Artist:     Glen Clark

Album:     You Tell Me

Label:     Glenco

Release Date:     1.7. 2019

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If you knew nothing about Glen Clark and heard some cuts from You Tell Me, your first association would likely be Delbert McClinton and you’d be right. The two made a record together in 2013, Blind, Crippled and Crazy, an album that was apparently ten years in the making. The two spent some ill-fated (in terms of major success) time in L.A. in the early ‘70s as part of that Laurel Canyon scene, releasing two strong albums. From there their paths diverged. We know all about Delbert. This is about Glen Clark, who became a major songwriter for Rita Coolidge, Wynonna Judd, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt and others. He toured with the Blues Brothers. He toured with Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. It’s about time we have a Glen Clark solo album, and, as you might expect, it’s a damn good one. It’s his first since 1994.

This is The Glen Clark Band and, as Clark is a Texas piano man, his mates hail from the Dallas area as well. All have ridiculously strong pedigrees of which we’ll note just a few names so as to not have your eyes glaze over. Jim Milan (bass: Anson Funderburgh, Doyle Bramlett II), Sam Swank (guitar: Olivia Newton-john, Ray Wylie Hubbard), and John Bryant (drums, percussion, vocals: Ray Charles, Delbert McClinton, Lightnin’ Hopkins) form the band. Additional contributors are guitarist James Pennebaker (McClinton), Jeff Sibar (acoustic guitar and co-writer on six tunes), Jim Foster (trumpet), and Ron Jones (saxophone) along with a bevy of background vocalists. A formidable bunch.

Clark is part of the group that includes Delbert, Stephen Bruton, and Gary Nicholson, musicians who grew up in Fort Worth, TX, the same breeding ground that later spawned the Vaughan brothers. Clark has that same intoxicating roadhouse mix as his best friend, McClinton. You’ll hear blues, R&B, gospel, and hints of country. Clark has a clear expressive voice, quite different but equally as effective as the gravel-voiced McClinton. His is stomping, upbeat music with a few ballads thrown in for good measure.

The opening title track has an immediate roadhouse feel with sweet harmonies. The horn-infused “Accept My Love” is pure Memphis R&B, with Clark reaching the higher register in the mode of Al Green. Tempo recedes a bit for Clark’s soulful, percussively grooved “I Can Tell By Looking,” co-written with the late Bruton. Horns and background vocalists give it the old school soul sound. “This Old Road,” the lone cover is a Kristofferson tune, rendered as an acoustic driven ballad, with Clark on the piano. It’s his best vocal track. The chorus, which we’ve all heard before, is totally infectious “Ain’t you come a long way down this old road.”

Clark’s at the B3 for the gospel-infused “Walk On” and then gets funky on the Steve Cropper co-penned “When the Time Is Right,” which first appeared on Buddy Guy’s 1998 Heavy Love. As many of the songs speak to love and devotion, one of the better ones is the deep soul of “I’m Never Gonna Stop Loving You,” where Swank has perhaps his best solo. The elegant piano ballad “Dreamer” features another terrific heartfelt vocal from Clark. The snappy, organ-driven “In Search Of” has a greasy R&B groove and the closer, “That’s Where You Come In” is in the South Side Johnny/Bruce & E-Street/Little Steven & Disciples of Soul anthem-like grove, replete with swirling keys and soaring guitars.

True to his well-earned reputation, Clark delivers an outstanding soul-blues album that makes us want to hear from him far more often.

—Jim Hynes