Guy Clark Dublin Blues CD

Texas-to-Nashville country-folk troubadour Clark was always more "respected" than popular, so it's not surprising that this rare major label outing failed to earn him an audience beyond his loyal cult. Regardless, DUBLIN BLUES is full of songs as good as any Clark ever wrote. Restrained but effective production puts Clark's rough, whiskey-and-cigarettes voice and quietly poetic lyrics front and center, which is the key to success for a songwriter this powerful. The title cut is an instant classic (later covered by Clark's buddy/peer Townes Van Zandt), a bit of visionary folkie melancholy. The closer "The Randall Knife" bookends the album perfectly, with a spoken lyric that speaks volumes about the complex dynamics between father and son in Clark's characteristically heartfelt but unsentimental style.

Recorded at EMI Studios, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Guy Clark (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Ramblin' Jack Elliott (vocals); Darrell Scott (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, dobro, mandolin, pennywhistle); Verlon Thompson (acoustic guitar, slide guitar, harmonica); Rodney Crowell (acoustic guitar); Sam Bush (mandolin); Jonathan Yudkin (violin); Jelly Roll Johnson (harmonica); Travis Clark (acoustic bass); Kenny Malone (drums, congas, shaker, tambourine, triangle).

Audio Mixers: Darrell Scott; Miles Wilkinson.

Recording information: EMI Studios, Nashville, TN.

Photographer: Senor McGuire.

Personnel: Guy Clark (vocals, acoustic guitar); Ramblin' Jack Elliott (vocals); Darrell Scott (acoustic, electric & slide guitars, mandolin, dobro, penny whistle); Verlon Thompson (acoustic & slide guitars, harmonica, background vocals); Rodney Crowell (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Sam Bush (mandolin); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Jonathan Yudkin (violin); Jelly Roll Johnson (harmonica); Travis Clark (acoustic bass, background vocals); Kenny Malone (drums, conga, tambourine, shaker, triangle, bells, percussion); Nanci Griffith, Donivan Cowart, Emmylou Harris, Suzi Ragsdale, Kathy Mattea (background vocals).

Entertainment Weekly (2/05/95, p.54) - "...Clark continues to craft tongue-and-groove meditations on life and love..." - Rating: A-
Option (7-8/95, p.96) - "...Clark's casual, slightly weary drawl beckons to the listener in settings of mandolin, fiddle, dobro and slide..."
Sing Out! (8-10/95, pp.147-148) - "...a bunch of songs that are so well-crafted [they] appear virtually effortless..."