Roy Clark Albums (30)
'Yesterday, When I Was Young'
Release Date 1/1/2006
Tracks 9
Label KRB
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What The Critics Say
"Yesterday, When I Was Young" was Roy Clark's biggest crossover hit, an easy listening ballad by Charles Aznavour that made a strong showing on the country, pop, and adult contemporary charts in 1969. Clark was riding high from his exposure on CBS' country music variety show Hee Haw, but "Yesterday, When I Was Young" and the album that accompanies it are pure pop. The closest the album comes to country music is "When a Man Becomes a Man," which sounds like John Denver, and John Hartford's "A Simple Thing as Love," which -- surprise! -- sounds like Glen Campbell. The album yielded two other minor hits, "Love Is Just a State of Mind" and an appealing arrangement of Kurt Weill's "September Song." MOR pop ballads comprise only a small part of what Clark can do, but he does it well and -- in the case of Yesterday, When I Was Young -- he does it exclusively. ~ Greg Adams, All Music Guide
'Roy Clark Gospel: Songs of Strength'
Release Date 6/7/2005
Tracks 15
Label Time Life
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'Christmas Memories'
Release Date 11/14/2000
Tracks 20
Label Fine Arts
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'Live at Billy Bob's Texas'
Release Date 2/29/2000
Tracks 17
Label Smith Music Group
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What The Critics Say
Like all of the entries in the Live at Billy Bob's Texas series, this does not divulge the date of recording, but one can reasonably assume it's from a show not long before the CD's mid-2000 release. Clark is still an excellent, fast-as-anyone guitar picker, as heard on this set's instrumentals. Those instrumentals cover a lot of ground, too: the jazz standard "Caravan," "Riders in the Sky," the bluegrass perennials "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Dueling Banjos," "Malaguena," "El Cumbanchero," and (least successfully) "Lara's Theme." He still sings, too -- unfortunately, one could say, given both the lesser material he applies his vocals to and the good-natured but limited, gruff tone of his voice. The overall effect is a bit schizophrenic, if fairly typical of all-around shows that some country stars like to give. Pretty hillbilly-sounding instrumentals are interspersed with sentimental, drippy MOR country ballads like "Love Takes Two" and "Yesterday When I Was Young," though the corny, satirical "Thank God and Greyhound" breaks up that mood a bit. The audience eats it up, though, and also responds favorably to his mildly amusing stage announcements. Too bad the band, which plays pretty well, includes an ill-chosen synthesizer (though that instrument isn't extremely prominent). ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
'Great Picks & New Traditions'
Release Date 1/17/1995
Tracks 12
Label Intersound
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'Roy Clark & Joe Pass Play Hank Williams'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 12
Label Ranwood
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What The Critics Say
At first glance, this project, which would be Joe Pass' final recording, might seem a bit unlikely. Pass is teamed up with country guitarist Roy Clark to play a set of Hank Williams tunes, but the date is actually quite successful. Clark has long been a closet jazz player; many of Williams' tunes have attractive chord changes, and Pass had his longtime rhythm section (rhythm guitarist John Pisano, bassist Jim Hughart and drummer Colin Bailey) serving as a solid foundation. Such songs as "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" work quite well in this setting. Since Clark (a brilliant guitarist himself) had long been a Joe Pass fan, the results are both competitive and complementary. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Roy Clark'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 10
Label Universal Special Products
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'My Favorite Hymns'
Release Date 10/15/1993
Tracks 12
Label Compendia
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'Live in Branson Mo. Usa'
Release Date 1/1/1993
Tracks 10
Label Laserlight
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What The Critics Say
It is dangerous to make such predictions, but if any body of recorded work is least likely to be considered of historic interest in future years, it would have to be live recordings from the country and western theatre showcases located in Branson, Missouri. While the theory of Branson is sound, the vacationing folk who check out evening shows after a day of fishing, hiking or drinking moonshine are not generally witnesses to great moments in country and western history. This particular album has been greeted with ratings as low as one star, or a drawing of a smelly sock in one country journal. Out of respect for Roy Clark the base rating level is upped somewhat, simply because he could probably still play better guitar than most even if he was being dragged from the back of a chariot at the time. That is not to compare his evening onstage in Branson with the climax of Ben Hur. On the contrary, it is the dullness level amongst the sidemen, as consistent as the beauty of the Ozark mountains, that is a characteristic of a Branson recording. As a gig, it is rated something like playing at a western theme park in Taiwan. These jobs provide employment for pickers that want to go somewhere boring and stay a long, long time. These performances are not examples of musicians rising above the tedium of their enterprise and reaching for inspiration. The extremely short playing time for the CD is the slap in the face; with all the music Roy Clark could find to play, there's only 30 minutes? Not that hearing more of this gaggle of noodlers would be desirable. Much, much better Clark is available without having to travel to Branson. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, All Music Guide
