White Light

This is the album that made me think that maybe there aren't 1001 albums worth listening to.

“White Light” by Gene Clark (1971) Never heard this album. This was one that I missed when I was young. I never knew of Gene Clark by name, but his association with The Byrds, as well as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Bob Dylan puts him very good company. As I approach this album, my expectations are high. The highlight of this album is in the lyrics. As a songwriter, Gene Clark utilizes simple melodies to carry elaborate lyrics, like a Bob Dylan or Gordon Lightfoot. But Clark’s poetics are flawed. There is too great a reliance on the device of placing the object before the verb and subject. For poets, this a device sometimes used to maintain the rhyme and meter. But Clark doesn’t use a strict rhyme or meter structure anyway, so it comes off as pretentious and distracting. On the opening track “The Virgin”, we get a story with no ending. On the title track “White Light”, we get an elaborate and thoughtful depiction of an imaginary scene, but without coherent meaning. Clark fails to tie it together. He’s trying to channel Dylan. He’s no Dylan. I thought the lyrics to “Tears of Rage” were better, then I found out that unlike the rest of the songs on this album, these lyrics were written by—Bob Dylan. Musically, the settings are so very plain. Country folk rock three chord monotony. No innovation. Simple to the point of lacking depth and passion. I wish he’d put down the harmonica. Clark’s voice is timid. He struggles to find the notes, high and low. Melody on “Because of You” has the curious ending to each verse on the fifth—not resolving to the tonic until a repeat of the last line of the song. That doesn’t count as innovation. That’s just weird. A melodic doodle. Yawn. I’m glad I heard this album before I die. It reassures me that some of the music I missed when I was young was actually worth missing. 2/5

Well this has happened before... kick straight off with a country twang and a prominent harmonica... "Ugh... kindly fuck off please". But wait... actually it's not too bad. In fact it's really nice and chilled and I'm enjoying it very much. I don't often go in for this kind of folk music, but these are some smooth vocals and the whole vibe is incredibly mellow. Thanks again 1001 for making me confront my various musical prejudices! It's nice, real nice. 3.5 rounded up.

I've had colonoscpies more pleasurable

Maybe artists were less ridiculed back then for covering on the nose material, but that Dylan cover of Tears of Rage halfway through thiss one reminds me of Westlife's Barry Mannilow cover in 2003 - erroneou for being both the best and worst choice. Yes Gene, the song suits you because it's what you're entire sound is cadged from. No Gene, you shouldn't cover it because it mostly highlights your limitations in comparison. Started well, though, and ended even better when he just kinda stopped the song, put down his instruments and called it a day. Love that. No surprise about any of this as I generally find The Byrds unconvincing even when I like them, so one member's solo plight for authentic folksiness was unlikely to score well in my book.

Don't really have much to say about this one other than I found it fairly boring overall.

As if I didn't have enough boredom in my life, getting served as I was with 4 Byrds albums here already, I got this "bonus".

I’ve become a bit of an expert on North American acoustic folk rock from 1971 recently. Not by any desire or design, it’s just I’ve signed up to this 101 North American acoustic folk rock from 1971 albums to hear before you die thingy. To be fair though, this is a particularly decent example. It reminds me of a lot of songs and ideas that came soon after this, including but not limited to: Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eagles, John Prine. And also brings to mind Paul Simon and Cat Stevens who I already enjoyed. More enjoyable to me than all the Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young that have been flooding my ears recently.

Nicely understated and under appreciated. Soft and lovely, the album can sound a bit the same at first, but the songs quickly grow on you and become your favorites.

Je vais tenter en moins de cinquante lignes de vous prouver que Gene Clark est une ordure. Regardez d'abord son nom, et plus particulièrement sa première particule: Gene. Vous ne remarquez rien ? Laissez-moi vous expliquer. Au moment de choisir un nom de scène, Gene Clark sortit sa carte d'identité de son portefeuille. "Harold Eugene Clark" était-il écrit sur son recto. "Vais-je choisir mon magnifique prénom pour former la première partie de mon nom d'artiste, ou vais-je plutôt choisir le deuxième qui est objectivement dégueulasse ?" Et c'est ainsi que Harold Eugene Clark devint Eugene Clark, plus tard abrégé en Gene Clark puis Gêne Clark, avant d'être rebaptisé La Merde par son rival Cat Stevens. Parlons ensuite de la chanson Ship of the Lord. Je vous rappelle ci-dessous l'échange entre Gene et son producteur Jim Doors Morrison: - Un, deux... - *Musique*. Je suis désolé. - Un, deux. Un, deux, trois... - *Musique* - Ça va pas du tout. Un, deux... - *Musique* - Eh dis donc Gene tu te foutrais pas un peu de notre gueule ? - Pardon, je ne suis pas dans mon état normal... - Qu'est-ce que t'as ? - Rien... c'est simplement que... Cat Stevens détient ma femme et mes enfants dans une caravane non climatisée à l'extérieur de la ville... - T'as pas un peu fini de chouiner Roldah Clark ? - Tu as raison, on reprend. - One, two... - *Musique: Ma feeemme et mes enfaaants sont les hotaaages de Cat Ste-vens, Cat Steeee-vens, Cat Steveeeeeens... * L'échange est évidemment plus long mais vous avez là l'essentiel.

