Comments on: Dillard & Clark “The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark”

By: Johnny Livewire

Johnny Livewire — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:37:19 +0000

There’s a great picture of the FBBs and Dillard & Clark together at:

http://users.skynet.be/byrdsflyght/picsrelated.htm

So much talent in one room (look at Gram’s hands)!

By: Howie Appell

Howie Appell — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:33:42 +0000

The Fantastic Expedition was one of four albums I bought in late ‘68-early-’69 that would forever change my musical taste, identity and direction. No more John Mayall British pseudo blues. No more Clapton or even Stones. It’s been 40-plus years of rootsy stuff, the whole spectrum, going back and back.
The other three?
The Band, Sweetheart and Gilded Palace.
But if I could own only one, it would be The Fantastic Expedition.
Possibly the number one album of all time.

By: Johnny Livewire

Johnny Livewire — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:11:44 +0000

Oh good I’m glad Hillman gets the thumbs up (god forbid we discuss Gene/Gram without him).

Getting back to Dillard & Clark, I think ‘Through the Morning, Through the Night’ is fine album (certainly better than ‘Burrito Deluxe’ if we are making the comparison – I mean how many classic Gram songs are on that album?). It has two of Gene’s best songs on it (I know he has many great songs). Some of the covers are pretty good too (‘So Sad’ and ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ spring to mind).

By: Len Liechti

Len Liechti — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:39:02 +0000

Quite right, Johnny. Actually Chris Hillman changed his name from “al” around 1967. No, seriously, I’ve been a Hillman admirer throughout his career from Byrds onwards, through Burritos, Manassas, SHF, McGuinn/Clark/Hillman, Desert Rose Band and just about everything else he got involved in. Great multi-instrumentalist and a really influential muso.

By: Johnny Livewire

Johnny Livewire — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:51:09 +0000

Len – with the cross-pollination of musicians, I think Chris Hillman deserves a special mention. I was born about 20 years too late, so I missed experiencing it first hand (I would have loved to have though). It is interesting to me (and maybe sad for the musicians themselves) that some of the best music of that era wasn’t that popular at the time.

By: Len Liechti

Len Liechti — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:03:50 +0000

I’ts spooky how Dillard & Clark’s experience parallelled that of the Flying Burrito Brothers. Both acts produced an absolutely sublime first album; both albums bombed completely at the record store; both albums are today hailed – rightly – as absolute classics: arguably the best two albums in a sparkling genre offering many other gems. Both acts produced a rather less than perfect follow-up, displaying traces of ennui and falling-off of inspiration, and then, soon after, each lost its star performer. I agree with J Livewire above; if Gram is the god of country rock, then Gene is its holy spirit. They’re simply THE two men. Fascinating also to trace the cross-pollination of musicians between the two bands as well: Leadon, Kleinow, Berline, Michael Clarke, Corneal et al. Add in Country Gazette and you’ve got the definitive stew. I’ve been listening to popular music since about 1960 and in all those years the most fascinating period and environment for me has been the LA country rock scene, 1968-1972. Wonderful.

By: Johnny Livewire

Johnny Livewire — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:41:48 +0000

I think both of the Dillard and Clark albums are essential listening. Everything Gene Clark touched (pretty much) is great and I think he deserves to be revered in the same way that Gram Parsons is (if not more).

By: Mr. Natural

Mr. Natural — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:00:53 +0000

Ripped on acid, kickin’ out in my old 49 Dodge panel with a woodburner in the back…back in the day, man, back in the day.

WONDERFUL BLOG. Glad I wandered in.

By: Mark Peasley

Mark Peasley — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 02:00:37 +0000

Without doubt the best and most ground breaking country rock/newgrass album of them all. Neither The Byrds “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo” which preceded it nor The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “The Gilded Palace Of Sin” which followed compare in either quality or innovation despite receiving more renown and popular acclaim. My choice for its standout track, amongst a host of mastrepieces, is “The Radio Song” which is both bleak and beautiful in composition and execution. The follow up album “Through The Morning Through The Night” while not quite so worthy contains three great Gene Clark songs (the title track, Polly and Kansas City Southern) and many excellent covers.

By: David

David — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:16:08 +0000

Amongst a vortex of minds coming off of the very very very stoned wavelengths at the close of the 60’s, Out On The Side was a sort of hymnal thing for beyond-the-beyonders.