There’s a cool Guy Clark documentary Kickstarter campaign happening right now that I encourage country music lovers to check out and, perhaps, make a pledge toward. Long time publicist, biographer and Guy Clark champion, Tamara Saviano, is in the process of producing and directing a documentary on Clark, a revered songwriter in country music.
The campaign is already almost fully funded, which is a testament to the wide and strong impact of Clark. However, while they’ve almost raised the initial funds, any extra money on top of that modest goal will only allow the documentary to be even better than it already promises to be, not to mention the opportunities for various perks that are offered to backers of the project.
After reading about and pledging to this campaign, I’ve been going down a Guy Clark Rabbit hole for the last couple of days, which has included listening to songs written by Clark that others have recorded and listening to his own excellent albums.
Luminaries such as Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Bare, John Conlee, The Highwaymen, Rosanne Cash, Kathy Mattea, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley , Ashley Monroe and Kenny Chesney, among many others, have been mentored by and have recorded Guy Clark songs.
With that said, today’s Daily Top Five is : What are your five favorite songs written and/or recorded by one of your favorite songwriters.
Since Guy Clark is one of my favorite songwriters, here are my top favorite songs of his:
1. Guy Clark & Emmylou Harris, “I Don’t Love You Much Do I”
2. Rodney Crowell, “She’s Crazy for Leaving”
3. Jerry Jeff Walker, “L.A. Freeway”
4. The Highwaymen, “Desperados Waiting for a Train”
5. Kathy Mattea, “The Cape”
Ross Copperman (relative unknown)
Top 5
1. Gloriana Trouble. You know support this song
2. Josh Turner Lay Low (RIP)
3. Trisha Yearwood Prizefighter
4. Brett Eldredge Beat Of The Music
5. Billy Currington Don’t It
Mainstream writer Brandy Clark.
1. Miranda Lambert Mamas Broken Heart
2. Kacey Musgraves Follow Your Arrow
3. Brandy Clark Stripes
4. The Band Perry Better Dig Two
5. Sunny Sweeney Bad Girl Phase
Al Anderson:
George Strait – “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright”
Chris LeDoux – “One Tonight”
Tim McGraw – “The Cowboy In Me”
Diamond Rio – “Unbelievable”
LeAnn Rimes – “Big Deal”
Gary Burr is my favorite songwriter and one of my favorite singers as well.
Songs solely written by Gary:
“In Front of the Alamo” – Hal Ketchum with LeAnn Rimes on harmony, and also recorded by Gary on his “Juggler’s Logic” album last year.
“She Can’t Be Really Gone” – Tim McGraw
“Station on the Line” – on Gary’s “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before” album.
“What Mattered Most” – co-written with Vince Melamed and recorded by Ty Herndon and by Gary on the “Stop Me…” album
“A Thousand Wild Horses” – co-written with Sam & Annie Tate and recorded by Blue Sky Riders (Gary on lead) from the BSR album “Finally Home”.
I readily admit I did not have a top 5 ready, at the tip of my tongue… er, um, fingers… I had to do some reviewing. I chose songs that moved me, resonated with something deep in my chest.
1. Funny Bone, I can’t help it, I love it
2. The Battle of Laverne and Captain Flint
3. Maybe I Can Paint Over That
4. Somedays The Song Writes You
5. Watermelon Dreams (it’s so super summery)
Matraca Berg:
1. WALK ON–Linda Ronstadt (Matraca herself was absolutely thrilled by Linda’s recording)
2. THEY CALL IT FALLING FOR A REASON–Trisha Yearwood (from her 2007 album Heaven, Heartache, And The Power Of Love)
3. THE THINGS YOU LEFT UNDONE–Matraca (from her own 1990 album Lying To The Moon)
4. LYING TO THE MOON–Trisha Yearwood (from her 1993 album The Song Remembers When)
5. WILD ANGELS–Martina McBride
I couldn’t decide who my favorite song writer was between the two and so I submitted both Merle Haggard and John Denver as my co-favorite songwriters. If this weren’t just a country music category I’d include John Fogerty and Bob Dylan among my favorite song writers. Now, some may debate just how country John Denver actually is. I think most of the songs included below could be counted in as country songs given folk music’s close proximity to the country genre.
