Darden Smith / Trouble No More

UK two CD set containing a pair of albums from the singer/songwriter. Darden Smith is an Austin-based singer-songwriter known for his lyrics and for weaving folk and Americana influences with rock, pop and the musical roots of his home state, Texas. His early interest in music was sparked by singing in the local church choir, and he spent his teen years listening to the likes of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. Smith's major label debut, Darden Smith, was released in 1988. The album borrows three tracks from his first album, Native Soil, stepping up the production and accentuating his country side. Produced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, it includes "Little Maggie" and "Day After Tomorrow," which helped propel him beyond the Texas singer-songwriter genre and onto the national country music scene. He co-wrote an album with Boo Hewerdine (Evidence) before his next solo release Trouble No More in 1990. Building lyrically and rhythmically on the different approach established with Evidence, the album focuses more on songwriting and yielded both "Midnight Train" and "Frankie & Sue," which became mainstays of college radio.