Journey Through the Past 21 : Gene Clark : No Other

While Roger McGuinn and David Crosby were the most recognised and recognisable faces of The Byrds, many maintain that Gene Clark was the real heart of the band.   Initially he was certainly their best songwriter contributing Eight Miles High, I'll feel a whole lot better and She don't care about time.  However like much in history it is the victors that get to wrote the "true history".

He left the band in 1966 and spent the rest of his life seeming to sabotage his career with what at the time were seeming wild swings in material and focus, his reluctance to travel or his drug and alcohol problems.

When you read about his career it is easy to wonder how so much talent could have failed to really get the recognition that the music deserves.  There is a documentary available in small pieces on Youtube

Over the years I have picked up many of his post Byrds albums.  All the ones I have are excellent with great songs and terrific musicians.  However No Other is the one I keep coming back to.  When I first started listening to him it was a bit of a holy grail and difficult to find.

Originally released in 1974 it was released to poor reviews and worse sales - sinking almost without a trace.

It was re-released on CD in 2003 and I picked up a copy then.  It was both worth the wait and disappointing that I had not been able to listen to it for longer.

I do not often use the term masterpiece but I really think this album deserves that title.  Not a bad song and great production.   Some absolutely gems of songs including Silver Raven Strength of Strings Life's Greatest Fool, From a Silver Phial and of course No Other.

The album has recently been toured with a collection of current Americana singers and players.  Here is Robin Peckfold's (from The Fleet Foxes) version of Life's Greatest Fool  and Strength of Strings.


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