A truly legendary figure in country music circles, Cowboy Jack Clement left a final recorded testament behind when he died at age 82 in 2013. For Once and for All finds him reconsidering some of his favorite self-penned tunes with wry, wistful charm. Executive producer T Bone Burnett helped Clement gather such admirers as Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Gillian Welch, and Will Oldham to contribute to these tracks. Cowboy Jack holds the vocal spotlight with mellow dignity, infusing his performances with the same unpretentious grace he brought to his roles as songwriter and producer for the likes of Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, and Waylon Jennings. The album’s songs display a sense of craft and depth of feeling all too lacking today. Whether he’s lamenting lost love with understated pathos (“Baby Is Gone”), narrating a quirky murder ballad (“Miller’s Cave”), savoring a childhood memory (“The Air Conditioner Song”), or getting ready to hit the road (“The Spell of the Freight Train”), Clement brings an honesty to these tunes that makes their stories come alive.