The 1968 debut, originally released on A&M, from one of the first and finest L.A. country-rock outfits. Comprised of Gene Clark, hot on the heels of his departure from the Byrds and his debut solo release (with the Gos... more »din Bros.), and Doug Dillard, the virtuosic banjoist/guitarist of the Dillards. Gene Clark is perhaps the most underrated songwriter of the 1960s and this could very well be his finest post-Byrds moment. Featuring help from fellow Byrd Chris Hillman, future Burrito Brother 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, and future Burrito/Eagle Bernie Leadon, this is an absolutely essential piece of L.A. country-rock history, not to mention an out and out masterpiece.« less
The 1968 debut, originally released on A&M, from one of the first and finest L.A. country-rock outfits. Comprised of Gene Clark, hot on the heels of his departure from the Byrds and his debut solo release (with the Gosdin Bros.), and Doug Dillard, the virtuosic banjoist/guitarist of the Dillards. Gene Clark is perhaps the most underrated songwriter of the 1960s and this could very well be his finest post-Byrds moment. Featuring help from fellow Byrd Chris Hillman, future Burrito Brother 'Sneaky' Pete Kleinow, and future Burrito/Eagle Bernie Leadon, this is an absolutely essential piece of L.A. country-rock history, not to mention an out and out masterpiece.
"My vinyl record wore out, then the CD, and now have to buy it again. One of those albums that is necessary in any collection, and is actually listened to periodically with the same mix of joy, sadness, and sing-a-long as the first time i ever listened. (its like readers pay the short story writer Saki the ultimate compliment... they buy his books and read them...) I am mostly a rock n roller, but this cross over, if it could be pigeonholed, is a must have. Can't wait til it gets here in the mail and I can let Laura listen...."
This Album Invents Country Rock
AudioObscurica | United States | 04/13/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's not surprising this album didn't sell, after all, do any albums worth owning break any sales records? The answer? No. Of the 9 songs there is not one bad one. It's bluegrass,country,folk,gospel and even almost soul (see the opening track "Out on the Side"), sometimes all at the same time. Without an album like this country nor rock would have come this far. Maybe one day it will be discovered by a mass audience and have the 'comeback' it never had. A real gem."
Even Better
T. Noon | Fort Worth, TX USA | 05/19/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't add that much to the accolades below - this genre defying work of art is truly one of the great albums of all time. But be aware that the bonus tracks on this import version (12 tracks rather than 9) are some of the best, and add significantly to the irresistable pleasure of hearing this again and again."
A Precious Resource
Stephen Saunders | O'CONNOR, ACT Australia | 04/28/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Seriously, if you don't own this yet, and your curiosity has got you far enough to read the reviews, just buy it, you can pillory me in the comments if I've misled. It is not just a record, it is a precious life resource that may go straight into your heart and see you through the darkest of times. Within weeks of the first release 40 years ago, I was imprinted with every word of every Clark original, and I know I will take it all to the grave. Only a handful of rock albums fit into this elite group in my mind. Clark was a demon who wrote like an angel, and at this time he was on a roll, although he kept composing wonderful songs till quite close to his death in 1991. His biographer claims that, in one case, he was given a bunch of music and came back next morning with the perfect accompanying lyric. On another song, he begins "Someone is speaking of time now to gain/The voice crying be, I am bound/Life is undying yet somebody weeps/The season declares its own sounds." So oddly auto-didactic and Clarkish, yet so true. The band romped, with Chris Hillman (mandolin) and Andy Belling (electric harpsichord) making hallowed contributions. Hell, every time I play this durned record, it makes me want to go right on out to Tipton, Missouri to kiss the headstone. They oughta teach it in the US schools, mebbe just after the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution."
Classic
William R. Nicholas | Mahwah, NJ USA | 07/24/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is one of the best country-rock albums I ever heard. After Gene Clark left the Byrds he formed this band with Doug Dillard who was in the band that bore his last name. They released this in nineteen sixty eight
Expedition has a laid back California bluegrass flavor. The tracks are genuine of the genre, but feature Hammond Organ, polished rock sliding bass, and all the craft you would expect from a rock album from the era.
These guys were amazing in their ability to catch the nuance of this music, while still making an album rock fans could connect with. Even if you don't like country music, you'll love the sheer playing prowess and sheer technique of Dillard and Clark. Expedition has not dated a day since 1968--this counterculture country feels far more real than a lot of the mainstream digitized frozen dinners of the genre being released in 2010
Country fan, rock fan, music fan, hippie boy--get this!