line-up 1 (1968-69)

- Gene Clark (RIP 1991) -- vocals, guitar, harmonica 

- Doug Dillard (RIP 2012) -- vocals, guitar, banjo, violin 

  supporting musicians (1968)

- Andy Belling -- harpsichord 

- Don Beck -- dobro, mandolin 

- Chris Hillman -- mandolin 

- David Jackson -- string bass, vocals 

- Bernie Leadon -- banjo, guitar 

  supporting musicians (1969)

- Byrone Berline - fiddle (1969)

- John Corneal - drums (1969)

- David Jackson - string bass, vocals (1968-69)

- Donna Washburn - vocals (1969)

- The Beefeaters (Gene Clark)

- The Byrds (Gene Clark)

- Gene Clark (solo efforts)

- Gene Clark and the Godsin Brothers

- The Doug Dillard Band (Doug Dillard)

- The Doug Dillard Expedition (Doug Dillard)

- The Dillards (Doug Dillard)

- Firebird (Gene Clark)

- The Folkswingers (Doug Dillard)

- The Jet Set (Gene Clark)

- McGuinn, Clark & HIllman (Gene Clark)

- The New Christie Minstrels (Gene Clark)

- The Surfriders (Gene Clark)

Genre: country-rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4158

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: minor ring wear

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 517

Price: $50.00

Cost: $1.00

Singer/guitarist Gene Clark was a longstanding (and grossly overlooked) founding member of The Byrds.  Clark split from The Byrds in 1967 starting an abbreviated solo career with the release of "Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers".  The following year when David Crosby was booted from The Byrds Clark agreed to rejoin the band, but his participation proved brief - after a handful of dates his anxiety and aerophobia saw him quit again.  

Clark and guitarist/banjo player Doug Dillard had become close friends during The Byrds' 1968 European tour.  Subsequent to the tour Dillard went into the studio to record a solo album, recruiting newfound buddy Clark as a sideman.  The two musicians decided to pool their resources and the solo project morphed into a full-on collaboration in the form of The Dillard & Clark Expedition.  All hyperbole aside, 1968's  "The Fantastic Adventures of Dillard & Clark" was nothing short of groundbreaking.  Produced by Larry Marks, the album stood as one of the first country-rock albums ever recorded (and you were thinking credit went to Gram Parsons and The Byrds).  With Clark and Dillard sharing writing duties (frequently with future Eagle Bernie Leadon), even if you didn't like country-rock music (and I don't), songs such as 'Out On the Side', 'With Care From Someone' and 'Don't Come Rollin'' were worth hearing.  The album was full of great melodies.  Clark's writing was first-rate throughout and he seldom sounded as comfortable as in there surroundings.  Combined with exquisite musicianship from the likes of Chris Hillman and Leadon, it made for a sterling LP.  At least to my ears, best of the lot were the pretty (and aptly titled) ballad 'The Radio Song' and the closing acoustic ballad 'Something's Wrong.'  Unfortunately Clark's fear of flying again limited the band's ability to support the collection.  They played a couple of dates at LA's The Troubadour and that was it ...  the album becoming cutout bin fodder.  By the way, as part of a 2013 film "The Byrd Who Flew Alone", David Jackson tells a hysterical story about the band's first show at The Troubadour: Dillard & Clark at the Troubadour - YouTube 

"The Fantastic Adventures of Dillard & Clark"  track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Out On the Side (Gene Clark) -  2:47 rating: **** stars

Perhaps the closest thing to a rock song on the album, If you're unfamiliar with Clark, then the mournful, folk-rock ballad 'Out On the Side' is a great place to start.  This was the kind of song The Byrds would have killed to have gotten their collective hands on it.  Simply a gorgeous ballad with a refrain you can't shake out of your hear ... Add in the sweet harmonies, David Jackson's great bass line and Bernie Leadon's lead guita ...  wonderful.

