It’s a sad indictment on popular culture that many truly great artists are not given true credit until after their death, and that’s certainly the case with Gene Clark. Aside for writing The Byrds’ biggest hits, Clark was also a prolific composer who left behind a treasure trove of unreleased recordings. Various gems have been unearthed over the years, but thanks to Liberation Hall (and just in time for Record Store Day) we get a comprehensive round-up of these “undiscovered” tracks in The Lost Studio Sessions 1964-1982 which presents an alternative history to the genius that was Gene Clark.
Running chronologically, this collection clearly shows the development of Gene as a songwriter and places him at the forefront of music and helping to popularise genres as diverse genres such as psychedelic rock, baroque pop, newgrass and alternative country. Visionary he might have been, but the first five tracks find Gene drawing deep from the well of his influences and the more thoughtful end of Hank Williams and Elvis Presley are very much in evidence here. Accompanied only by a 12 string acoustic guitar Gene’s tenor voice, rich with autumnal hues, rings out strong and true and the parred back nature of these songs are rich with promise. With the benefit of hindsight you can see how they could be fleshed out as rock tunes, or given a folk edge and turned into hit singles. Despite the analogue source, these tracks sound great and the six decades that have elapse since their recording have aged them like a fine malt liquor and prove that good songwriting will never go out of style.
After a whirlwind spell in The Byrds, during which time he wrote their biggest hits, January 1967 found Gene Clark flying solo and the next two tracks (and all which follow) evidence a complete artist. It was a transmogrification from an artist who drew influence to once who became an influence. In a track such as ‘Don’t Let It Fall Through’ you can hear Gene in a whole new generation of folk artists, and on the strength of these tracks it seems that the likes of Bob Dylan owe Gene a huge debt, not only musically and lyrically, but in every department. Such is the breadth and depth of this compendium that it will have Gene Clark aficionados salivating; rare studio tracks have been leaked in a piecemeal fashion, so to have all these cuts in one place makes a king’s ransom. However, the jewel in the crown is undoubtedly the five cuts credited to Nyteflyte, and while Gene only composed one of these tracks, there’s a feeling that he’s come home within the band, especially on a cover of ‘The Letter’, but the Clark-penned ‘I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better’ ensures the disc ends on a high, and only emphasises what a sad day it was when Gene passed in 1991.
Featuring a cast of stellar musicians including Chris Hillman, Gram Parsons, Bernie Leadon and, of course, Gene Clark, music doesn’t get much better than The Lost Studio Sessions.
- The Lost Studio Sessions 1964-1982 is released via Liberation Hall on 20th April 2024 (available here).
Track List:
- The Way I Am *
- I’d Feel Better *
- That Girl *
- A Worried Heart *
- If There’s No Love *
- Back Street Mirror **
- Don’t Let It Fall Through **
- Back To The Earth Again ***
- The Lighthouse ***
- The Awakening Within ***
- Sweet Adrienne ***
- Walking Through This Lifetime ***
- The Sparrow ***
- Only Yesterday’s Gone ***
- She Darked The Sun ****
- Roll In My Sweet Baby’s Arms *****
- She Don’t Care About Time *****
- Don’t That Road Look Rough And Rocky *****
- Bars Have Made A Prisoner Out Of Me *****
- One Hundred Years From Now ******
- The Letter ******
- Still Feeling Blue ******
- No Memories Hangin’ Around ******
- I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better ******
* Spring 1964, World Pacific Studios, Los Angeles
** 26th January 1967,Sound Recorders, Hollywood
*** Spring 1970,Liberty Custom Recorders (formerly World Pacific Studios), Los Angeles
**** Spring 1970, Sound Factory, Hollywood
***** July-September 1972, Wally Heider Studio 4, Hollywood
****** 10th July 1982, Criterion/Remote Recorders, Hollywood
