After he left the Byrds, Gene Clark's solo career had its ups and downs on record, but right to the very end he was performing for audiences transfixed by the power of his songwriting and by the passion of the man. With th... more »is 'Collectors' Choice Music' exclusive, we bring you a mixture of rare and unreleased live material, much of it with his performing partner of the 80's, ex-Textones leader Carla Olson. The first disc features a completely unreleased solo performance taped for the Mountain Stage radio show in West Virginia from 1988; songs include 'Silver Raven; Tried So Hard; My Marie; Rodeo Rider; Gypsy Rider; Train Leaves Here This Morning', and 'Hear the Wind'. To that performance we've added three rare tracks that only appeared previously on Rhino's 1987 version of the Gene Clark & Carla Olson studio album, 'So Rebellious a Lover'; recorded in Gene's living room in 1989, the songs are 'Number One Is to Survive; Mary Sue', and 'Del Gato'. And disc two squeezes the entire double-album (minus some between-song chatter) of Gene and Carla's 1990 performance at McCabe's Guitar Shop that only saw an overseas release as 'Silhouetted in Light'; songs include 'Your Fire Burning; Number One Is to Survive; Love Wins Again; Fair & Tender Ladies; Photograph; Set You Free This Time; Last Thing on My Mind; Gypsy Rider; Train Leaves Here This Morning; Almost Saturday Night; Del Gato; I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better; She Don t Care About Time; Speed of the Sound of Loneliness; Will the Circle Be Unbroken', and 'Here Without You'. One of the great songwriters of our time.« less
After he left the Byrds, Gene Clark's solo career had its ups and downs on record, but right to the very end he was performing for audiences transfixed by the power of his songwriting and by the passion of the man. With this 'Collectors' Choice Music' exclusive, we bring you a mixture of rare and unreleased live material, much of it with his performing partner of the 80's, ex-Textones leader Carla Olson. The first disc features a completely unreleased solo performance taped for the Mountain Stage radio show in West Virginia from 1988; songs include 'Silver Raven; Tried So Hard; My Marie; Rodeo Rider; Gypsy Rider; Train Leaves Here This Morning', and 'Hear the Wind'. To that performance we've added three rare tracks that only appeared previously on Rhino's 1987 version of the Gene Clark & Carla Olson studio album, 'So Rebellious a Lover'; recorded in Gene's living room in 1989, the songs are 'Number One Is to Survive; Mary Sue', and 'Del Gato'. And disc two squeezes the entire double-album (minus some between-song chatter) of Gene and Carla's 1990 performance at McCabe's Guitar Shop that only saw an overseas release as 'Silhouetted in Light'; songs include 'Your Fire Burning; Number One Is to Survive; Love Wins Again; Fair & Tender Ladies; Photograph; Set You Free This Time; Last Thing on My Mind; Gypsy Rider; Train Leaves Here This Morning; Almost Saturday Night; Del Gato; I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better; She Don t Care About Time; Speed of the Sound of Loneliness; Will the Circle Be Unbroken', and 'Here Without You'. One of the great songwriters of our time.
CD Reviews
Grandaddy Gene
Brian J. Greene | Durham, NC | 11/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Gene Clark deserves every bit as much credit for being a founding father of country rock and grandaddy of alt.country as Gram Parsons. He was also the best songwriter and singer on the first two Byrds' albums - so a pop master, as well! This 2-CD set finds Gene performing live, near the end of his career and also near the end of his troubled life. He performs solo on part of this, with late-career partner Carla Olson on other parts; sometimes they are on stage, and on the best 3 tracks they are playing in a living room. Newcomers to Gene Clark's post-Byrds work should start with his '74 masterpiece No Other, then look to his work with Doug Dillard (Dillard & Clark) and Olson (their 80s album So Rebellious a Lover features some of Gene's greatest songwriting and performing). But Gene fans will love this."
Gene Clark Flies Again
A. Herrmann | New Jersey, USA | 11/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perhaps even more memorable and influential than the jangly folk rock Dylan covers on the first two Byrds albums, were the orignal compositions of Gene Clark. Songs like "Here Without You", "The World Turns All Around Her", and "Set You Free This Time" jump started the Southern Californian folk rock sound. Clark's later solo work and collaborations with the Dillards and Carla Olson, although not commercially successful, was as responsible for the fusion of rock and country music as the recordings of the (now) better appreciated Gram Parsons. These live recordings from a Mountain Stage broadcast and an intimate session at McCabe's, offer a good sampling of tunes from throughout Clark's too short career. Besides being a first rate songwriter, Clark possessed a voice that like Parsons' effortlessly communicated human emotion. Both concerts on the two discs are loose affairs with back up musicians who did not have much rehearsal time with Clark, but this does not detract from the performances in my view. Rather it allows for a feeling of spontaneity like Clark dropped into your local coffee house to perform for a handful of listeners. Don't know if GC will ever get his due and what difference does it make now but he will always be one of my favorite singer songwriters. This release was a thrilling find for me."
Tragic, Sad, Melancholy, Beautiful -- Gene Clark
Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 12/13/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Two of Gene Clark's last recorded live performances are captured here, a solo set from 1988, and an intimate 1991 gig at McCabe's Guitar Shop, with collaborator Carla Olson.
Gene's flame was in decline by this point, a life that burned bright with promise but ended mired in a slow-burning stew of studio politics, personal turmoil, alcohol, bad business decisions, and a personality that Carla gently describes in the excellent liner notes as "mercurial."
Still, Gene's remarkable gifts for song remain. His baritone voice and poignant lyrics -- so deep, dark, mystical, and haunting, are brought to the forefront in these minimal, unadorned sessions. In particular, "Del Gato" and "Gypsy Rider" have never sounded better. Carla's voice is a sweet, strong match for Gene, and they make music for the ages on these discs.
I hope there are more such gems in the archives, and that we see additional releases of Gene Clark concerts, not just from this latter period but from each and every remarkable arc in his career.
We miss you Gene."
Gene Clark in Concert
Douglas E. Schmidt | 11/24/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Gene Clark is a greatly overlooked songwriter. The production values are a little rough, but the songs come through clearly and this CD is well worth a listen for those appreciative of a true song builder."
Raw is good
VSap | Atlanta, GA | 12/16/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is a guilty pleasure recording. Many "wilburies" intact but it's alright, for avid fan or even casual listener. The solo CD relates the feeling of a kind of rushed radio concert. Think: stripped down King Biscuit Flower Hour. Clark arrives late and can't practice with the local band arranged for him. Of course, the solo songs are superb. Then songs with the band are a little rough, as you might expect, but, ultimately, they are pros and pull it off without trashing the music (which I fully expected). The duet CD with Carla Olson is probably better than the studio "So Rebellious A Lover". It tells you that during that day and time, with the right promoting, these two might have been touted as the best in the biz, and justifiably so. Worth the price!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1