A New Englander enamored of the wild, open West, Raymond LeRoy Clark -- aka Slim Clark (1917-2000) -- was a popular regional performer with a remarkably long career, dating back to the early 1930s and the golden years of radio all the way through the early digital era. Born in Massachusetts, Mr. Clark worked steadily along the Eastern seaboard and often toured and in Canada, living in Maine, New Jersey and elsewhere. He was a fan, of course, of Jimmie Rodgers, but more uniquely of Canadian cowboy Wilf Carter, who he paid tribute to in several recordings. Like many artists working far beyond the Nashville music machine, many of his indie label offerings wound up repackaged in various, often bewildering iterations, but it's all fun stuff. Here's a quick look at his work...
Discography - Albums
Yodeling Slim Clark "Sings And Yodels Favorite Montana Slim (Wilf Carter) Songs Of The Mountains And Plains, Volume One" (Palomino Records, 19--?) (LP)
Although he was born in Massachusetts, worked in New England and was living in Fair Lawn, New Jersey when he recorded this album, western singer Slim Clark had the true soul of a Canadian. At least it sounds that way on this excellent album where he covers cowboy classics originally sung by Wilf Carter. This is a great record -- totally stripped-down, humble, no-nonsense renditions of western tunes and sentimental oldies. Clark is paying homage to Carter, but he sounds quite a bit like Nashville legend Hank Snow did, back in his Canadian youth. This is a very rich, rewarding album -- direct and unpretentious, and certainly very authentic, despite its East Coast provenance.
Yodeling Slim Clark "Sings And Yodels Favorite Montana Slim (Wilf Carter) Songs Of The Mountains And Plains, Volume Two" (Palomino Records, 1966) (LP)
More good stuff here, too.
Yodeling Slim Clark "Sings The Legendary Jimmie Rodgers Songs" (Palomino Records, 19--?) (LP)
Yodeling Slim Clark "A Living Legend" (Palomino Records, 19--?) (LP)
Discography - Best-Ofs
Yodeling Slim Clark "Cowboy And Yodel Songs" (Jasmine Records, 2005)
Yodeling Slim Clark "Singin', Yodelin', Guitar Pickin' Cowboy Songs" (Jasmine Records, 2012)
The second volume of Jasmine's admirably extensive overview of Slim Clark's career, coming hot on the heels of their Cowboy & Yodel Songs collection. Good, authentic, old-fashioned yodeling music, sure to please fans of the style.
Links
Hick Music Index
