This collection is part of the Americana Master Series and theres no doubt that veteran troubadour Clark deserves that billing. Best Of The Sugar Hill Years is compiled from three albums Clark released between 1997 and 2002: Keepers, Cold Dog Soup and The Dark. None of the tunes had the same impact as earlier classics like "L.A. Freeway but the quality is consistently high. At this stage of his career, Clark was using a lot of co-writers but he chose well, with the likes of Terry Allen, Buddy Mondlock and Shawn Camp featured here. The only cover is Steve Earles "Fort Worth Blues, an homage to Clarks good friend Townes Van Zandt, who also makes an appearance on "Cold Dog Soup. Guys warm, rich voice is in fine form and the female harmony vocalists (including Gillian Welch on the lovely "Arizona Star) add a nice resonance. This is sweet, simple and timeless stuff.
(Sugar Hill)Guy Clark
Best Of The Sugar Hill Years
BY Kerry DoolePublished Jul 18, 2007