For a 55-year-old songwriter who is revered in country and folk circles, Guy Clark has produced a relatively small body of work. That's because he approaches songwriting the same way he approaches fishing -- if what he comes up with is too meager, he throws it back; only the best specimens are considered "keepers." Fifteen of those specimens are featured on "Keepers -- A Live Recording," which was taped at a Nashville club last Halloween weekend. Two strong new songs are unveiled -- "A Little of Both," a bouncy, witty song about avoiding choices, and "Out in the Parking Lot," a slow, poignant look at the action outside a nightclub.
These two are joined by 13 old favorites, including those turned into hits by Ricky Skaggs ("Heartbroke"), Jerry Jeff Walker ("L.A. Freeway") and Johnny Cash ("The Last Gunfighter Ballad"). They're all wonderful songs, but these aren't necessarily the best versions. Clark is a limited singer, but his voice cracks more than usual on several of these live renditions; his new version of "She Ain't Goin' Nowhere" is practically unlistenable. Clark did put together a sharp little band for this recording, but if he was going to make a live album, why didn't he deliver some of his long, droll stories rather than these truncated introductions?
Chip Taylor is also a noted songwriter, the author of such rock standards as "Wild Thing," "Angel of the Morning," "I Can't Let Go" and "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)." There's no hint of rock 'n' roll, however, on "The Living Room Tapes," Taylor's first album of new material in nearly 20 years. Instead Taylor goes the country-folk route, delivering a dozen originals in a whispery imitation of Willie Nelson with the help of either David Mansfield or Jon Sholle on acoustic guitar. A few songs are too obvious for their own good, but most boast the catchy choruses and memorable aphorisms of Taylor's best work. These versions are too laid-back to work on the radio, but one can easily imagine an imaginative Nashville act turning such heartache numbers as "Something About Losing It All" or "Why Milwaukee" into hits. Both appearing Friday at the Birchmere. To hear a free Sound Bite from Guy Clark, call Post-Haste at 202/334-9000 and press 8109. For a free Sound Bite from Chip Taylor, press 8110. (Prince William residents, call 690-4110.) CAPTION: Chip Taylor, author of "Wild Thing," releases some new, tamer material.
