with it. The songs have a warmth to them that makes you feel like you are sitting around a campfire or pub listening in person. The stories are all entertaining. Definitely worth the price, and I don't skip any of the songs on this disk either. Tornado time in Texas is my favorite so far, always turn that one up!
Workbench Songs - Guy Clark
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Guy Clark has been one of America's Finest Songwriters for many years. His songs have been recorded by some of America's most well known Performers like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Workbench Songs is his lastest CD Release that showcases his well honed Songwriting Talent. The 1st Song of CD is "Walkin Man", it is a great ballad that evokes Legends like: Martin Luther King, Woodie Guthrie, Gandi and Chuck Berry. It is the kind of song that tells a timeless story and I have even added it to my own performances. The rest of the Album is equally Great. Guy Clark's style of acoustic Guitar Playing (and Making) is unique, but in the same vein of Woody/Arlo Guthrie, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Ramblin' Jack Elliot. I recommend this Album to Anyone interested in True American Music performed by an Established Songwriter.
Guy Clark ages well
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Though he is aging, Guy Clark continues to record excellent music. Workbench Songs is a welcome addition to his catalog. May he continue to produce such pleasing work.
Purchases
1 Walkin' Man
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