We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…….
How many artists have we talked about in these posts as “tortured souls? Too many. And today we have another one. A talented guy whose life and career were derailed by drugs and booze.
You know Gene Clark as a founding member of the Byrds. He wrote and sang a number of their hits including “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” and “Eight Miles High”. He left the band after disagreements and his fear of flying.
He is usually credited as one of the more gifted singer-songwriters of the period. He did some groundbreaking work in “country-rock” field with Doug Dillard and Bernie Leadon. He released some great solo records. He got back together with the Byrds for a reunion LP in 1973 and later joined Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman for some shows and a couple of LPs.
And yet, most of the stuff didnt sell particulary well and a number of shows were sabotaged by his excessive drinking which eventually killed him in 1991 of a bleeding ulcer.
In 1971 he released the LP “White Light” which is a sparkling slice of country-rock. Jesse Ed Davis contributes some great slide guitar and produced the record. The musicians included Chris Ethridge, Gary Mallaber, Mike Utley and Ben Sidran.
Some of the songs are special…especially “For A Spanish Guitar” which was called one of the great songs ever written, by no less than Bob Dylan. Here it is
Some of the other stand out moments include “Because of You” and “With Tomorrow” which includes the line “With tomorrow, I will borrow another moment of joy and sorrow”. Gene Clark knew his way around a tear-jerker. The song “One in A Hundred” features the bottle-neck guitar work of Davis. The LP also includes a cover of the Dylan-Manuel song “Tears Of Rage” which appeared on the Band’s debut. It stands up well.
Clark was still in good voice and his writing was still strong at this point. Enjoy…