La révélation de ces NRJ Music Awards faisait son retour en ce mercredi matin, malheureusement il n'a pas su répondre aux attentes placées en lui. La comparaison avec Jeremy Menez est dès lors inévitable.

Low-key. Pleasant to listen to, but honestly whose world would this actually rock? Maybe that's not the point. "Where My Love Lies Asleep" is a soft, sweet song, and represents most of what is on this album.

Like a boring Bruce Springsteen

This is the first album I’ve listened to in this project that I have just flat out hated. There have been ones not for me, ones I’ve thought were kind of lame, ones that turned me off. But something about this, right from the first track, was kind of stomach-churning. It should be the kind of music I really like; the songwriter from the Byrds trying to do Bob Dylan, but when you have a genre built on authenticity, the worst thing is if you give off a smarmy, false air, and I get that from this. I think it had something to do with the patronizing bullshit of the first track. Do you dislike Cat Stevens? This is that, but worse. Ugh. Favourite track: “Tears of Rage” (the one he didn't write). Least favourite track: The bonus re-issue (which is all Spotify has) has the single worst version of “Stand by Me” I’ve ever heard.

+1 for Album cover I wouldn’t call this country. I really love this vibe. Acoustic 70’s never disappoints.

This was a hidden gem of the list for sure. This album just has a good groove throughout despite changing gears every song. Every song has its own style and groove and is done very well. Reading the wiki tells you why, these are all pros who were involved in tons of other successful projects. It’s mostly folky to me but there’s quite a bit of soulful blues and rock and roll mixed in as well.

I really like this, especially for a spanish guitar. Maybe i am dutch?

First time listening: 9/9 songs like Oh yeah, this is such a relaxing album all the way through. I have a thing for simple, genuine, music writing, and this is definitely it. Definitely should have gotten more steam with all the folk greats

Enjoyed immensely. Just the subtle, calm feeling of the moods and lyrics warmed me over pretty well.

I had heard his name before but this is the first time I listen to anything by Jean Clark. It’s a good little album and you can hear Bob Dylan’s obvious influence on him and so many Singer songwriters in the late 60s and into the 1970s just like this album.

No. 248/1001 The Virgin 4/5 With Tomorrow 4/5 White Light 3/5 Because of You 3/5 One In A Handred 3/5 For A Spanish Guitar 4/5 Where My Love Lies Asleep 4/5 Tears of Rage 3/5 1975 3/5 Because of You 4/5 Stand By Me 3/5 Ship of the Lord 3/5 Opening Day 3/5 Winter In 4/5 Average: 3,43 Enjoyable country album. Really liked some of the songs.

Good for the background but overall very average writing, trying hard to be Dylan like.

The songs sounds all too similar, nothing really stands out. Decent country-esque but not more

Reminds me of a country James Taylor, just kind of folk music with a harmonica

Lød sgu lidt benløst! Men meget pænt. Blev glad da Tears of Rage kom fordi den løder virkelig godt, men kom i tanke om at det bare er et cover af en meget bedre originaludgave af The Band, og en endnu bedre Bob Dylan demoudgave fra The Basement Tapes

Immediately set the tone with a Country twang folk song, and I knew I was in for a rough time. By track three I was pretty much checked out and really didn’t want to listen to any more of Gene Clark’s voice. It just continuously sounds the same, with no personality behind through out the album. Considering it only achieved success in the Netherlands, and bombed in the U.S, that should have been a good indication to leave it off this list.

Oh god harmonica country and boring country at that, this is beyond terrible.

Ugh. James Taylor from Wish. Nothing redeeming or captivating about this at all. Lyrics are entirely forgettable, that is when the singing isn't too mumbly to even understand them. Singing is completely lacking in energy and monotonous. Music is basic and boring throughout, save for some harmonica flourishes. And thanks to spotify for the bonus tracks... We get an alternate (?) version of a song that I couldn't stand the first time, and a dreadful cover of stand by me. I have no idea why this album is on this list.

CRAP

Such a lovely album!

