Gene Clark - The Lighthouse

 

Bootleg

A1 The American Dreamer

A2 She's the Kind of Girl

A3 One in a Hundred

A4 Here Tonight

A5 She Darked the Sun

A6 Outlaw Song

B1 Back to Earth Again

B2 The Lighthouse

B3 The Awakening Within

B4 Sweet Adrienne

B5 Walking Through this Lifetime

B6 The Sparrow

B7 Only Yesterday's Gone

Another Gene re-imagining; this time I'm trying to make sense of the 1970 recordings. 

During this period, Gene embarked on a series of one off sessions, I've made these the basis of Side 1. 'The American Dreamer' and 'Outlaw Song' are both short solo pieces Gene wrote and recorded for 'American Dreamer', starring Dennis Hopper. 

'She's the Kind of Girl' and 'One in a Hundred' were intended to be released as a 'reunion' Byrds single in 1970 and features all five original members. Far superior to anything on the 1973 reunion album, it's a mystery as to why this single was cancelled.

'Here Tonight' and 'She Darked the Sun' were recorded by Gene and The Flying Burrito Brothers. It's tantalising to think about a Gene Clark led Burritos after the departure of Gram Parsons, all we have is this (again aborted) single.

The two unissued singles eventually ended up the European only release 'Roadmaster'. However, they sat uneasy with new recordings from 1973, which made for an unbalanced listen.

The second side features half an albums worth of songs that finally saw the light on Sierra Records 'The Lost Studio Sessions 1964–1982'. Again recorded in 1970, it's unclear what these were being recorded for. They are solo performances and a little too professional to be demos. 

This would of made a great Gene Clark album of contrasting styles and makes sense of this period before Gene once again set about making an album proper the following year.

Other Gene Clark re-imagined albums on this blog:

Back Street Mirror b/w Don't Let it Fall Through (1967)

The Gene Clark Group E.P. (1968)

Dillard & Clark (1969)

The Lighthouse (1970)

Mendocino (1971)

The Gene Clark Group

Unreleased 1968

01 Los Angeles

02 I Pity the Poor Immigrant

03 That's Alright by Me

Another set of songs given a home within a fictitious alternate timeline.

After the failure of 'Gene Clark & The Gosdin Brothers' and no label to pick up the demos from the 'Gene Clark Sings For You', Gene found himself starting again (again).

For a very, very brief period of time in early 1968, he set up The Gene Clark Band with guitarist Laramy Smith.

They performed a handful of gigs in L.A. and recorded three and a half songs.

Laramy had already played on a version of 'That's Alright by Me' from 'Gene Clark Sings For You' recorded only a few months earlier. This version is more complete with a fantastic country style vocal from Gene.

'Los Angeles' is a new Gene original and has a 'Younger Than Yesterday' type feel and sound.

The original 'I Pity the Poor Immigrant' had only been released a few weeks earlier on Dylan's 'John Wesley Harding' and Gene turns in a wonderful version.

Also attempted was 'Lyin' Down the Middle', but a full take was never completed.

Shortly after, Gene was picked up by A&M Records and started Dillard & Clark.

These three tracks (and indeed The Gene Clark Group) were forgotten until the excellent anthology 'Flyin' High' was released in 1998.

These three tracks deserve their own spotlight and make a grand EP.

Dillard & Clark

Bootleg 1969

01 No Longer a Sweetheart of Mine

02 Why Not Your Baby

03 Wall Around Your Heart

04 Through the Morning, Through the Night

05 So Sad

06 Dark Hollow

07 Kansas City Southern

08 Four Walls

09 Polly

10 Don't Let Me Down

Another fan made Gene Clark album, this time, re-arranging the second and final album from Dillard & Clark.

1968's 'The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark' was a classic from start to finsh. A little confusing coming after the psychedelic, beat and baroque 'Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers' (clues can be found in unreleased recordings), but collaborating with banjo player Doug Dillard produced a beautiful album of folk, country and bluegrass.

Unfortunately most critics agreed that 1969's follow up 'Through The Morning, Through The Night' was a bit of a come down. More cover versions, less Gene originals and vocals and the introduction of Donna Washburn as a further vocalist all contributed to this.

There is however, some wonderful songs on the released album, as well as some songs that weren't.

I retained 'No Longer a Sweetheart of Mine', 'So Sad', 'Kansas City Southern', 'Four Walls', 'Polly', 'Don't Let Me Down' and the title track from the original album. I added two outtakes from the album sessions; 'Dark Hollow' and 'Wall Around Your Heart'. Finally I included the wonderful non-album single 'Why Not Your Baby'.

GENE CLARK - BACK STREET MIRROR

Unreleased single 1967.

01. Back Street Mirror
02. Don't Let it Fall Through

There has been a lot of unheard Gene Clark material coming through in the last couple of years. It doesn't get much better than this unreleased single.

After the commercial failure of Gene's first album, he quickly recorded a follow up single; 'The French Girl' b/w 'Only Colombe'. Columbia decided this would also fail and cancelled it.

At a later recording session, Gene recorded an albums worth of material and these two tracks were put aside as his new single.

Astoundingly, the label decided that this wasn't really worth it either.

Cloth ears man, this baroque and mariachi masterpiece is wonderful. Both sides were recorded with Hugh Maskela, who had played trumpet on the Byrds 'So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star?' the previous year.

In terms of recorded output, Gene Clark has one of the messiest and puzzling of careers. Hearing missing albums and singles like this provide a clearer picture.

P.S. There was never a sleeve printed, so I made this.

GENE CLARK - MENDOCINO

Bootleg 1971

01. White Light
02. Where My Love Lies Asleep
03. Because of You
04. For a Spanish Guitar
05. Tears of Rage
06. The Virgin
07. Opening Day
08. With Tomorrow
09. 1975
10. White Light

Okay, I wouldn't normally do this...but this is a re-imagining of an already released album. Plus, it's a bonus fourth album this month as the man removed one of January's entries.

Pretty much all my friends and I are HUGE Gene Clark fans. We all agree that 'No Other' is probably the best (it is a mind blowing cosmic Americana epic), but the album that splits opinion is 'White Light'.

As big a fan as I am, I find 'White Light' to be a tad over rated. For me, the problem lies in the slick, clean sound. The production is too smooth, the other musicians too precise.

I knew the songs on the record were good, so I set about making my own. Using 'Here Tonight: The White Light Demos', some unreleased stuff and of course, the original L.P. I assembled an album.

Every fan does this, but I felt this worked so well, I'd hand it out to anyone who was interested.