Quantity and Some Quality
C. F. Kemp | Pacific Grove, CA USA | 12/31/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Even though most of the people on this album are relative or complete unknowns, you do get 36 tracks and the fact that the songs are almost all written by Gene guarantees a certain degree of quality. I agree that the non-Clark original, "The Byrd that Couldn't Fly" is kind of, um, forced, but some of the other stuff is pretty interesting, including the song his son wrote and sings.If I do have a complaint it's that so many of these bands chose to re-work Clark songs that were first released by the Byrds. The initial production and arrangement of those songs is so well thought-out and polished, the re-makes can only pale in comparison (the exception being Byrdsongs like "Boston" and "You Movin'" which have previously been released only in rough form).Instead of "Eight Miles High" or "Set you Free this Time" or "She Don't Care About Time"--classics which really can't be bettered--I would have liked to have seen more selections from solo albums like "White Light" or "Two Sides to Every Story" which leave more space for interpretation and improvement. In addition, I was disappointed there wasn't more stuff off of "No Other." Though his greatest, most realized release, it would have been intruging to see bands take a stripped down approach to the mostly baroque arrangements on the album.Not the greatest tribute album ever, but if you're a fan of Gene's I'd definitely say go for it."
Gene Clark renaissance
Christoph Deschner | 08/26/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Hopefully this Cd will get Gene Clark noticed at last. You'd be better off checking out the marvellous Flying High two disc set really. By the way his best album "no other" has been released over here in japan. its truly the best. pity elektra hasn't chosen to rerelease it anywhere else."
Foul Circle: An Insult to Gene Clark
Geoff Harrold | Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire United Kingdom | 08/16/2001
(2 out of 5 stars)
"What a disappointment. And what a banal track "The Byrd who couldn't fly"! Words fail me. Play this once - you' ll never play it again - and then listen to the originals. They are rarely off MY 'turntable' anyway. With the issue of 'The Gene Clark demos' all we need now is for "Two sides ..." and "LA Sessions" (a superior reworking of "... With the Gosdin Brothers") to be out on CD. Until then, don't buy this record, there are few tracks that do justice to Gene Clark's particular genius."
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1