Search - Gene Clark, Gosdin Brothers :: Gene Clark & Gosdin Brothers

Gene Clark's first solo album after leaving the Byrds

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 01/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Gene Clark is best remembered for being a vocalist with the Byrds and one of the songwriters who defined country rock, although his best known song would be " "Eight Miles High." "Gene Clark With the Gosdin Brothers" was his solo debut album in 1967 after he left the Bryds, which explains not only why it is his solo effort that most sounds like the Bryds and also the best album he put out after leaving the group. The other problem was that he was a bit ahead of the times in moving towards what would be known as progressive rock. Clark's songwriting is noticeably better on this album, as you can hear with the first song "Echoes," with its simple melody and lyrical wordplay. "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" is just about as good as well, especially in terms of the lyrics. "I Think I'm Going to Feel Better," "Tried So Hard," and "Keep On Pushin'" layout the ground for country work, while "Is Yours Is Mine" explores the psychaedlic rock that pretty much everybody was experimenting with at that time. But there are also some tracks, such as "Elevator Operator," that help the album lose some momentum. Clark's albums never enjoyed much success; only one of them ever charted and came nowhere close to the Top 100. But he was always able to bring in some pretty good musicians to back him up. On this one, in addition to the Gosdin Brothers, who did harmonies in the style of the Everly Brothers, there were a couple of current Byrds, Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke, and a future one in Clarence White. The results are close enough to make comparisons to the Byrds inevitable (especially since this album came out the same week as the Byrds' "Younger Than Yesterday"), and while the sound comes up short it is still better than a lot of what was making the Billboard Top 40 at that time. However, if you are interested in Clark's music in general and this album in particular, you would do better to pick up "Echoes," which includes this complete album plus a half-dozen songs he wrote for the Byrds and a trio of unreleased tracks. One of the nice things about reissued albums from the Sixties is that they usually find some decent bonus tracks in the vault."

True Lost Classic from the 60s

M. Owen | Seattle, WA United States | 10/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great album by the melancholy songster responsible for the great original tunes on the first two Byrds albums. He brought the Byrds rhythm section along to make this album, plus future Byrd Clarence White and country singers the Gosdin Brothers for harmonies. Though some of the backing tracks may be slicker than his other work, this is totally solid and a must hear for fans of 60s pop.



This CD contains the original mono mix that is far superior to the muddy stereo mix on the Echoes CD, which is otherwise a great value."

Decent stuff, but it's in mono (explore other options)

Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 02/26/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers was Clark's first solo album after leaving the Byrds (which, in my opinion, despite the lack of success he achieved later on, was the best artistic decision of his life). Unsurprisingly, it also sounds the most like the Byrds of all his solo albums, not to mention it's the album on which Gene's singing voice sounds the most like Bob Dylan's (rather than the achingly true voice he'd develop for himself on his later records). Nevertheless, it's a pretty good record with some strong songs and performances. However, the entire album is only 28 minutes long with 1 bonus track, and it's all in mono, which (to me) sounds like it's coming out of an AM radio, not a CD. It also tends to be quite expensive, although a new issue is due out in early March of 2007. If you're interested in this album, I recommend that you buy Echoes, which has the entire album as well as several bonus tracks of Gene's Byrds and solo outtakes, in stereo. I prefer the stereo mix (in the end it's all up to your preference), but Echoes is a lot cheaper, in print, and includes more music.



Clark's first solo album has some great songs--the opener, "Echoes" is classic 60's experimentation with some strings and a delightfully impenetrable but beautiful lyric. A lot of these songs are short, concise pop folk rockers, like the second track, which is actually pretty catchy. The Gosdin bros. lend Gene some good guitar skills, and some energetic background vocals. Personally, I like it better when Gene's voice is out there by itself (I think it's a wonderful instrument in and of itself), or combined with more subtle harmonizing, like with Doug Dillard. They do sound good at what they're doing though. "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" is a dark change of pace, and "Keep On Pushin'" sounds like a pretty direct precursor of some of Clark's groundbreaking country rock work (and the work of his contemporaries).



A lot of the album, though, sounds pretty familiar--like the Byrds, like the Everly Brothers, and like the standard late-60's rock that was padding the radio in the day. A few of the songs are a bit dull, like "Couldn't Believe Her," and "Elevator Operator," and sometimes the record would benefit from more diverse subject matter (i.e. less love songs). All in all, though, it's not a bad record--just overshadowed by Gene's A+ work with Dillard, and his later solo outings, White Light and No Other.



If you're interested in Clark but haven't heard his later stuff, I don't think I'd recommend starting with this album, but if you're already into his music it's definitely worthwhile--but I'd still recommend Echoes over this one for its price, quality, and value. Enjoy!"