So I bought Gene Clark's
No Other
(1974)
and I liked it so I bought his first solo album after the Byrds (Gene Clark w/ the Gosdin Brothers, 1966).
In our book, writer Alec Palao (Zombies box set guy) argues that Gene's first album is better, but I'm kind of liking
No Other
better. It's gorgeous, and every once in a while Big Rock Star 70s Style. But mostly it's Cosmic Cowboy stuff that msbelle would like a lot.
In fact I'm going to make a Cosmic Cowboy mix with Gene, Burritos, Flatlanders and Townes, I think.
The first solo album, though is very cool in its own right - not least because it's a fantastic guitar album. Bearing in mind that it came out in 1966, I hear multiple examples of riffs that were pilfered for years to come, snatches of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" ('68), "Last Train to Clarksville" ('66), "Ballroom Blitz" ('74?ish). Of course Gene's got Clarence White playing guitar on this. (Glen Campbell too.)
Also prompted by somebody's review in the book I bought a BeBop Deluxe record, a collection of their A and B sides. I like their earliest stuff best, when they still had a big glam/Bowie influence (laced with Steve Howe-like noddling). Hard to resist a title like "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus." (b/w "Third Floor Heaven" a hot little glam rocker). Later on they get too proggy, but the earliest stuff had bits of Sparks and power pop and Roxy too. Unfortunately that period didn't last very long.
oooooh, I want a Cosmic Cowboy mix.
Hi. I lurk here a lot, but I'm usually veeewwwwy quiet.
Just wanted to say that Sting is going to be playing near me this summer. I am very excited to go see him!
I like No Other, but it shore nuff is a weird album. It sounds like a mountain of cocaine to me.
My favorite Gene albums are White Light (which is his Pink Moon) and his first album with Doug Dillard, Through the Morning, Through the Night. The first half of Roadmaster is brilliant, too. I'd never recommend Echoes over any of that stuff.
Just got back from "Viva Las Vegas," the rockabilly weekend in LV. So much fun. Best things were the reuniting of "Go Cat Go" with a new lead singer, the 21-year-old Eddie Glendening. Blew the room away. I also heard an east LA group "Los Rhythm Rockets" who were high-energy, very tight with a kicking horn section and a fun mix of Mexican/Rock/Western//Big Band influences. I have always liked rockabilly but am not part of the scene in any way and only own a smattering of CDs, but I will say that it is IMPOSSIBLE not to have a great time at a Rockabilly show!
A cartoon for the Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell fans.
Robin, do you want I should send you some Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Trio?
A cartoon for the Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell fans.
Heh!
I have always liked rockabilly but am not part of the scene in any way and only own a smattering of CDs, but I will say that it is IMPOSSIBLE not to have a great time at a Rockabilly show!
Right on! I love the image of Rockabilly!Scrappy. My friend Betty usually goes to the Vegas rockabilly show (she's hot for rockabilly boys, like Allyson is). I personally own vast yonks of rockabilly, though mostly the original stuff. It's all about Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio. Though you've got to give it up for guys like Groovey Joe Poovey and Warren Smith and Charlie Feathers and Wanda Jackson. (Nick Tosches famously described Wanda Jackson as "So hot she could fry an egg on her mons.")
"I got a train / I met a dame / She was a' hefTY / She was a real gone dame / She was a' pretty / From New York City / And we rocked on down / that ol' fair lane / With a heave / and a Ho / Well I just couldn't let her Go! / Get along / sweet little woman get along / get on that train, get along / Well the train kept a' rollin' / All night long / The train kept a movin' / all night long / with a heave / and a ho / well I just couldn't let her go-ho-ho ho ho!"