Haggard:
1. Branded Man
2. Workin’ Man Blues
3. Mama Tried
4. Kern River
5. Big City
Denver:
1. Take Me Home, Country Roads
2. Annie’s Song
3. Rocky Mountain High
4. Sunshine On My Shoulders
5. Leaving On a Jet Plane
I wanted to put Eddie Rabbitt (Kentucky Rain), Tony Joe White (Rainy Night in Georgia) or Rodney Crowell (Leaving Lousiana in the Broad Daylight), but I thought I’d choose a pure songwriter. So my selection would have to be Bob McDill:
Catfish John – Johnny Russell
Amanda – Don Williams
Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold) – Dan Seals
Louisiana Saturday Night – Mel McDaniel
You Turn Me On (Like a Radio) – Ed Bruce
Nobody Likes Sad Songs – Ronnie Milsap
Marcus Hummon for me:
1. Born To Fly (Sara Evans)
2. One Of These Days (Tim McGraw)
3. Cowboy Take Me Away (Dixie Chicks)
4. Jezebel (Chely Wright)
5. Bless The Broken Road (Rascal Flatts)
With my current following of the Texas/Red Dirt scene, it’s been pretty cool to see Sean McConnell get more popular, getting cuts with Tim McGraw, Eli Young Band, and David Nail. (And a Rascal Flatts song they proceeded to ruin.)
1. Into the Arms of You -Wade Bowen
2. Mr. Whoever You Are -Tim McGraw
3. Skeletons -Eli Young Band
4. Lookin’ for a Good Time -David Nail
5. They Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To -Will Hoge
Dallas Frazier :
There Goes My Everything
Elvira
Where Is My Castle ?
I Can’t Believe That You’ve Stopped Loving Me
Son of Hickory Holler’s Tramp
All I Have To Offer You (Is Me)
(I’m So Afraid of) Losing You Again
and who could forget either
Alley Oop
Mohair Sam
Tony Arata
The Dance: Garth Brooks
Handful of Dust: Patty Loveless
Here I Am: Patty Loveless
Long Stretch of Lonesome: Patty Loveless
Someday I Will Lead the Parade: Patty Loveless
Rodney Crowell
1. Please Remember Me – Tim McGraw
2. Till I Gain Control Again – Crystal Gayle
3. I Don’t Know Why You Don’t Want Me – Rosanne Cash
4. Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight – Oak Ridge Boys
5. I Ain’t Living Long Like This – Waylon Jennings
Caj,
Do you prefer the Oak Ridge Boys’ version of “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” to Emmylou Harris’ version? I love Harris’ version, I have to say. I want to write a Rodney Crowell Favorite Songs by Favorite Songwriters feature.
I’ve had Dean Dillon on the brain lately, mostly due to My Kind of Country’s spotlight on his work:
1. I’m Good – Ashton Shephard, Where Country Grows
2. Ocean Front Property – Geroge Strait, Ocean Front Property
3. Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago – Lee Ann Womack, There’s More Where That Came From
4. All The Good Ones Are Gone – Pam Tillis, Greatest Hits
5. A Lot of Things Different – Kenny Chesney, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems
BONUS: Long As I Never See You Again – Kellie Pickler, 100 Proof
Leeann, sad to say, I’ve never heard Emmylou’s version of that song. I am only familiar with the Oak Ridge Boys’ version.
I couldn’t find a great audio quality recording on Youtube, but this should give you an idea.
Chris Knight is my favorite songwriter. I always love his gritty, but realistic takes on small town and rural America.
1. North Dakota
2. Down The River
3. Becky’s Bible
4. Leaving Souvenirs
5. Enough Rope
It was hard to cut the list down to 5!
Billy Joe Shaver
1. Jason Boland and the Stragglers (with Shaver himself singing the second verse and chorus!!), “Thunderbird Wine”
2. Cory Morrow, “Georgia On A Fast Train”
3. Shaver, “Georgia On A Fast Train” (from 1993’s Tramp On Your Street
4. Shaver w/ Waylon Jennings, “Oklahoma Wind”
5. Billy Joe Shaver (with Willie Nelson on background vocals and acoustic guitar), “You Asked Me To”
I would have to say that my favourite songwriter is Shane McAnally. In no particular order:
1. “Last Call” – Lee Ann Womack
2. “That’s How I’ll Remember You” – David Nail
3. “Damn You Seventeen” – Lady Antebellum
4. “Follow Your Arrow” – Kacey Musgraves
5. ” Brand New Day” – David Nail