Gene Clark - Roadmaster
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CD Details
Artist: Gene ClarkEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 1994-06-16
Music Label: Edsel Records UK
Soundtracks:
- She's The Kind Of Girl
- One In A Hundred
- Here Tonight
- Full Circle Song
- In A Misty Morning
- Rough And Rocky
- Roadmaster
- I Really Don't Want To Know
- I Remember The Railroad
- She Don't Care About Time
- Shooting Star
Music reviews of Roadmaster
Music Review: Not Gene's strongest, but still some good music to enjoy
Rating: 4 Stars
When it comes to Gene Clark's music, I have pretty high standards--if you've listened to White Light, No Other, or The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, you know just what magical, stellar songwriting and performing Clark was capable of. Listening to Roadmaster, which is somewhat of a collection of partially finished takes and outtakes rather than a complete, whole album, it's hard not to be disappointed and wonder why the album between White Light and No Other doesn't quite have the magic that the others do. Regardless, it's still Gene Clark, which means it's worthwhile if you're willing to give it your attention and a chance.
In a few ways, Roadmaster is a record of growth for Clark--there's some interesting experimentation with his arrangements and production, like the addition of flute on "She's The Kind of Girl," some interesting strings on the spaced-out "In A Misty Morning," and some great pedal steel that gives the music a sort of Bakersfield country-rock flavor that wasn't really there before, but would get pulled-off much more successfully in No Other. As usual, Clark's songwriting shines, with some great new tunes like the contemplative, mid-tempo "Full Circle Song," the mysterious "She Don't Care About Time," the cool vocal harmonies in "Here Tonight," and the aforementioned spacey "In A Misty Morning."
I really have to agree with Wayne Klein's review though, in saying that the production on Roadmaster doesn't really help the songs shine through. The mix sounds a bit flat, with nothing really standing out at any point. Probably the weakest quality is in the arrangements--most of the songs are really downbeat and quiet, with few moments of intensity or variation that make other Clark records stand out, making the album a bit lugubrious. Additionally, there are a few missteps with song selection--"Roadmaster" the song doesn't really live up to the quality of Clark's usual writing and the lyrics are kind of vapid, set to a stock blues rock tune. Likewise, "One In A Hundred" is vastly outshone by the version on White Light--I know he's backed by the Byrds on this one, but it sounds like that standard Byrds sound and lacks most of the aching, burning vitality present on White Light. I should add, too, that the sound of the CD reissue is good, but the liner notes are spare and leave a lot to be desired.
I have to stress, though, that these criticisms don't mean that Roadmaster isn't worth buying--there's plenty of good material to check out and keep you interested. Roadmaster is not the place to start getting into Gene Clark, though, and it certainly isn't one of his masterpieces. The fact that it holds together despite its ramshackle nature is indeed a testament to Gene's abilities at the time.
Description of Roadmaster
By 1972, singer/songwriter Gene Clark had settled into a new life in Mendocino far from the intrusive media glare and fan adulation that still surrounded someone of his stature as a former member of the Byrds. However, he still owed A&M Records one more album. Gathering together the cream of the Los Angeles country-rock fraternity--innovative guitarist Clarence White, Chris Ethridge on bass, ex-Byrd and Burrito Brother Michael Clarke on drums, pedal steel guitarist extraordinaire Sneaky Pete, Byron Berline on fiddle and pianist Spooner Oldham--Gene set about recording an album of pure country rock unfettered by any commercial dictates.Although the spring 1972 recording sessions were ultimately abandoned, Gene left eight precious songs in the vaults. "Full Circle Song" (later recorded by the reunited Byrds and a bona fide country-rock classic) and "Shooting Star" reveal a deep, introspective soul-searching. "I Remember the Railroad" and "In a Misty Morning" reflect a longing for the simpler days of his youth. The sessions also produced spirited versions of Flatt & Scruggs' "Rough and Rocky," the country standard "I Really Don't Want to Know," Freddie Weller's rollicking "Roadmaster" and a reinterpretation of his standout Byrds song, "She Don't Care About Time."
Gene's manager Jim Dickson took these eight tracks and paired them with three additional unreleased recordings to assemble Roadmaster. The unreleased tracks chronicled two previous attempts at a Byrds reunion ("One in a Hundred" and "She's the Kind of Girl") as well as the stunning "Here Tonight," with Gene backed by The Flying Burrito Brothers. Originally a 1973 European-only release, imported copies of Roadmaster soon found their way to North America as fans came to recognize the brilliance in the ill-fated sessions. "The album itself I was proud of," acknowledged Gene years later. "I was proud of the writing and proud of the bunch of people who played on it." This legendary recording makes its Sundazed debut on compact disc and wondrous vinyl. It has been painstakingly mastered from the original A&M session tapes and is packaged in new album artwork. CD includes extra photos and new liner notes by Gene Clark biographer John Einarson. Add this recording to your collection and bear full witness to Gene Clark's panoramic musical vision.
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