Though guitarist and songwriter Barry Scott is a mainstay of the local acoustic music scene with a semi-regular gig at Shelter Island restaurant Fiddler’s Green for the past six years, his career goes back nearly four decades. It has taken in both rock and country and even signing to a major label — twice. Scott recently released his second solo album “Live at Fids.” The disc collects 16 solo acoustic tracks, mixing originals with covers of a wide range of artists that include Elton John, Johnny Cash and the late local music icon John Stewart. The album is currently only available at his performances, including a CD-release show at Fiddler’s Green on July 9, but is scheduled to be available through CD Baby and I-Tunes later this year. Now a Point Loma resident, Scott first arrived locally fresh out of high school in 1972 from Portsmouth, Va. He quickly immersed himself in the area’s music scene, paying his dues with the band Head First and countless acoustic gigs before becoming part of a powerpop band Copenhagen. His stint with Copenhagen would yield many long-time connections, including another East Coast transplant and future San Diego music mainstay, Mark DeCerbo. The band released “Tonight,” a highly-collectable single in 1977, but Scott soon found himself back in Virginia and with the powerpop group The States. A major force on the East Coast club circuit, by 1979 The States were signed to Chrysalis Records, scoring a regional hit with their song “My Latest Girl,” and performing with the likes of Robert Palmer and The Cars. Though sales were strong, a change in management saw the band shift to Boardwalk Records for their 1981 sophomore release “Picture Me with You.” The album yielded a hit in the title track, but the band membners went their separate ways following the release of a Christmas single in 1983. Scott subsequently formed jangly powerpop outfit The Barry’s, releasing the album “Who Else” in 2002 before moving into country music. He returned to San Diego in 2004 and soon found himself with a residency at Fiddler’s Green. “Steve Rock, who owns Fiddler’s Green, has been wonderful to me since we met in the first half of the ’70s,” Scott said. “He even recorded some of the early demos when Headfirst was forming. When I arrived here again, I began playing three nights a week for the ‘late night bar crowd.’” Though he plays at the venue only occasionally now, he kept that schedule for almost four years, documenting his performances along the way. “During that time, I recorded direct to CD occasionally, but I didn’t pay too much attention to levels or other details at the time because I hadn’t planned then to ever let anyone hear it,” Scott said. “But I’m a little too old to be embarrassed about much, so I recently decided to document the fun we had there with a CD.” The album’s tracks were chosen from more than 100 discs’ worth of music. “I just forced myself to sit down over a month or so and find performances that were listenable and not too embarrassing,” Scott said. “By the time I had the selection down to what it is, I couldn’t bear to hear myself anymore.” The album does include a pair of friends, Kim Verstraten (guitar) and Griff Rogers (harmonica) sitting in on a few tracks. Scott overdubbed extra pedal steel and a few harmonies, but kept the original rough-and-ready ambience, complete with audience conversation and background sounds. “It’s all there,” he said. “Sharp and flat notes, as well as mistakes. As I said, I never really intended to release it, but it’s a pretty good cross-section of what I used to play each night.” A couple of the tunes were the only times Scott ever sang them. “One in fact, ‘Talkin’ Me Down,’ I wrote on the spot as you are hearing it,” Scott said. “Then again, it’s not ‘Strawberry Fields,’ either.” Though he’ll be performing solo shows throughout the summer to promote “Live at Fids,” he plans to shift into band mode as soon as possible and is working with Dave Reynolds, best known as guitarist with the Beatles tribute band Help, and drummmer Mike Trimble. “I’m forming a vocal-based, guitar-driven pop band not very different from The Barrys,” said Scott. “The sort of band that shows Brit pop influences alongside songs that you might expect from a band like Buffalo Springfield.” With almost 40 years of making music to his credit, Scott doesn’t hesitate to cite his favorite thing about being a musician. “I suppose it’s being able to wear clothes most guys would not wear and be excused for it because you’re a musician,” he joked. Scott performs Friday, July 9 at Fiddlers Green Restaurant, 2760 Shelter Island Drive. 21 and up. For more information, visit www.fiddlersgreensandiego.com.