Search - Guy Clark :: Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years

Guy Clark: The quintessential Singer/songwriter

Kenneth C. Schmierer | Ellendale, North Dakota | 03/24/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

""He's one of those who knows that life

Is just a leap of faith

Spread your arms and hold you breath

Always trust your cape"



Guy Clark is a national treasure. Simply put a gifted songwriter who capture's the essence of every day life. His rugged voice, wonderful lyrics and catchy melodies never fail to entertain and illuminate. He deals with our inner angst with humor and insight in his songs. He captures the moody moments of growing up in America during the last half century. His humor, his meticulously crafted metaphor make him one of our best songwriters. Since I heard his first album OLD NO. 1 back in the seventies he has been at the top of my list with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, John Prine and Leonard Cohen.



This new CD American Masters Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years will not be available until Tuesday but it contains fresh material not available on Guy's most prominent Albums. Songs in the Clark Arsenal include classics such as LA Freeway, Desperado's Waiting for a Train, Texas 1947, The Last Gunfighter Ballad, One Paper Kid, Better Days, Home Grown Tomatoes, Watermelon Dream, Immigrant Eyes, The Cape and the wonderful Randall Knife. They are part of the fabric of our culture. Those along with a hundred others songs with iconic lyrics and touching melodies are now part of his and our musical heritage. If even one of the songs on the new CD is half as good as any of these songs it will be worth the price of admission.



In short he is the quintessential singer-songwriter of his day. I always look forward to the newest Guy Clark CD and can not wait to hear this new record.



"Sometimes when I look in my grandfather's Immigrant Eyes

I see that day reflected and I can't hold my feelings inside

I see starting with nothing and working hard all of his life

So don't take it for granted say grandfather's Immigrant Eyes"





"