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GENE CLARK
1980-1991
Gene Clark Discography
Gene Clark Bibliography
A note on sources:
As a look at the Gene Clark bibliography will reveal, many sources were used in writing this profile of Gene Clark's solo work. By far the best of these is the two-part article by Jean-Pierre Morisset, "Flying Forever," which ran in Bucketfull of Brains. Those seeking an even greater level of detail should check out that article, which was posted on Ralf Narfeldt's Gene Clark Web Page last time I looked.
Midnight Mission by the Textones. Courtesy A&M Records.
Jean-Pierre Morisset notes the following appearances of tracks from the 1985 sessions with the Textones: a different version of "Gypsy Rider" on a flexi given away with issue 24 of music zine Bucketfull of Brains and later compiled on a zine-sponsored CD, Time Will Show the Wiser (Triad, NA); "Lover's Turnaround," a bonus track on the British version of So Rebellious a Lover (Demon, 1987); "Jokers Are Wild," a bonus track on the UK Textones comp Back In Time (Demon, NA); and "Day for Night," a bonus track on the US Textones comp Through the Night (Rhino, 1989). Morisset also notes that the tracks "Winning Hand" and "Why Did You Leave Me Today" were also recorded but never released.*Flyte
After leaving McGuinn and Hillman in late 1980, Gene Clark spent a couple of years regrouping, first in Hawaii, and then in Northern California. In 1982, he began to devote time to his musical career again. He spent some time in the studio recording the tracks that would eventually become his next album.
At the same time, Clark and Herb Pedersen were occasionally jamming with Chris Hillman and Al Perkins, who were regular musical partners at the time. Clark, Pedersen and Emmylou Harris actually did a guest appearance with Hillman and Perkins at a pair of live gigs at the Palomino in December of 1982.In early '83, the four gentlemen and drummer Mike Clarke entered the studio and recorded a few sessions under the tentative name "Flyte." This was an experiment that evidently never led anywhere, at least not for Clark (although Hillman and Pedersen do put in a guest appearance on Clark's next album). Tapes of the Flyte sessions have circulated for years and Clark fans can only hope they may someday see official release.Gene Clark and the Firebyrds
In the Spring of 1983, Gene Clark teamed up again with Mike Clarke. Clarke brought along bassist Mark Andes, who like Clarke, had recently left Firefall. Andes, a veteran of Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, recruited his brother, guitarist Matt Andes, also a veteran of Jo Jo Gunne. With the two Firefall alumni in the band, the name "Firebyrds" became an obvious choice. The band started touring in June of 1983.
Mark Andes left in short order to join Heart, and was replaced by bassist Peter Oliva, late of the K.C. Southern Band. Rhythm guitarist Trace Harrill also joined, though he was later replaced by Michael Hardwick (a friend of Mike Clarke's from Jerry Jeff Walker's band). Gene Clark and the Firebyrds toured through most of 1984.Firebyrd
In 1984, Clark's next album finally emerged. Produced by Thomas Jefferson Kaye and K.C. Southern Band drummer Andy Kandanes, the sessions from '82 and '83 were released as Firebyrd (Allegiance / Takoma, 1984). The album contained a number of new Clark compositions, including "Rain Song," "Blue Raven," and "Something About You Baby," as well as a cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind." Firebyrd also contained new versions of "Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "Mr. Tambourine Man," which (along with the LP's title) give some indication of Clark's thinking around this time.
In 1984, many of the younger American bands began to acknowledge the work of Gene Clark. Hüsker Dü covered "Eight Miles High," while the Three O'Clock did "Feel A Whole Lot Better." Clark also began working with manager Saul Davis in '84, which led to close relationships with two other Davis clients, the Long Ryders and the Textones. Clark added vocals to "Ivory Tower" on the Ryders LP Native Sons (Frontier, 1984) and the song "Midnight Mission" on the 1984 Textones album by the same name. Clark also joined Roger McGuinn at an acoustic McCabe's gig in August of 1984.20th Anniversary Tribute to the Byrds
The increased recognition for the Byrds already had Clark thinking about the upcoming twentieth anniversary of "Mr. Tambourine Man." By the end of 1984, Clark was putting together a band to tour as "A Twentieth Anniversary Tribute to the Byrds." For the full story of this group, see Byrds v. Byrds: 1984-1988.
