Kenny Chesney Inspired by Guy Clark, Hemingway
Kenny Chesney's next album, Hemingway's Whiskey, will be released in late September. He has said that when he first heard the original version on Guy Clark's 2009 album, Somedays the Song Writes You, he knew it was just right for his new record. "I was sitting in my truck and a friend had given me Guy's album, which had just come out -- and it's a song that talks about living life to its fullest, being a man about your responsibilities and not compromising. As soon as I heard it, I knew I had to cut it ... and call the album that ... because it says everything about the way you live your life, and what life can be if you refuse to buy into limits, which -- as someone who's read all his books -- is everything Hemingway's novels revolved around."
Clark's website describes the tune as a knowing sigh of a song, about the novelist's way of taking life in its most potent, undiluted form, regardless of where that takes you. That kind of sentiment may seem a long way from Chesney's 2008 beachy album, Lucky Old Sun. But Chesney has said he wanted this new album to be something more. "I came to town to write songs, to make records, to create something that spoke about how I lived, and the people who I knew who were just like me and my friends lived," he has said.
Clark is 68 years old and the country-folk-Americana songwriting legend has influenced plenty of artists like Steve Earle, Bobby Bare, Rodney Crowell and Emmylou Harris. Bob Dylan cites him as one of his favorite songwriters. And now you can add Chesney to that list. I can't wait to hear how far that side of Chesney has come since the basket full of chicken and the big cold jug of sweet tea.
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molly6 says:
I guess nobody cares, I know I don’t.
Roxanne says:
I care!!!! Can’t wait for some new music from Kenny.
Rosa says:
Who cares I stopped listening, seeing him in concert years ago. Highly full of himself and overrated.
timcun says:
I care. I can’t wait for new music from Kenny. I just haven’t been on the computer since 3:30 yesterday afternoon.
Cecelia Mattingly says:
THANK YOU Kenny! From all of the Hemingway’s including myself
for doing an album like this one!
Val says:
I care looking forward to his new music. Have a job.
CV says:
I commend Kenney Chessney. He and couple of others are the only ones that have come to the aid of the US Gulf Coast. Free Concert 7/1/10. Who knew,,,,, we have for every country but our own. What about that, Where are the rest of the country music FAMILY ==== ? Oh Please your not gettin paid, give me a break we support you. Where are you now?
Those people that support you need your help. You want to step up? So give up a little and help us for a change. You think if we could change the name to HAITI you would. Sorry this makes me sick.
molly6 says:
Kenny did not do anything for his own community, Nashville Rising, so do not pat him on the back.
timcun says:
Kenny does a lot that isn’t made public so how do you know he didn’t do anything for Nashville Rising? He donated $500,000 for the Nashville floods after losing his house. I’d say he did a lot.
timcun says:
Kenny has a busy schedule so can’t do every benefit concert. I’m sure if he could he would do it not only for Nashville but for his friends, Tim and Faith. I know he’s working on a documentary film called The Boys of Fall, he’s working on a new album due out in September, he’s playing a concert with Jimmy Buffett on Thursday for the Gulf, and he has two concerts scheduled this weekend in Las Vegas. Unless you walk in his flip-flops then you shouldn’t judge.
countryiscool says:
I doubt that every single dollar is accounted for, and I doubt the artists themselves announce their donations unless their publicist gets in to it. I believe most, if not all artists pitched in one way or another; through cash, concerts/benefits, etc. Who are the fans to say what they did or didn’t do? Some people prefer to do things under the radar and don’t care if their donation is made public.
raqqui says:
I wish more artists would take note of what a great songwriter Guy Clark is. Those of you that have never heard him should take notice.
Cinbu says:
Guy Clark is a song writing living legend. I have been a huge fan ever since LA Freeway. His late friend, Townes Van Zandt, was a music genius too. If you want some real American music, check Mr. Clark out. He’s like a desperado waiting for a train…