Label
	Sugar Hill
	Release
	1997
	Artist
	Guy Clark
	Rating

As a big fan of the Highwaymen I was no stranger to Guy Clark’s music with the classic ‘Desperados Waiting For A Train’ one of my all time favourites. I think that Keepers is arguably the best recent compilation of Guy Clark’s songs - an album with strong and numerous references to his home state of Texas. The fact that this whole album was recorded live is astounding as the sound quality rarely falters.

Upbeat songs such as ‘Texas Cookin’ and ‘LA Freeway’ sound just as good as ever. The rest of the tracks largely consist of songs from Old No 1 and Texas Cookin’, but the new acoustic sound is definately a preference for me. The acoustic sound helps Guy tell the story of a harder, grittier Texas, and his aging voice works just as well. I think the more recent ‘Workbench Songs’ is another example of the progression of Guy Clark’s sound.

I think Guy is also a very underrated songwriter, this album containing some of the best written songs ever recorded (although I don’t think he’s quite up there with BJS). You’d do well not to have a lump in your throat following the first listen to Desperadoes Waiting For A Train! The album’s not perfect as there’s some good songs missing, but I’d recommend this album first to any new Guy Clark fan.