Dez's Essentials: Gene Clark & Carla Olson, SO REBELLIOUS A LOVER, 1987

Apology: My goal here at GNABB is to provide you with new and exciting content at least every other day or so, but I have been out of town for work since Wednesday without access to a computer at reasonable hours, so that explains my absence. I hope you have been able to manage while I was out of pocket...

NOTE: This is the first in a recurring series of music suggestions on GNABB. I am going to try and avoid the obvious with this column, so you probably won't be seeing me try to tell you why you should go out and buy REVOLVER by The Beatles...if you don't know that by now then you are beyond the help I can provide to you. So, these suggestions will be ones that might need a little promotion to be heard.



Unfortunately, the world is not always a just place. As evidence of that statement, many of my dear readers probably have not heard of Gene Clark. Now, you have heard Gene Clark, but you have not heard of him. He was one of the founding members of the seminal band The Byrds, but left after their first three records. In fact, before Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman or David Crosby discovered their songwriting skills, the majority of The Byrds' original material was penned by Gene. His trademark characteristics are an aching but gorgeous melancholy that permeates many of his songs, and that voice. Gene Clark's voice is so unique, it has a warmth and sadness to it that cuts so deep, and he wields it with such devastating precision and passion that he is able to produce unusual tones and pitches that stay with you long after hearing it.

Gene's post-Byrds career was one of missed opportunities, erratic work ethic, a troubled personal life, and a baffling indifference from the listening public. Clark became one of those musical figures revered by other musicians, but almost forgotten by the masses.

All of this is necessary introduction to the innaugural Dez's Essentials selection. Granted the album cover leaves something to be desired (when did blue jean jackets ever look good?) But So Rebellious a Lover is a delightful collaboration between Gene and Texas belter Carla Olson (of the The Textones). They make a perfect, if unlikely, pair. It was also one of the last projects Gene completed before his death. Listening to these tracks, it is clear to me that Gene's voice only became richer and more expressive with the ravages of hard living and age.

In a reversal of traditional duet roles, it is Gene who takes most of the quieter material and Carla who rocks out. Their voices mix wonderfully; they back each other up throughout, and frequently trade verses within the same song.

The musical landscape is quite consistent, an acoustic folk/rock backdrop that is alternately lovely and driving. Gene's songwriting is as strong as it ever was, and Carla holds her own alongside this legend. The opening four tracks may be the strongest. Carla's "Drifter" starts things off with a bang, and then we move into Gene's sublime highway lament "Gypsy Rider". Carla's "Every Angel In Heaven" grooves with a catchy bass riff and singalong chorus. But Gene's "Del Gato" is the true masterpiece here. Listen to how Gene weaves together this story-song about a Southwestern drifter, verse after verse. The way he works his voice through these verses is masterful, and there are several moments in this song where his singing is goosebump-worthy. And on it goes, the record is great from start to finish. Mixed with their superb original material are some choice covers, like John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night" and Gram Parsons' "I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito No. 1)".

SO REBELLIOUS A LOVER is one of the better acoustic, singer-songwriter albums I've ever come across. So if you enjoy that genre of music, this is essential stuff.

For Further Gene Clark listening:

The Byrds first three albums: Mr. Tambourine Man, Turn! Turn! Turn!, and Fifth Dimension

With Doug Dillard: The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark / Through the Morning, Through the Night (both albums are available on one great CD)

The best of his solo work:

White Light
No Other
Echoes

Gene has a good solo career retrospective available with Flying High