Thursday, March 21, 2013

Gene Clark-This Byrd has Flown

This Byrd Has Flown
Or
Firebyrd
 
This album disappoints. In 1980, with the Mcguinn, Clark and Hillman project already dead, Clark left for Hawaii for about one year in order to get himself back together. He returned to the states and after a year he started the recording for "Fyrebyrd"(This album consists in fact of "Fyrebyrd", supplemented with some bonus tunes). Various problems delayed Fyrebyrd's progress and it wasn't until 1984 that it was finished.
This Byrd has flown has its strong moments like "All I want" (a bonus tune, recorded around 1986), "rain song" (great guitar playing) and "made for love" (great vocal, nice music). Sadly, most of the material is really weak, especially when compared to his usual standards. He covers Mr. Tambourine man for example. Off course, it doesn't match the byrds' version. The same thing for "Feel a whole lot better". Lightfoot's "If you could read my mind" is covered too, but again, it sounds dull and flat. His originals are not much better. They sound uninspired, and the music's often dull. His voice is showing the signs of severe abuse (alcohol). Luckily he proved in 1987 with the "So Rebellious" album that he could still do it. He died in 1991 as a result of severe substance abuse (mainly alcohol), aged 46
 


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