With the Gosdin Brothers

Gene Clark | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 28, 1990)
• Label: Sony Music Special Products
• ASIN: B000002Y28
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #628,232 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

On the first solo album by an ex-Byrd, Gene Clark doesn't stray too far from the nest. Cut in 1966 upon Clark's departure from the iconic L.A. combo, with current Byrds Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke forming the rhythm section, and spotlighting brothers Vern and Rex Gosdin, a pair of former bluegrass pals of Hillman's who chime in with sweet harmony vocals, Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers stands as one of Clark's supreme achievements. Add session guitarists Glen Campbell and Jerry Cole and future Byrd Clarence White and beautiful orchestration by Leon Russell to Clark's melancholy melodies and weatherbeaten voice and the result is a classic country-rock primer that sounded like nothing else in '67 and continues to astound and inspire today. Five unheard bonus tracks from the sessions only sweeten the deal of this eye-opening work. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great to have this available again, March 29, 2007

By 

It's Me, "Really" (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: With the Gosdin Brothers (Audio CD)

It wasn't immediately apparent to me that it is a big sonic upgrade over the "Echoes" CD, but no matter. This is an excellent album from the ex-Byrd and is essential for fans of the group or of Gene's later solo masterpieces such as "White Light," "Roadmaster," and "No Other." The liner notes and booklet layout are also better and more informative than was "Echoes."

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Through a different prism, April 24, 2007

By 

Mr. John L. Ward "John Ward Byrd Brain" (Manchester, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: With the Gosdin Brothers (Audio CD)

When in 1972 I paid 40 pence for a second hand copy of the original (and even then long deleted) album, I remember being a little disappointed. The music seemed dated by the standards of Gene's earlier work with The Byrds and certainly did not appear to bear any comparison with their contemporaneous masterpiece 'Younger Than Yesterday'. Since then it has been re-released in different guises, six times! During the early 70's it appeared in a re-recorded form as 'Early LA' - this version had one of the best songs 'Elevator Operator', inexplicably removed. Edsel/Demon gave the original album a UK release in 1988 and then followed this up some years later with an edition that was superior for its extensive information - including a rather touching letter from a female fan to a British pop music magazine. Whilst all this was going on Sony released 'Echoes' probably to compensate for the fact that (the by now late)Gene Clark had been under represented on The Byrds Box Set of 1990. Finally, just in case anyone thought that this music was still being neglected , Sony then released the original version of the album with a single bonus track. And now we have with this latest release on Sundazed, the best of all possible worlds. Bob Irwin's work on the original tapes yields stunning results. The packaging is certainly well up to the standards of the second Edsel release although Gene's poem which had featured so prominently on the back of the original cover has not been included. And as for the music - well to my ears now it sounds much fresher and more exciting than it did when I was an angst ridden student all those years ago - but then that's in the nature of musical appreciation.....isn't it?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A '66 Beatle Homage, Branching Out, May 5, 2011

By 

Johann Cat "Grauer Kater" - See all my reviews

This review is from: With the Gosdin Brothers (Audio CD)

This disc is so full of open references to Beatle guitar licks that it may
be appreciated as a kind of homage (check out "I Found You," which
is a sort of "Taxman Pt 2."), but Clark's voice, lyrical style, and nascent country rock
distinguish this. The character of the performances is a bit dry, efficient and understated,
in the manner of a band of 60s studio musicians, and the actual Beatles could give these guys a lesson in guitar tone.
But occasionally they do swing, somewhat like the Lovin' Spoonful.
The string-assisted tracks, "Echoes," and "So You Say You Lost Your Baby" are actually highlights.
My affection for this record probably isn't rational, as I find that some of its
goofy, 1966 production values magnify its charm. Tougher to argue with:
Clark has one of the best rock voices of this period, soulful and
country without cant or melodrama. It's hard for someone with such a "pretty" timbre and
perfect pitch to still sound like a rock'n'roll singer--he does: a unique one.
And several of Clark's songs are simply Dylan or Lennon quality, esp.:
"Think I'm Gonna Feel Better" (which does have beautiful guitar sounds)
and "So You Say you Lost Your Baby." Highly recommended for
fans of "Beatles for Sale," the Byrds or the Spoonful.