The Essential Guy Clark

Guy Clark

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 11, 1997)
• Original Release Date: February 11, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: RCA
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B000002X1C
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #91,540 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Despite the misleading title, this collection is actually a straight (albeit reordered) reissue of Clark's first two records: 1975's landmark debut Old No. 1 and Texas Cookin' from the following year. Only one song from the latter title is missing, replaced by the "Fools for Each Other" single from 1978. Though he was in his early 30s when he recorded Old No. 1, Clark's keen, world-weary tales (and equally worn voice) belie his age. With simple arrangements and richly detailed narratives, the record has an air of resignation and melancholy, yet somehow manages to be comforting and uplifting. Texas Cookin' is a fine follow-up, but despite a number of high-profile guests, it never truly reaches the heights of its predecessor. Together, however, they form quite an impressive body of original songs, especially for only one year's worth of recording. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An old master, here presented as a young upstart..., March 25, 2002

By	William E. Adams (Hobbs, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Not really a "best of" CD, but pretty much a re-issue of his first two records for RCA back in '75 and '76. They probably sell more now than they did then. Guy Clark was never a comfortable fit with commercial country trends, and the folk revival was already gone when he got started. So he did not achieve mass appeal in his early days. But he sure wrote some fine songs. This CD will give you 73 minutes of good stuff. I actually don't play this as frequently as I do his more recent album, "Old Friends", but when I do play it, I find myself wondering why I hadn't pulled it out sooner. My faves on here include "Like a Coat From the Cold" and "That Old Time Feelin'" and "Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You" and "Broken Hearted People." Probably every listener will have different choices. He is personal, intimate, simple, pleasant and worth getting to know. Anyone who can be a friend to Ramblin' Jack Elliot, the cantankerous old folkie who was one of the last singers to work with Woody Guthrie and one of the first to champion Bob Dylan, has to have what they call "people skills." He also coped with the tormented genius Townes van Zandt and has been an inspiration to Nanci Griffith, among many others. This CD gives you a good idea why Mr. Clark is valued by so many artists who sell more records than he does.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Foolin' Us W/ The Sunshine, July 25, 2004

By	Toula Gator "Toula Gator" (Ponchatoula, LA) - See all my reviews

I own the original discs of OLD NO.1 (1975) & TEXAS COOKING (1976). It's a great idea to pair Guy's first two albums together. The first 10 songs on ESSENTIALS are from OLD NO.1 but in a scrambled order. Song 11-13 are from TEXAS COOKING in order but songs 4.IT'S ABOUT TIME & 5.GOOD TO LOVE YOU LADY from the single album cd are ommitted completely. Songs 14-17 continue in order to be followed by song 18.DON'T LET THE SUNSHINE FOOL YOU that was not on the TEXAS COOKING album but they give credit to it coming from it. Is this an outake of that session? It doesn't say and the song can not be traced to any other album. Song 19 is the last song from TEXAS COOKING but wait song 20 is acually from his third album self titled Guy Clark (1978). I'm not really sure why anyone who loves Guy Clark's music would drop those two songs from this collection.I would recommend getting the first two cds individually and of course the rest of his albums. If you love the style of Guy Clark give Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Wylie Hubbard a try. Another couple of great Texas guitarslingin'singer songwriters.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An American Treasure, March 19, 2003

By	"psychodj" (Durango, CO) - See all my reviews

Guy Clark is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. Just ask Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, or any of the hundreds of others who have been influenced by him. This collection contains all of "Old No. 1" and all but one song from "Texas Cookin'." If you can find the Sugar Hill re-releases of those original albums, buy them. If you can't find these, buy this CD, then buy his later albums. It's a great starting point for any newcomer to Guy's music. You'll still hear many of these songs in his live show.