Gene Clark, a founding member of the Byrds and one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most intriguing troubadours, has always been suspended in the gray area between obscurity and popularity.
Often, throughout a long musical career that concluded with his untimely death in 1991, Clark was always in the forefront of musical innovators leading the way to the next big musical movement — whether it psychedelic, country rock, singer/songwriter, or his own brand of “cosmic American music.” Unfortunately, the more tragic or popular musicians have received Clark’s accolades, and are now more regularly called be the representatives of these labels through posthumous campaigns.
Peeling through the thick haze of drugs and alcohol, picking through the failed album tracks, and inspecting the obscure and dusty melodies, a collection of passed-over and forgotten Clark compositions comes into greater focus. Fans and scholars-in-the-know realize that Clark was and is still considered an innovator and by choosing any of the albums in his extended discography one can be witness to his deep and spiritual contributions to rock music’s melodic creation and lyrical depth.
Clark’s voice will always be remembered for its milky deep baritone, his lyrics for the revealing and detailed glimpse into his minor key reflection of life. If Clark had one hit song during his solo career, or if some enterprising record executive had the foresight and insight to push his records instead of burying them, this Deep Cuts compilation may be completely different. The songs here are all powerful, beautiful and revolutionary in their own unique ways and deserve much more than a cursory mention on this list.
While most of Clark’s solo work could be considered brimming with deep cuts, for this list I have distilled the choices to five songs from his discography of 11 solo records, two of them with ex-Byrd partners Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman. Depending on your familiarity with the Clark discography, you may have contrary choices to my own, but that’s the beauty of lists such as the following. A collaborative review and constructive discussion of the dusty cobwebbed corners of Clark’s career can reveal long concealed jewels and shine a brighter light on the obvious gifts of his songwriting abilities …
“ONE IN A HUNDRED, (WHITE LIGHT, 1971; ROADMASTER, 1972): A song filled with so much promise and melodic strengths that it held a spot on two albums. First recorded in 1970, the song is actually Byrds reunion track, containing all of the hallmarks of a classic Byrds LP cut and all of the group’s original members. The jingle-jangle guitar is present and accounted for, in addition to thick and sugary sweet harmonies and Clark’s unique vocal melody lines — all of it as distinguishable as a finger print.
The Byrds’ version of the song languished in the vaults until the release of the Dutch LP Roadmaster in 1973. In the interim, Clark, aware of the optimistic songs strengths, released an alternate version of the track on 1971’s White Light. A stripped down acoustic version, highlighted by Jessie Ed Davis’ serpentine slide guitar, features an airy and woody arrangement that showcases this song’s internal strengths.
[SOMETHING ELSE! REWIND: As Gene Clark worked through the early demos for ‘White Light,’ I couldn’t get over how happy he sounded, as if he had finally put everything together.]
“STRENGTH OF STRINGS,” (NO OTHER, 1974): The combination of a refusal to tour as well as an LP way ahead of its time unfortunately sunk the album No Other before it ever had a chance to leave the ground. Tucked away as the side-one closer on this now unjustly forgotten album, the mammoth “Strength of Strings” contains a beautifully sung wordless introduction, a slowly ascending main body that seems to gain momentum as the song rolls forward, and towering vocals that stretch out toward the sinking orange sun outlining the cosmic range.
The track is an anomaly; there is no music from 1974 that quite sounds like this. Instruments wrap around one another like a DNA helix, voices take flight, and melodies elicit images of universes colliding and exploding. The song hails from an album that Clark considered his finest moment and that once again fell into the wrong marketplace at the wrong time. “Strength of Strings” is a revolutionary chapter and a song that continues to impress through its historic musical relevancy, one of Clark’s finest moments.
[SOMETHING ELSE! INTERVIEW: Gene Clark sat down with Beverly Paterson of Something Else! to discuss the lasting impact of the Byrds, and his genre-melding creative process.]
“POLLY,” (THROUGH THE MORNING, THROUGH THE NIGHT, 1969): “Polly” hails from one of two albums featuring Gene Clark and Doug Dillard from 1968 and 1969 respectively. Exploring the theme of freedom and flight later reflected in tracks such as “Silver Raven,” “Polly” sways like a weather-worn back porch swing in a smooth Southern breeze. The song moves in the manner of a secret passed between friends, soft and breathy, portraying the sense of loss felt the narrator.
