This article was originally published on beingtheremag.com, an independent music and film magazine that ran from 2004 to 2007. It is presented here as part of the Being There Magazine archive.
By Adam Anklewicz | Being There Magazine, October 2005
Released: 1974
1. Life’s Greatest Fool
2. Silver Raven
3. No Other
4. Strength Of Strings
5. From A Silver Phial
6. Some Misunderstanding
7. The True One
8. Lady Of The North
Gene Clark found country music early in his life, and after discovering Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers, he joined The New Christy Minstrels. Wanting to write his own music and influenced by The Beatles, he headed west to Los Angeles where he found a like-minded individual in Jim McGuinn. Together they formed perhaps the greatest American band of the time, The Byrds. Though their biggest hit came from a song penned by Bob Dylan, Mr. Tambourine Man was mostly filled with tracks written by Gene Clark. With two songs co-written by McGuinn and the rest covers, no one should have thought that The Byrds could survive without Clark’s songs. But they did, and after the release of The Byrds’ second album, Turn! Turn! Turn!, Clark left The Byrds, mainly due to a fear of flying and because of conflicts between him and the rest of the band over songwriting royalties that left him earning more than the others.
After his departure from The Byrds, Gene Clark released a solo album with The Gosdin Brothers simply called Gene Clark with The Gosdin Brothers, later re-released on CD with many bonus tracks and retitled Echoes. Clark soon found himself collaborating with Doug Dillard and would soon record an album with him as Dillard & Clark. Together they released two albums, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark and Through The Morning, Through The Night in 1968 and 1969 respectively. In 1971 and 1972 Clark released his first two solo albums, White Light and Roadmaster, but sales were never good, and Clark rejoined The Byrds for a one-off self-titled reunion album, featuring all five original members. For this album, The Byrds signed onto Asylum records, being run at the time by David Geffen.
Now at a new home, Clark began recording a new thirteen track double album that would eventually end up an eight track single album, No Other. Clark was ready to create a masterpiece, but as he sang in “The True One,” “there’s always a reality in what you are doing.” With a recording bill said to be over $100,000, and having only completed eight songs, Geffen was unwilling to put in the expense to finish what Clark wanted done, much less to promote it. The album was a flop, but it has gained support over time and is considered by many to be his greatest creation.
The album as a whole has a large musical arc. It slowly builds from the ground up as it moves along beginning with the first track; by the time the album ends there’s almost a sonic overload. Clark sings of connections with the Earth, and themes of loneliness and sorrow run throughout the album.
Do you believe when you’re all alone
You held the key to your destiny gone
Do you believe in your soul
That too much loneliness makes you grow old – “Life’s Greatest Fool”
The opening track sets off these themes with force, and they follow throughout the rest of the album. It seems to be a very personal piece of work for Clark, which explains why he went to such expense to realise this project. It also explains why he seemed to be very unhappy that it didn’t end up as the double record he had envisioned.
In my life the piano sings
Brings me words that are not the strength of strings
Fiery rain and rubies cooling in the sun
Now I see that my world has only begun – “Strength Of Strings”
The lyrics, though somewhat cliché, come from his heart. He’s created a musical landscape to match these words with the best of 1970s country. Clark surrounded himself with some of the best musicians from such popular groups as The Eagles and The Allman Brothers Band. Not a bad idea since he was not a very good guitarist and for this reason became The Byrds’ tambourine player. You can see the family connections on this record; if someone told me that “Some Misunderstanding” was written by Gram Parsons (another eventual Byrd), I wouldn’t have a problem believing it.
Maybe someone knows what fate is
Maybe someone knows just why
All I know it’s all related
Maybe someone can explain time – “Some Misunderstanding”
Sounding like it could have come off of either GP or Grevious Angel, “Some Misunderstanding” is a perfect example of how much Clark had evolved as a songwriter since leaving The Byrds. That carries on through the album, and by the time he sings “The True One” I marvel at the excellence of this jewel on an already amazing album. Clark seems to have every aspect of what makes this record great on this one track, singing from the heart with a great helping of rock, an even better serving of country and just a pinch of gospel thrown into the mix.
Gene Clark’s catalogue is a perfect example of the unevenness of members of The Byrds’ solo careers. While they all have created brilliant works they have also made some terrible records. No Other is an album that will leave some thinking it’s a masterpiece and others wanting a refund. Either way it’s an essential listen to any fan of The Byrds or 70s country-rock.