Gene Clark- No Other (1974)
Happy Birthday, Gene Clark.
Back at the turn of the 20th century (the so-called “American Century”), there was talk of the end of the American frontier, the wild blue yonder that set America apart and impelled everyone to seek their home there. Ever since that moment, there has been a search for the artistic experience which will bring back that cosmic consciousness of the land which has been lost. The great American novel. The great American film.
While there are many candidates for the two aforementioned art forms and perhaps they have still not appeared, the great American album does exist. Its title is apt. It is No Other from native Missouri son Gene Clark.
No Other is the hidden gem of that decade of malaise (the 1970s) when the dreams of the 1960s faded. Not only is No Other an artifact of this time which still haunts America, it is also a nostalgic look back to an America which might never have existed in the first place. It is a paean to a lost age of innocence, recorded in a genre-defying and spiritual rush (the same rush as Astral Weeks, Spirit of Eden, Lazer Guided Melodies, A Storm in Heaven).
What makes No Other so powerful is not only its much maligned “louder than God” Thomas Jefferson Kaye transcending the Phil Spector Wall-of-Sound production, its top session musicians of L.A., or its vast soulful choir of female backup vocals. It is Gene Clark laying his soul bare. A misunderstood Missouri man who briefly experienced the rock star fame of youth (The Byrds) and then retreated from the limelight, who was always dying from physical pain and abuse of his body through alcohol and other substances which could free him from this mortal coil.
From the celestial country music of opener “Life’s Greatest Fool” with its wise and world-weary observations “Formed out of pleasure/ Chiseled by pain” & “Children laugh and run away/ While others look into the darkness of the day” to the poetic and poignant closer “Lady of the North”, containing one of the greatest guitar solos of all time at the end, soaring heavenward straight to the eye of God, this truly is the great American album.
by Mark Lager
Great review of such an amazing album, Mark.
I read somewhere that Sly Stone dropped in on some of the sessions for this masterpiece.
Just adds to the mysterious nature of this record.
Agreed Colin. Cosmic American Music that is timeless. The title track’s cinematic, dark funk has Sly Stone vibes.
No Other….an album like, um…no other. This album could have only been made around the excess of the 1970s. You just know that a lot of cocaine was consumed by everyone involved. It certainly doesn’t diminish the artistry involved too. Clark is maybe the greatest American songwriter since Hank Williams. Maybe a tie with Townes Van Zant? Sorry Zimmerman. Although, my favorite Gene Clark is forever White Light. I’ve also stumbled upon a few of Gene’s 80s albums recently and I’m convinced everything Gene Clarke touch turned to musical gold. Great review Mark.
Shawn,
Agreed that Gene Clark is the greatest American songwriter (alongside Townes Van Zandt). Agreed too that White Light is a classic album. White Light features superb songwriting, such as “One in a Hundred”, “For a Spanish Guitar”, “1975”.
Saliha,
Gene Clark is my favorite American songwriter (alongside Townes Van Zandt). They were both deeply poetic in their lyrics. Gene was bestowed with the gift of such painful, passionate, sad vocals.
My nomination of No Other as the “great American album” is because I’ve always been amazed at its blending of genres–blues, country, folk, funk, psychedelia, rock.
It is completely incomprehensible to me how I managed to get past this album until I was 36. Everything is just perfect here. A magical masterpiece. I bow down to Gene Clark.
Agreed Christoph. Cosmic masterpiece.
Born in the USA!
Surfin’ USA!
Jem,
He was from my home state of Missouri. I’ve paid my respects and visited his grave in the tiny town of Tipton.