Lost Train of Thought
Artist: Ray Wylie Hubbard

In the early '90s, unless one was an obsessive follower of the Texas singer/songwriter community, you'd be forgiven for thinking Ray Wylie Hubbard had dropped off the face of the Earth after a pair of fine albums recorded in the 1970s went nowhere and Hubbard's biggest claim to fame was writing "Redneck Mother" for Jerry Jeff Walker. But as it... Read More

Craftsman
Artist: Guy Clark
Community Score: 8.00

This double-CD collection issued by Rounder's Philo imprint contains on a double CD all three of Guy Clark's late-'70s and '80s recordings for Warner Bros.: Guy Clark, South Coast of Texas, and Better Days. Clark's Warner period was one of intense self-scrutiny and exploration, not only with the way songs are written, but also in the way they... Read More

A Moment of Forever
Artist: Kris Kristofferson
Community Score: 8.00

After salvaging several recording careers, producer Don Was formed his own imprint, Karambolage, to continue such efforts in the early '90s, and among other artists worked with Kris Kristofferson, dormant as a solo singer/songwriter since the commercial failure of his two politically oriented Mercury albums Repossessed and Third World Warrior in... Read More

Letter to Laredo
Artist: Joe Ely

Flamenco guitarist Teye is the dominant instrumentalist on a Joe Ely album that fits the "unplugged" tag -- drums, electric bass, and various, mostly acoustic guitars and occasional accordion and harmonica--and that could be played without complaint in any cantina along the Rio Grande. Ely is joined in his story songs about Southwest life and... Read More

Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher
Artist: Tom T. Hall

The double-disc box set Storyteller, Poet, Philosopher concentrates on Tom T. Hall's talents as a narrative songwriter, eschewing some of his better-known novelties for lesser-known, but better-written, serious songs. That doesn't mean the box is devoid of hits -- all of the important ones are here. What that does mean is that Storyteller, Poet,... Read More

Drive-In Movie
Artist: Fred Eaglesmith
Community Score: 10.00

It's no big surprise that the majority of Canadian songwriters don't get their due in the United States, but listening to Drive-In Movie from Ontario native Fred Eaglesmith, you have to wonder just how much we're missing. Eaglesmith's vivid lyrics, simple arrangements, and plaintive but sturdy voice echo the rural landscape and the wide, clear,... Read More

The Best of Kris Kristofferson
Artist: Kris Kristofferson

Featuring the singer's own renditions of classic compositions like "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "Me and Bobby McGee, " The Best of Kris Kristofferson is a smart investment for casual fans. ~ Hank Small, All Music Guide Read More

Dangerous Spirits
Artist: Ray Wylie Hubbard

Sheer determination is what makes this collection of songs a force to be reckoned with. Hubbard's songs mix styles and genres recklessly, using whatever he needs to get the point across. While he doesn't have the greatest voice around, he puts his soul into his singing, leaving a memorable impression. None of these songs are comfortable, simple... Read More

Crusades of the Restless Nights
Artist: Ray Wylie Hubbard
Community Score: 8.00

"I wanted to be a folk singer," Ray Wylie Hubbard told annotator Geoffrey Himes of his early goal in the liner notes of his second Philo album, Crusades of the Restless Knights, and the record bore out the renewal of that ambition. Although the arrangements of Hubbard's tunes usually found several pickers playing stringed instruments (acoustic... Read More