(Vetset) Although Diamond Dust is Claude Diamond's debut album, he's no newcomer to music. The Atlanta, Georgia based singer/songwriter started performing around  the Natchez and Hattiesburg, Mississippi area in the late '50s and taught guitar lessons in Atlanta during the '60s. It wasn't until the '80s that Claude started writing songs and since then, he's won several songwriting awards, most recently winning the Dallas Songwriters Association lyric writing contest earlier this year for "Edge Of The World," which appears on Diamond Dust.

Diamond Dust showcases 10 of Claude's original songs that highlight the diversity of his writing styles. The album opens with an uptempo, old timey bluegrass influenced song, "Last Man On Earth," that warns a woman who's shown romantic interest in him that she'd best think twice about him. Things take an unexpected twist with "Land Of Zydeco." This haunting tale of a she-devil heartbreaker has a captivating, hauntingly exotic, bluesy melody. Proving age is just a number, Claude rocks it while showing his humorous side in "Half My Doublewide,'' an amusing description of a divorce and splitting up the marital assets. "Land On The Moon" is a pretty, romantic waltz about being thankful for everything he and his love have, even though materially speaking, it may not be much.

"I Hope Hell Freezes Over" is also a waltz, but one that tells a forlorn tale of losing a love to the bottle, regret, the struggle to straighten out and the longing for a second chance to prove himself, though he knows his chance is slim. A sadness runs through the mid-tempo "North Of Exit Ten," a song about how progress has changed his hometown but it can't change his precious memories. "I Drop The Quarters" is a terrific full blown honky tonker, full of exuberance that celebrates the honky tonk life. It's easy to hear why Claude won a writing award for "Edge Of The World." He paints a vivid, heartbreakingly desolate portrait of a man who's hit rock bottom after years of fighting his demons (the bottle) and his desperate search for salvation. Claude then turns on a dime and with a blast of pounding piano, shakes it up with some jumping swing-boogie rockabilly via the excellent "The Girl I Love." The album closes with a poignant story ballad, "The Phone Call." This one provides some clever writing that asks a group of friends if they had the chance to make a phone call to God, what would they ask for.

Claude Diamond possesses a dusty, weathered, lived in voice that bears similarities to performers like Billy Joe Shaver or Kris Kristofferson. His songwriting too bears striking similarities. His tales are full of life experience and display both wit and wisdom, told in vivid but simple words whether they be songs celebrating life's ups or painting painful, heartbreaking portraits of the downside of life. Claude is without a doubt country to the bone and the stylistic diversity he uses to frame is first-rate songwriting insures there's never a dull moment from start to finish. Claude Diamond is one of those hidden treasures most assuredly worth seeking out and Diamond Dust is a true gem.    

Standout Tracks: "Land Of Zydeco," Half My Doublewide," "I Hope Hell Freezes Over," "I Drop Quarters," "Edge Of The World," "The Girl I Love," "The Phone Call"

On The Net: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/clauded

AnnMarie Harrington TakeCountryBack October 2004