Customer Reviews

So Rebellious a Lover

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4 star:		(4)
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Gene Clark was one of the century's greatest singer-songwriters. That he enjoyed his most popular public success at an early age (with The Byrds) reminds me a lot of Orson Welles. But, like Welles, he went on to do so much more. His albums, after he left The Byrds, such as FANTASTIC EXPEDITION, WHITE LIGHT, NO OTHER, and TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY, took him to new heights of musical greatness. This was the final album he recorded before his untimeley death at age 46. It is a great album, in which he partnered with the very talented Carla Olson. They made a great team. Too bad he didn't live to make a second album. As it is, this is a great CD, which includes a half dozen fine Clark-Olson tracks left off the original album. Anybody who loves folk/rock/country should buy this CD. Quite simply put, they are the best, period.

This is a wonderful duet album between ex-Byrd Gene Clark and ex-Textone Carla Olson. The many highlights include Clark's haunting "Gypsy Rider" and his interpretation of the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Hot Burrito # 1".
I think Clark's version of "Hot Burrito" equals the Burritos. I also enjoyed the cover of John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night" by the duo. It's not something I would think Clark would cover, but it works.
Olson also contributes fine numbers such as "The Drifter" and "Every Angel in Heaven." Overall, just a great album for folk, folk-rock, and country fans. Even the bonus tracks are great, including their fantastic cover of Phil Ochs' "Changes" and several demos cut to get a record deal. Sadly, Clark passed away before another album could be made. Fans of Clark and the Byrds shouldn't miss this!

"So Rebellious a Lover" is an album that comes along only a few times in a lifetime. It represents a true moment of inspiration for Gene Clark and Carla Olson. Clark was a founding member of The Byrds, whose career had been on the skids for several years when his manager suggested he team up with Olson, a little-known singer/musician/songwriter from the Textones. The resulting collaboration, "So Rebellious a Lover", is considered by some to be the genesis of the alt-country movement (along with Gram Parsons' two studio albums). If true, I can certainly understand the interest that this movement generated.

Clark and Olson's voices seem to merge and weave as if they've sung together together for a lifetime. Instrumental accompaniment is wisely kept to a minimum, allowing the voices and songs to shine.

And what songs they are. Highlights of this gem include: "Gypsy Rider", a slow, country-folk number, with a haunting Parsons vocal; "Fair & Tender Ladies", a traditional folk song turned inside-out, resulting in a light country number, with gorgeous harmonies from Olson; and "Deportee", a Woody Guthrie song, sung primarily by Olson, with Parsons shining on harmonies.

"So Rebellious a Lover" manages to avoid the pitfalls of many country-folk CDs. The album never sounds too traditional or too modern; rather, it occupies a comfortable middle-ground, allowing its quality and the chemistry between Gene Clark and Carla Olson to shine through.

The pairing of Gene Clark & Carla Olson was their idea not mine. Bauldie's dislike for their resulting collaboration is at odds with most listeners. Gene's originals, Gypsy Rider, Why Did You Leave Me Today, and Del Gato, are slow but gorgeous BALLADS - Hot Burrito, Don't It Make You Want To Go Home, and Almost Saturday Night are moving, lively, and even fun! The whole album is even more emotion packed in the light of Gene's sad demise.

John- relax, have a glass of wine and listen again.

This collaboration between Gene Clark and Carla Olson is nothing short of wonderous. Two unique voices blend perfectly in a pleasing, sometimes downright haunting manner, particularly on Clark's arrangement of "Fair and Tender Ladies." In truth, there's not a bad track on this recording. Gene and Carla's rendition of John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night" is as pleasing in its own way as Dave Edmunds' very different, very upbeat improvement on Fogerty a few years earlier. Looking for polished, heavily produced, product? Look elsewhere. Looking for pure, honest music played with depth, heart and sincerity? Look no further. "So Rebellious a Lover" is an overlooked classic crying out to be rediscovered.

You can certainly be forgiven for not expecting much of this collaboration between the Hamlet-like founding Byrd member and the smart Texas cowpunk/new wave chick. But have faith and buy!

Gene Clark and Carla Olson put together a fine dozen songs consisting of a few by each of them and wonderful selections from other writers (Gram Parsons' "Hot Burrito No.1", John Fogerty's "Almost Saturday Night," Joe South's "Don't It Make You Wanta Go Home" and Woody Guthrie's forever relevant "Deportee"). Their two voices mix wonderfully, Clark's soulful world-weary plaint and Olson's throaty contralto complementing each other. The instrumentation is a scintillating all-acoustic platform that makes me wish more people made records without amplifiers. This album will never date.

The only complaint for this release is a greedy one: I wish they had done more than twelve tracks.

Perfect collaburation between genious Clark and Textone Olson. Re-release of the original 1987 album with good bonus. Highly recomended!
L-O Ström

A heavenly collaboration of ex-byrd Gene Clark and Carla Olson. They collaborated very well. Duo accoustic guitars + accoustic bass and percussions... very clear and pure... and only listen to 3 songs the record is worthing its price... 1. Gypsy Rider, 2. Fair and Tender Ladies, 3.Every Angel in Heaven. SO durable, I never felt bored even I listened and listened to these three songs again and again. Other songs are less durable, though, but also of high standard. Don't be dragged by the poor CD cover... buy it.

When Gene Clark, the legendary singer-songwriter and founder of the Byrds, and Carla Olson, founder of the critically-acclaimed Textones, got together in 1987 to make a CD it was a pretty safe bet to say something special would result. It did. With Gene Clark contributing such beautiful, soulful songs as "Gypsy Rider" and "Why Did You Leave Me Today" to the project, and Carla Olson adding "Every Angel In Heaven" and "Are We Still Making Love," the result in this acoustic album is nothing short of electric. Their voices blend beautifully, the instrumentation is artful, and the magic is palpable. If you're looking for acoustic folk music that plumbs the depths of love, loss and life, you're looking for "So Rebellious a Lover".

So rebellious a lover is my favourite Gene Clark album because
1:It's got 2 of his greatest songs on it (Gypsy Rider & Del Gato)
2:I think his voice improved as it got older, and this was his last official release before his death
3:The production and playing are perfect for the songs
4:His vocal performances are so powerful and moving