Article Contributed by Propeller Publicity
Published on November 7, 2025
It’s 50 years to the day since RCA Records released Guy Clark’s landmark album, Old No. 1. While not a commercial success by any stretch, the album was highly praised by the press and “L.A. Freeway,” “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” “Rita Ballou” “Texas 1947” “Let Him Roll” and “That Old Time Feeling” soon became instant classics. No one could have known then that Old No. 1 would inspire generations of American songwriters, troubadours and music fans. To mark the occasion, Rolling Stone is sharing “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” the first single from Old No. 1 Revisited, a tribute album set for spring 2026 through non-profit the Guy Clark Family Foundation and their Truly Handmade imprint. This version, recorded in Nashville with producer Dan Knobler, features Andrew Combs and Rodney Crowell and is available today on all streaming services.
Combs tells Rolling Stone, “If you were to tell 18-year-old me that one day I’d be recording a Guy Clark song with Rodney Crowell, I’d have lost my damn mind,’” Combs said. “To this day, whenever I sit down to write, I think about [Guy].”
STREAM/PURCHASE THE SINGLE HERE
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR “DESPERADOS WAITING FOR A TRAIN” HERE
Old No. 1 at 50: A History of Guy Clark’s First Album is a new book written by Peter Blackstock and will be available to order om November 14. The 100-page book features interviews by Natalie Weiner and was edited by Tamara Saviano, the author and filmmaker known for the biography and documentary Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Life and Music of Guy Clark. It includes interviews with people who were in the room during the making of the album, as well the story of the “lost” album that was recorded before Old No. 1 and why it was never released. There is an accounting of the songs and the backstory according to Guy Clark.
Some of the other artists involved on Old No. 1 Revisited include Margo Price, Sarah Jarosz, Erin Rae, Brennen Leigh and Caroline Randall Williams, aomg others The album was produced by Nashville’s Dan Knobler, whose credits include albums for Allison Russell, Lake Street Dive, Bahamas, Rodney Crowell, Rachael & Vilray, and many others. Knobler says, “Listening to Guy Clark records taught me what good songwriting really was.”
The album is set for release in spring 2026. Proceeds from both Old No. 1 Revisited (album) and Old No. 1 at 50: A History of Guy Clark’s First Album (book) will benefit the Guy Clark Family Foundation.
“‘Old No. 1’ at 50 – Shows Celebrating the Spirit of Guy Clark”
FR-SA, Nov 14-15 – The Bugle Boy, LaGrange, TX – Radney Foster
TU. Dec 9 – The Bluebird Café, Nashville, TN – Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp
