Echoes

Gene Clark

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 1991)
• Original Release Date: 1967
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000281U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #188,596 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A folk-rock sleeper, Echos bundles 20 recordings the romantic, original Byrd cut in '66 and '67, shortly after he left the "American Beatles." Containing the entirety of the Gene Clark and the Gosdin Bros. album, plus a half- dozen Clark-penned Byrds songs and three previously unreleased tracks, Echos displays remarkable breadth. It includes elements of folk-rock, nascent country-rock, and what today is called orchestral pop intermix in a collection that feels remarkably cohesive despite its disparate sources. Sadly, Clark was never able to live up to all the promise as a solo artist on display in this lovely period piece. --Steven Stolder

Product Description
2003 reissue of 1991 compilation, that incorporates the 1967 album, 'Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers', packaged in a digipak. 20 tracks. Columbia. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "Must-Have" For Fans Of Early Byrds, July 12, 2000

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Essentially this is a collection of some of Gene Clark's best work from the first two Byrds albums, his first (and best) solo album (Gene Clark And The Gosdin Brothers), plus a couple of previously unreleased songs and an acoustic demo version of "So You Say You Lost Your Baby." As such, this is essential listening for fans of the Gene Clark-era Byrds.

Of the first two tracks taken from the album Preflyte, "Boston" is a fairly pedestrian pop/rock song, but "For Me Again" is typical of the terrific mid-tempo songs Clark wrote for the Byrds. Also included are a pair of songs from Mr. Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! [The glaring omission of "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" is forgivable in that most fans will already have the Byrds first two albums anyway.]

Tracks 7 through 17 comprise Clark's 1966 debut which included the Byrds' rhythm section of Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke. Standout tracks include the country-rock sound of "Tried So Hard" and songs like "The Same One," "Keep On Pushin'" and "Think I'm Gonna Feel Better." Of the previously unreleased tracks, "The French Girl" is not up to the standards of the other songs, but "Only Columbe" would have fit in nicely.

When Gene Clark died in 1991, most fans--if they remembered him at all--only remembered him as a one-time member of the Byrds. Echoes proves that he was more than that. RECOMMENDED

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great early selections from a solo Byrd, February 9, 2004

By	Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

It's 1967. The unthinkable has happened. John Lennon has left The Beatles. The Beatles continue on with McCartney, Harrison and Starr adding Klaus Voormann to bass so McCartney can pick up rhythm guitar. Lennon's first couple of singles and his first solo album is brilliant but--it's not The Beatles so, despite having the elements that Lennon brought to the band, it sinks without a trace on the charts. Lennon continues to struggle along while The Beatles dominant the charts like any brand name band with two talented songwriters would.

Subsitute Lennon with Gene Clark, The Beatles with The Byrds and this is essentially what happened to America's most popular band and its most talented songwriter. Clark briefly rejoined The Byrds after leaving but it was brief. Pretty soon he was cutting stuff without his former band mates again.

Clark was the most talented songwriter in a very talented band. His angular songwriting, unusual musical hooks (remember songs like Feel a Whole Lot Better When You're Gone? or Eight Miles High)and wounded but guarded lyrics made him a natural for the lead slot in The Byrds.

This great collection of early solo stuff sounds like it was recorded in the mid to late 60's. What makes it still sound fresh is Clark's memorable tenor voice and the songwriting. There's a lot of great material here. If it intrigues you check out Roadmaster, White Light and No Other all overlooked masterpieces by this forgotten great musician.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent anthology of early Gene Clark, March 8, 2001

By	Randall E. Adams (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Gene Clark was the soul of the Byrds, responsible for virtually all of their weightier musical moments, such as "Set You Free This Time," "Here Without You," "She Don't Care About Time," "If You're Gone," and the band's chief claim to first rank status--"Eight Miles High." After his exit, the Byrds were forced to resort to novelty tunes like "Mr. Spaceman" and "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n Roll Star" and Dylan re-tread "My Back Pages" to keep up the interest until their next soul, Gram Parsons, came to the rescue.

This set is by far the best re-issue of Clark's first solo LP, "Gene Clark with the Gosdin Bros." from 1967 as it bolsters this relatively brief album with the best Clark classics from his days with the Byrds, one excellent-sounding demo and two tracks recorded after the Gosdin Bros. album. Most of the tracks have been carefully remixed. The Gosdin Bros. album is one of those hidden great moments in 1960s pop showcasing Clark's introspective songs with backings by present and future Byrds (Clarence White) augmented by sophisticated arrangements from Leon Russell.

If you are a fan of the early Byrds, this release is a must-buy. If you are partial to the whole singer/songwriter movement that took off in the early 1970s, this release is also recommended.