Gene Clark & Carla Olson
In the fall of 1985, between tours with the Tribute band, Clark went into the studio with his friends the Textones and cut half a dozen tracks. Several of these have emerged as bonus tracks on various CDs by Clark or by the Textones.
Clark also wrote about 40 songs with John York and a songwriter named Pat Robinson under the name "Cry." This trio also recorded a handful of demos, which have not been released.In October of 1986, Clark went back into the studio with Textones vocalist Carla Olson to record the songs that would become So Rebellious A Lover (Rhino, 1987). The core band members were Clark, Olson, drummer Michael Huey, an alumnus of the Classics IV, and bassist Roscoe Beck, who had played with Leonard Cohen and Joe Ely. Huey also served as producer. Other friends who appeared on the album include Chris Hillman, Long Ryder Stephen McCarthy, Textone Tom Junior Morgan, and Randy Fuller of the Bobby Fuller Four. The album is entirely acoustic.The album featured Olson backing Clark on three Clark originals, Clark backing Olson on three Olson compositions, four well-chosen covers, and one traditional song arranged by Clark. The three Clark songs, "Del Gato," "Gypsy Rider," and "Why Did You Leave Me Today," are all highlights. Olson's compositions are also worthy, particularly "Are We Still Making Love." "Fair and Tender Ladies," the public domain song, is less interesting, but the covers are all great songs. "Deportee" is the Woody Guthrie song also covered by the Byrds on the post-Clark LP Ballad of Easy Rider. "I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito #1")" is the Gram Parsons ballad from The Gilded Palace of Sin (A&M, 1969). Hillman's mandolin adds a fresh twist to John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night;" and "Don't It Make You Want to Go Home" is a Joe South song (the original of which featured drummer Huey).After its release in April of '87, Rebellious was well-received by critics and fans (though some of the latter expressed frustration with the small number of Clark compositions). The duo played a number of gigs in support of the album. Several years later, live tracks by Clark and Olson (recorded at McCabe's Guitar Shop) surfaced on Silhouetted in Light - Live (Demon, 1991). The artistic success of the album prompted Clark to retire the Byrds Tribute Band in the summer of 1988, although he occasionally gigged with the same band under the less contentious name "The Firebyrds."Clark and Olson worked together, playing out several times between 1987 and 1991. In interviews, Clark mentioned plans for a second Clark/Olson album, which never materialized. In 1989, they did record a version of the Phil Ochs song "Changes," which appeared on the British compilation True Voices (Demon, 1991).Clark was undoubtedly distracted during this time. He had major surgery in the spring of '88, in which half his stomach and some of his intestine were removed because of a serious ulcer. A solo album was also in the works in the late '80s, and Clark recorded several sessions during 1989 and 1990. Clark also became embroiled in the controversy over the Byrds name, trying to remain neutral between Mike Clarke on one hand and McGuinn, Crosby and Hillman on the other. Clark's camp did register a trademark claim on the Byrds name on his behalf. Quotes from Clark at the time indicate that he was hopeful for a reunion of the original quintet, and there are reports of lengthy negotiations among the three factions at the time. For the full story of this imbroglio, see Byrds v. Byrds: 1989-1990. The only full reunion was confined to the Byrds' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January of 1991, treated in Byrds v. Byrds: 1991-1997.Here Without You
After the induction in January, Clark went back to work. The follow-up album with Carla Olson was once again on the agenda, as was a UK tour. In April, Clark played a five-night stand at the Cinegrill in Hollywood. Clark reportedly looked awful, although the shows were well-received.
Just as Clark was enjoying renewed appreciation for his musical career, however, it came to an abrupt end. At about 1:00 PM on May 24, 1991, Clark was found dead at his Sherman Oaks home. There was no sign of foul play or a drug-related cause of death, and his personal physician attributed the death to "natural causes." But Clark's manager acknowledged that "a history of alcohol and drug abuse may have played a role in Clark's death."* Indeed, his health had been poor for some time, due in part to the toll of substance abuse.It was a tragic end to a troubled life, at a time when Clark was about to receive some of the acclaim he deserved. Instead, Clark was the object not of accolades, but of a string of posthumous CD releases. He was not the first Byrd to die an untimely death after years of hard living, and sadly, he would not be the last.Notes
Textones sessions. Morisset, "Flying Forever Part 2" at 6.
"...[M]ay have played a role..." Morris at 6.
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