Roadmaster [Import]

Gene Clark | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 16, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B0000011SZ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,491 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. She's The Kind Of Girl

2. One In A Hundred

3. Here Tonight

4. Full Circle Song

5. In A Misty Morning

6. Rough And Rocky

7. Roadmaster

8. I Really Don't Want To Know

9. I Remember The Railroad

10. She Don't Care About Time

11. Shooting Star

Editorial Reviews

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. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GENUINE PRIME GENE CLARK, March 25, 1999

By 

S. F Gulvezan (Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roadmaster (Audio CD)

This CD is made up primarily of sessions Gene Clark, co-founder of the Byrds, did on A&M records, which were abruptly cancelled by the record company. Several years later, some of the songs from these sessions, along with two Gene Clark songs recorded by the original Byrds, "One In a Hundred" and "She's the Kind of Girl" were released in Holland - where Clark has always had a strong following - under the title, ROADMASTER. Needless to say, the entire entire album is Gene Clark in his prime, once again ahead of his time with a soulful mix of country, folk, and rock sounds. Songs from this CD such as "Here Tonight" and "In a Misty Morning," have become underground classics, while the two Byrds tunes are considered by many to be the best reunion work the original group ever did. A classic.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lost country rock gem, November 22, 1998

By 

Steven Kosakowski "kosmonaut" (West Coast Jazz) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roadmaster (Audio CD)

A delightful odds 'n' sods collection; a couple of lovely tracks cut with the original Byrds in '69 or '70, one with the post-Parsons Flying Burrito Brothers, and eight tracks from a solo album attempt in '72 with various Byrd/Burrito types playing backup. 'In a Misty Morning' in particular will get right under your skin, and qualifies this for inclusion in any 'Grievous Angels' collection. Fans of Gram Parsons, early Joe Ely, and/or Whiskeytown will like this one.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong collection of Clark's work, August 2, 2005

By 

Mark Blevins (Lindside, WV United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roadmaster (Audio CD)

Listening to this disc, it's hard to believe these are a group of outtakes. The songs, overall, are strong and some of Clark's best. The original members of the Byrds backed Clark on two songs, while assorted members of the Flying Burrito Brothers backed him on several other songs.

I prefer the sound of "Roadmaster" to the sparse and acoustic "White Light," but others may disagree. Both have stand-out tracks. The title track itself is a slow bluesy rocker, which feels out of place and is the weakest on the disc. Also, Clark may have felt the need to re-make the classic Byrd song "She Don't Care About Time," but the re-make can't match the Byrds version.

Despite these two drawbacks, the rest of the album is wonderful. Songs such as "Full Circle Song," "I Remember the Railroad," and "Shooting Star" are some of the best Clark ever wrote. For these three songs alone, it's hard to fathom that this album wasn't even released in the U.S. Of all of Clark's albums, this one has some songs that could have been hits. Thankfully, Clark's discography is being re-evaluated and re-discovered. For Gene Clark fans, this is an essential disc.