Lucky Man Clark: Seaworthy

Session photos Levon Helm in Guido's studio Levon Garth Hudson playing the Lowrey Levon and Guido The band with Levon Garth Levon

This is what is so great about my job. I can be having the worst day and then all of a sudden the mailman tosses a disc in my box that makes me abandon my post on the roof viewing the world through the crosshairs. Just when you think you've heard and know everything (a real problem of mine) along comes a lesson in humility. LMC is a six man band with some pretty impressive friends. Working a retro-Americana sound that harkens back to the early Band and some of the music from Woodstock New York this Nashville based band churns out sixty-six minutes of impressive roots music. Augmenting the core band is Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, (hence the Band sound) Jim Horn, Bobby Keys, Garry Tallent and many more. It's easy to be impressed by the musicianship, but the real star is the strong songs. It jumps styles a bit, but never falls off the beam. Stay tuned for four hidden tracks at the end of the disc that most albums would be proud to have in the regular lineup. Nice packaging and booklet on this one for a first time album. --Village Records review

Lucky Man Clark is Joe "Guido" Welsh's band. Guido has over 30 years experience as a writer, performer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. For the last 15 years, he has numerous original music compositions for several national and international companies, and has since 1992 provided all the live musical direction for hundreds of Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Wal-Mart International events in both the United States and abroad. As the songwriter and leader of several Kansas City bands including The 4Sknns, The Artists, The Gweedles, and others, he performed live between 1971-1994 using the stage name Guido Toledo. His 2002 album, titled Seaworthy, features Levon Helm and Garth Hudson from The Band (Guido connected with Helm and Hudson through The Band web site). Also appearing are Garry Tallent from the E Street Band, Joey Spampinato from NRBQ, Jerry Dale McFadden from The Mavericks, producer/guitarist deluxe Richard Bennett, woodwind legends Bobby Keys and Jim Horn, with string arrangements on a couple of tunes by Jimmie Haskell.

Levon plays drums on the album. Garth plays a 1959 Lowrey Festival organ, the same model he used to play with The Band and the Hawks.

See the Guidotoons and Lucky Man Clark web sites for more about Guido and this album. Seaworthy is available from Village Records.

Tracks

1. What The Hell?
2. Kickin' My Heart Around
3. Blue
4. Merry Little Christmas
5. Apocalypso
6. A Place Where I'll Be Free
7. Everything Has Changed
8. (Hallelujah) Yer On Yer Own
9. Set Me Free
10. The Devil
11. Real Life
12. Get Over Yourself

    "Hidden" Bonus tracks:

13. Airplane Landing in Crickets
    (with Garth on vocals(!) and piano)

14. Bonus track #2
15. Bonus track #3
16. Bonus track #4

Credits

• Jeff Armstrong - Keyboards
• Paul Griffith - Drums/ Percussion
• Dave Jaques - Electric And Upright Bass
• Jerry Dale Mcfadden - Keyboards
• Kenny Vaughan - Guitars
• Joe "Guido" Welsh - Guitars/ Keyboards/ Mandolin/ Percussion/ Vocals

• Richard Bennett - Guitars
• Steve Conn - Keyboards
• Rusty Danmyer - Pedal Steel
• Jimmie Haskell - Conductor/ Arranger
• Levon Helm - Drums
• Jim Hoke - Bass And Chromatic Harmonica
• Jim Horn - Alto And Bass Flute/ Tenor And Baritone Sax
• Garth Hudson - Lowrey Organ
• Bobby Keys - Tenor And Baritone Sax
• Mike Mcadam - Slide Guitar
• The Nashville String Machine - Strings
• Mike Noble - Acoustic Guitars
• Steve Patrick - Trumpet/ Valve Trombone
• Vinnie Santoro - Harmony Vocal
• Joey Spampinato - Electric Bass
• Garry Tallent - Electric Bass

• Kim Keyes
• Marshall Hall
• Ann Mccrary
• Michael Mellett

Recorded at Guidotoons/ Nashville May-November 2001. Mixed december 2001 by Guido at Omnisound/ Nashville.

Lucky Man Clark - Seaworthy - 2002 - Grown Up Records