2.) She Darked the Sky (Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 3:12  rating: ** stars 

While it had some beautiful harmony vocals, 'She Darked the Sky' was a little too bluegrass-ish for my rock tastes.

3.) Don't Come Rollin' (Doug Dillard - Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 2:49 rating: *** stars

And 'Don't Come Rollin'' was also pretty country/bluegrassy, but for some reason this one didn;t send me running to lift the needle.

4.) Train Leaves Here This Morning (Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 3:53 rating: **** stars

If someone was going to make me change my mind with respect to country music, it would be Clark.  With an "ear candy" melody and mesmerizing bittersweet lyric, this was one of the album highlights.  Always loved Hillman's mandolin and Jackson's upright bass.  Shame it didn't do better when released as a single.

- 1968's 'Train Leaves Here This Morning' b/w 'Out On the Side' (A&M catalog number 995)

(side 2)

1.) With Care from Someone (Doug Dillard - Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 3:49 rating: **** stars

For someone who was never really into banjo, 'With Care from Someone' went a long way to changing my opinion on the instrument.  Add to that this has always struck me as being one of Clark's standout vocal performances.

2.) The Radio Song  (Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 3:03 rating: **** stars

Even though Andy Belling's performance sounded a little out of place on this one, I'm a sucker for harpsichord. Add in Hillman's mandolin solo and this was one of the album's prettiest performance.

3.) Git It On Brother (Git In Line Brother) (Lester Flatt) - 2:58 rating: *** stars

Well, it was a Lester Flatt's cover ...  of course it was going to be hardcore bluegrass.  In spite of myself I found this one bringing a smile to my face.

4.) In the Plan (Doug Dillard - Gene Clark - Bernie Leadon) - 2:06 rating: **** stars

With a thought provoking lyric and one of the album's prettiest melodies, 'In the Plan' was one of the album's standout performance. 

5.) Something's Wrong  (Doug Dillard - Gene Clark) - 2:55 rating: **** stars

Because it played down the country feel and spotlighted Clark's voice, the acoustic ballad 'Something's Wrong' was another standout performance.  The track also sported one of the album's best melodies.  It should have been released as a single.

Genre: country-rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Through the Morning, Through the Night

Company: A&M

Catalog: SP-4203

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring and edge wear

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 518

Price: $15.00

Cost: $1.00

To be honest, 1969's "Through the Morning, Through the Night" disappointed us.  The performances are all professional and new guitarist/singer Donna Washborn has a nice enough voice (occasionally recalling Emmylou Harris).  Unfortunately, whereas the debut featured largely original material, the sophomore set was limited to four middling Clark originals.  Moreover, for the most part the album found the band drifting away from country-rock to more convention country/bluegrass.  Mind you, there's nothing wrong with country; it's simply not our favorite genre.  So what's worthwhile here?  Their cover of The Everly Brothers' "So Sad" is simply one of the prettiest songs you'll ever hear.  Clark's pretty title track and "Kansas City Southern" offer up a nice slices of country-rock, while "Corner Street Bar" is suitably weird.  

"Through the Morning Through the Night"  track listing:

(side 1)

1.) No Longer a Sweetheart of Mine   (Reno - Smiley - Swift) - 3:12

2.) Through the Morning Through the Night   (Gene Clark) - 4:04

3.) Rocky Top   (B. Bryant) - 2:46

4.) So Sad   (Don Everly - Phil Everly) - 3:19

5.) Corner Street Bar   (Gene Clark) - 3:34

6.) I Bowed My Head and Cried Holy   (traditional arranged by Doug Dillard and Gene Clark) - 3:31

(side 2)

1.) Kansas City Southern   (Gene Clark) - 3:39

2.) Four Walls   (M. Moore - Glenn Campbell) - 3:39

3.) Polly   (Gene Clark) - 4:20

4.) Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms   (C. Monroe) - 2:49

5.) Don't Let Me Down   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 3:52