Sparkling acoustic arpeggios in addition to lush strokes across the strings elicit an intimate empty narrator’s room, a slow horse drawn rhythm supports the full community of group vocals that hang delicately in the air. While lyrically brief, Clark’s words — slow and languid — expose more with every listen. The resulting musical creation’s lacy waltz adds color to the black-and-white outline sketched by Clark’s honeyed vibrato.
[ONE TRACK MIND: A Bob Dylan song transformed into something like the Beach Boys, and also like the Beatles — and nothing like folk music — propelled the Byrds to their first No. 1.]
“LONELY SATURDAY,” (TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, 1977): After the disappointment felt by the relative failure of 1974’s No Other, Clark returned with another record label and 1977’s release Two Sides to Every Story. Sticking to a theme that seems to be developing, the record had little success, but the gift of hindsight shows this to be a well-made record containing the usual Clark classics that sit unnoticed like the ignored newspaper beggar on a cold city street. The LP has many choice moments, but the one that sticks with me because of its essential Clark elements is “Lonely Saturday.”
The song is the classic country tale of being left behind by a woman who has moved on, but what makes it worthy of inclusion on Clark’s Deep Cuts list is its definitive Clark vocal. You will be hard pressed to find any rock vocals more expressive and saturated with emotion. Weeping pedal steel, honky-tonk barroom piano, and the stale smell of a barren bar stool in conjunction with Clark’s stomach-twisting vocals all add up to a song that will make any grown man cry at the bar.
[SOMETHING ELSE! REWIND: The stirring and informative documentary ‘Byrd Who Flew Alone’ illustrates that big money and drugs didn’t do Gene Clark any favors..]
“GYPSY RIDER,” (SO REBELLIOUS A LOVER, 1987): The So Rebellious a Lover LP was subject to positive reviews upon its release, a major change for Clark. It seems that, with the passage of time, some critics and musicians were actually catching up with Clark’s sensibilities. The collaboration with Carla Olson brought out a number of new Clark songs, the one featured here being one of his finest late-era compositions.
“Gypsy Rider,” originates from Clark’s comfort zone, a cowboy ballad dealing with travel, escape and a vagabond searching for answers along the rutted highway of life. Built on Clark’s acoustic guitar and still hearty yet gently quaking vocals, the song balances on the rhythm of the stringed instruments and melody until a tender clip-clop percussion joins in mid-song. “Gypsy Rider” illustrates that Clark’s penchant for melody still remained, despite its arrival toward the end of his tiring existence. Even tucked away on this now-rare album, Clark calls out from the grooves — remaining relevant, singing for you.
[amazon_enhanced asin=”B0000ACY0Y” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B000068PQ7″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B0000DZ3DR” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B00EHULRU6″ container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”B005FLX2FE” container=”” container_class=”” price=”All” background_color=”FFFFFF” link_color=”000000″ text_color=”0000FF” /]
This list could go in a myriad of directions with the amount of rare quality material and hidden tracks to be found in Gene Clark’s discography. With a prolific artist such as Clark, material was always being created; he could never turn off the tap; an abundance of material awaits discovery. If only Clark could have hung on for a few more years and escaped the grasp of his demons, he would have collided with the renewed interest and respect for his work. The tracks outlined illustrate that in the shadow-obscured corners of Clark’s albums there remains in wait beautiful music to find and enjoy. There are many songs to add to this constantly growing list, but for those who wish to travel the gypsy’s road, the above is a perfect starting point.
- Andrew Gabbard – ‘Ramble and Rave On’ (2024) - October 28, 2024
- Why ‘Bobby Charles’ Is the Best Band Album Not Released by the Band - May 29, 2022
- How ‘Paul Simon’ Set the Template for a Career of Dizzying Musical Exploration - January 24, 2022
Thanks so much for this, I just discovered Gene Clark a couple of months ago and it is a wonderful thing to find, at the age of 47, another deep and wide body of work to explore. These things are what make life worth living.
Also, I like your list! It could have been any number of other things, but these are all good choices. I had not heard “Lonely Saturday,” it’s nice to hear him doing straight country like that.