Just heard the news about Guy Clark. Sad – fortunate enough to have seen him live. One of many artists who ‘soundtracked my life’, excuse the cliche. I guess no-one goes on for ever. He wrote so many classic songs and delivered them in his inimitable style. A true storyteller.
Guy starts at about 0:53 in the above clip
Oh Shit!
I just heard too.
Another good man gone. He probably won’t mean anything to many of the people round here, but what he lacked in popularity was nothing to do with any lack of quality.
How dark is it? It’s so dark the wind gets lost
That’s a wonderful song Carl. Can’t claim to know much of his work but it’s pretty clear that his influence ran deep and wide.
Carl, you just posted my favourite Guy Clark song Carl. That song is genius.
I finally got hold of a (more or less) sensibly priced second hand copy of the whole album.
It’s been well worth the wait!
Thanks Carl!
If you haven’t seen the wonderful documentary Heartworn Highways, here it is in full on YT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnryXNLRhhk
(Not just about Guy Clark of course, but he’s the first voice you hear)
and the tribute LP “This One’s For Him” is one of my very favourites.
Clearing out my parent’s house at the end of last week. Very emotional times. Driving through town with my brother, looking to drop off a load of clothes at a charity shop. Sunny day, stereo on, trying to stay upbeat, when up comes The Randall Knife. Sobbing within minutes. Another fine talent lost, so sad.
What a song that is.
I wasn`t a big fan, have a few albums but this guy had talent, a lot of talent. @Locust I have the `Heartworn Highways` DVD, it was how I got to hear Guy for the first time.
A sad loss. 2016, it ain`t a good year.
Aw, man. This one hurts. Not like Merle, but different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTwStbY9GWQ
That is quite wonderful.
I have been a fan of Guy for many years, and his death is my ‘Bowie moment’ if that isn’t too disrespectful.
His songs have always been honest, heartfelt and personal. He could effortlessly bridge tragedy and humour in one song.
“Old Number 1” still remains his masterpiece for me, not a dud in sight.
In later years Guy was as much in demand for his hand-made guitars as his music, he was a masterful luthier.
There are many songs I’ll be remembering him with, but this one seems somehow fitting.
RIP Guy.
Very sad news.
I can only echo what others have said.
A genuine great, who I wish was more widely known, if only
because there is & was so much to love.
Please excuse my self-indulgence here, posting twice, but I recalled that Guy co-wrote the song Bang The Drum Slowly with Emmylou Harris.
It’s about Emmylou’s dad, but it seems to me to be appropriate for today.
Very sad news.
I only have one Guy Clark album, namely “Old No. 1”.
Why did I not buy another?
Well, I figured that it was so brilliant, no other Guy Clark album could match it.
So I simply stuck with “Old No.1”
Rest easy.
Hi Duc,
I agree.
Back in the day(as they say) I bought my 1st 2 country albums “Old No. 1” and Gram Parsons “Grievous Angel”.
I still love both.
The portal was Emmylou who I heard on Dylans “Desire” and a couple of albums by Neil Young.
Prior to that hated all things country – “Country & Irish” was a big thing around these parts. An appalling concoction.
I love the story telling in “Old No. 1”. Never got into Guy’s later albums to the same degree.
I will dig it out tonight and raise a glass to old Guy.
The head line of this piece caught my attention
Guy Clark Passes
Why not passed away , or simply dies.
http://www.musicrow.com/2016/05/lifenotes-legendary-songwriter-guy-clark-passes/
As the piece above states, it certainly seems as if his wife’s death ripped him hard, the notes in the earlier mentioned tribute dble CD comments upon this also. This Ones For Him can be a sampler of who’s who in americana in its own right, let alone even before you consider all the songs were by the one fella.
Here’s another valediction. It’s less of an obituary and more of an appreciation of his influence as a songwriter.
http://www.examiner.com/article/guy-clark-an-appreciation