Good luck didn't visit Gene Clark often after he left the Byrds, but meeting Carla Olson of the Textones was a rare example of the right thing happening at the right time. 1987's So Rebellious a Lover grew out of informal jams between the two, and it was an inspired pairing that gave Clark the right vocal foil and musical partner; it was an indie success and his last great album.
Central on the album is Rumer's buoyant version of "Hard Time for Lovers," originally recorded by Judy Collins as the title track to her 1979 album. The Collins connection works as a thoughtful touchstone throughout Nashville Tears as Rumer's soft, warm vocals nicely evoke Collins' own pure, unadorned approach. It's a style that fits well with Prestwood's songs, many of which, including "Oklahoma Stray," "June It's Gonna Happen," and "That's That" (a hit for Michael Johnson in 1988), showcase his gift for using nature as a metaphor, illuminating how the landscapes that surround us often echo our most intense desires.