JenEllen, Tom Russell is one of my favorite performers. That song also grabbed me as one of his better efforts. I hate labels but he is cast in the mold of Guy Clark and a few of those other Texas guys.

He expands his repetoire in his newest CD, "The Man From God Knows Where", which is sort of a song cycle covering his ancestry, which is Irish and Norwegian. Just a tremendous record that I am trying to wear out as we speak. Several guests appear, including Dave Van Ronk, Dolores Keane, Iris DeMent and Sondre Bratland, not to mention the sweet guitar work of his sidekick Andrew Hardin.

I also like his other stuff including "Long Way Round" and "The Rose of San Jauquin", which contains "The Sky Above, The Mud Below". He has written a few songs in collaboration with Ian Tyson.

Clifton 53