Guy Clark

It’s appropriate that a sculptor of songs so fine would find inspiration in his workshop. That’s exactly the setting that craftsman Clark went to for the starting point of the songs on this new disc. Workbench Songs opens with the powerful "Walkin’ Man,” which is driven by a mean mandolin; this tune is a travelogue through the ages, where Clark pays homage to the troubadours that trod before him such as Woody Guthrie who "killed a fascist every day.” Clark later pays homage to his old mate with a tearful and touching cover of Van Zant’s "No Lonesome Tune.” Even writers get lonely and need some companionship once in a while besides their words and songs, and here Clark seeks out some of his songwriting companions as most of the 11 songs are co-writes. One of the best collaborations is the honky-tonkin,’ tongue-in-cheek "Exposé,” which was co-written with Rodney Crowell and Hank DeVito. From the bottle-eyed ballad "Out in the Parkin’ Lot” (co-written with Darrell Scott) where there "ain’t no cover charge, ain’t no last call,” to the gospel-blues of "Worry B Gone,” with Workbench Songs Clark offers his best batch of songs in years.