Guy Clark - Old No. 1

'Old No. 1' is the debut studio album by Texas singer-songwriter Guy Clark, released in 1975. It was released on the RCA Records label. The album immediately established Clark as a masterful songwriter in the country-folk genre.

The album contains several songs that became signatures of the Texas country-folk movement, including 'Desperados Waiting for a Train' and 'L.A. Freeway.' Both songs have been covered extensively by other famous country artists. Jerry Jeff Walker and Tom Rush were among the first to recognize their brilliance.

The album features an all-star cast of Nashville and Texas musicians, including Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, and Emmylou Harris. It was a deeply collaborative effort among friends in the early outlaw country scene. The backing band provided a warm, acoustic-driven sound that highlighted Clark's storytelling.

The record is celebrated for its profound literary lyricism and authentic storytelling, setting a new standard for songwriting in the Americana genre. It captured the essence of the rugged, everyman characters Clark wrote about. It remains a touchstone for songwriters across all genres today.