Deep in the Heart
With this rollicking collection, Austin veteran W.C. Clark again proves that Memphis doesn't have a monopoly on gospel-drenched soul-blues. MeshingAl Green's gospel testifying andAlbert King's quicksilver guitar, Clark--a Texas legend in part because of his association-mentorship with a youngStevie Ray Vaughan--skillfully navigates this gutsy R&B; terrain with a tough yet tender hand. Fueled by Stax-styled horn arrangements, Clark cranks out jump-blues guitar acrobatics on tracks likeClarence "Gatemouth" Brown's signature instrumental "Okie Dokee Stomp." On stunning covers ofJohn Hiatt's slow-boil "Tip of My Tongue,"Dan Penn's classic "You Left the Water Running,"Joe Tex's "I Want to Do Everything for You," and theFabulous Thunderbirds' "Twist of the Knife," Clark excels with emotionally electrifying vocals and a dynamic delivery that makes these songs his own.--Hal Horowitz