“The Year That Clayton Delaney Died”
Tom T. Hall
Written by Tom T. Hall
Billboard
#1 (2 weeks)
September 18 – September 25, 1971
This is a masterclass in making the personal universal.
Tom T. Hall weaves a very specific story about a man with a great talent but stronger demons, and because he connects it to his own journey as a singer and a songwriter, he gives an otherwise forgotten life a sense of meaning and purpose.
It’s also got a singalong hook and some clever production flourishes like the brass instrumentation as he shouts out a five piece band. It keeps the mood light and celebratory, counterbalancing this man’s lonely and painful death with a joyous celebration of his life.
We’re in a golden era, folks, in case you haven’t noticed yet.
“The Year That Clayton Delaney Died” gets an A.
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Another easy “A+”. One of many examples of why early 70’s country was easily the best country ever offered. Tom T. at his best. A perfect story song sung in a perfect way. The only sad thing about this era is to know that it never existed again.