Gene Clarke and the Godsin Brothers

Gene Clark and the Godsin Brotheers

After Gene Clark flew the nest from The Byrds, he took 10 months to return to the studio. In the 1960's that was a lifetime (most bands and solo artists released an average of two albums a year)but he returned with a brilliant first solo album that helped to define the infant country-rock movement. Ironically, Clark's album helped create a genre that other bands got credit for. Most of these tracks were available on the CD anthology "Echoes" which featured this album plus previously unreleased singles and five tracks from "Preflyte" and the first two Byrds albums on Columbia but many of them were remixed.

Featuring the rhythm section from The Byrds (Chris Hillman on bass and Michael Clarke on a number of tracks playing drums)and orchestral arrangements by Leon Russell, Clark's album is an eclectic mix of pop songs/country-rock style music. Showing a heavy influence of Clark's roots in folk, country and rock (and his main obsession Dylan & The Beatles), the country duo of the Gosdin brothers add their distinctive harmonies to every track. In fact, if you wonder what The Byrds had been like if McGuinn and Crosby had left the band and Clark had remained, this is a pretty good indication. Future Byrd Clarence White appears on guitar here as well (and was briefly a member of Gene Clark and The Group along with "Chip" Douglas and others)and while "Echoes" is probably the most unusual track here (hinting at his solo album "No Other").

The liner notes provide us with an insightful critique by Byrds and Clark biographer John Einarson (who recently also wrote the definitive book on the Flying Burrito Brothers HOT BURRITO)with comments by the participants. The mastering by Bob Irwin (who ironically produced the "Echoes" anthology)is terrific--it's not too loud or compressed.

We get the original album here plus an unreleased demo (the other demo was previously availble on "Echoes" with a interrupted first take as part of the track)in addition to the full album plus the solo singles and some alternate takes/mono mixes for some of the album tracks. I'd highly recommend this album along with "White Light".