Among Guy Clark’s many songs, one sums up his philosophy especially well: “Stuff That Works,” an ode to craftsmanship and functionality and a dismissal of stuff you really don’t need. This is the kind of man it’s probably hard to buy a gift for.

This double-disc collection, as it happens, is a 70th birthday present to Guy offered by friends and admirers from the country, folk and Americana fields—a who’s who of musical free thinkers more apt to be known for artistic integrity than for celebrity (though a few high-profilers appear here). That type of reputation, which resembles Guy’s, makes them ideal candidates for paying tribute. Most often, they do so by hewing closely to Guy’s original recordings in appropriately sparse and low-key renditions, though the female voices here add welcome color. 

You could question whether Guy, or anyone, truly needs these likenesses of his songs. But only a real party-pooper would deny Guy’s talented pals the chance to respectfully demonstrate how well this stuff still works.