Various You Showed Me - The Songs Of Gene Clark (CD)

It's amazing that only in recent years has Gene risen above cult status and been hailed as one of the greatest voices, charismatic performers and preternaturally gifted songwriters of the last century. This could easily be attributed to the complex mix of paradoxes and human foibles that battled within him. As Byrds biographer Johnny Rogan put it, "For every celebrated moment of his musical life, there were comparable moments when he missed opportunities and abandoned or failed to realize projects." 

From his earliest attempts at composition, Gene's songs always had more to offer than those of his contemporaries: deceptively complex arrangements, unusual melodic twists and subtly interwoven turns that carried a secret, deeper resonance that reached its cosmic peak on 1974's "No Other." He was a pioneer of folk-rock, psychedelic-baroque pop, and the first pioneer of alternative country and Americana. That he was also a masterful songwriter is why we're here today to celebrate some of those feats of translating universal emotion or extraordinary observation into living, breathing music: like the early champion Dylan, timeless flights for other artists to board. 

As with recent collections that focused on the songs of Leon Russell and Lou Reed, this latest release in our Songwriters series has been compiled by Mick Patrick and features an extensive booklet with detailed notes by Kris Needs.