I don’t listen to much folk/country rock, but this was a record I really enjoyed. It’s a great record filled with solid grooves and great melodies. It has a nice and warm mood to it and makes for an easy listen. One of my favorite records on the list thus far. Favorite Track: Tears of Rage

I've never listened to any of Gene Clark's solo albums before. I loved this one. Already downloaded to listen again. Just really good songwriting with great melodies.

Great album

Gene Clark - White Light 2nd album by Clark (former member of the Byrds). Only did well in the Netherlands. Tears of Rage is so good. I found this album too be really good and in the spirit of Graham Parsons. Shame it didn't do well when it was released but I hope it's found it's audience today. 5/5

Lots of hate in the reviews here - not sure it warrants a best of all time placement, but nice and relaxing. More Byrds ahead it seems

I really liked this

Actually liked this one a lot? Nothing memorable about it, I just listened to it like 5 times in a row

Immense respect

Amazing album, very underrated songwriter. I feel he belongs up there next to Dylan. The man can write beautiful songs and has a lot to say on this short, concise album! 9 out of 10

brilliant

Great

This one is for me.

I really enjoyed this, quite the easy listen,

Really liked this album

Masterpiece!

I don’t think I’ve heard Gene Clark before. This was a great introduction to his music. At times it felt like a precursor to Tom Petty’s Wildflowers or Beck’s Sea Change which are two of my favorite albums of all time. That being said now I wanna dive into more of Clark’s catalog and see if this was a fluke or if he had more to offer.

Really liked that

Solid acoustic album with good famous songs

One In A Hundred and 1975 are giga Chad.

yeah really beautiful dabbled with Gene before but never listened to this album so really gorgeous songs on this

Ein sehr schönes harmonisches Album.

A good album, I liked With Tomorrow the most.

Really surprised that I like this one, but hey I guess the Dutch have really good taste in American folk music? What about this even resonates with them? I'm so genuinely confused and I need to know more.

Charming.

Nice country music

Enjoyed. Tired of it by the last song but also just didn’t like the final song.

"For a Spanish Guitar" (which Bob Dylan reportedly hailed as one of the greatest songs ever written). "With Tomorrow", "Opening Day" "Because of You", "Where My Love Lies Asleep" Folk Rock/ Country Rock

At first I was like "Oh, so he is like a country swooner." Then it was more, kinda country but folk. But the lyrics are not just catchy and he doesn't hold a full on country twang. After a while I thought, "yeah, not my thing exactly but ... pretty good I must say." And so it went and there were a couple of really exceptional moments in between. It makes me wonder if three stars is actually legit? Yeah, not my go to genre. Yeah, there are several STELLAR folk singers out there that I would pick first... But this is not your average country swooner. I think this has a bit more bite to it. So I am going to go ahead and nudge this one up.

Calm and beautiful. A lot of nice chords in there.

I can’t say I know Gene Clark, but I like The Byrds and the Laurel Canyon sound. This was a good representation of it.

think i'm into country

Pleasant listening, music to drive down the highway to. Best song: Winter In feels nostalgic as hell, I really vibe with the vocals on Tears of Rage, and For a Spanish Guitar was fun and gave American Pie vibes Worst song: I would never intentionally listen to this cover of Stand By Me I would give this a 3.5/5 but I let it play through multiple times--there's just something soothing about this one, I'll round up to a 4. I don't think any song in here would ever be a favorite, but sometimes an album just sets a nice vibe and that should be appreciated.

Simpler and much more countrified than No Other. But equally rich and warm and substantive, and consistently good throughout, if a bit prosaic, patient and non-exciting. Certainly, this should be better known. “Tears of Rage” is excellent. This might just be a record one has to take one’s time in getting to know and building a relationship with – a record one would marry more than date. It might be simplistic to say that it lacks a hit, but that (plus the melancholic overtones) might be a big reason why it never connected at scale. It’s more about a mood and a vibe, which one likes, but understands that everybody else (i.e., masses, general public, hoi polloi) do not, necessarily. 3.7/4 (And yes rounding up because underratedness.)

Probably a 3.5. I like the steel guitar and harmonica, but it was a bit too slow style folk for me

I hadn't listened to any Gene Clark albums previously, but I am familiar with his work with the Byrds. The music has a similar sound and in many ways it's on par or better than most of the Byrds music. Great songwriting, solid songs and his voice is easy to listen to, I wasn't surprised to read he guested with the 80's band, the Long Ryders, as their sound is heavily influenced by the Byrds. A good, under the radar classic.

Not bad.

Solid throughout. Good laid back guitar work and spiritful harmonica. Songs are well differentiated throughout. There's a somewhat narrow context I would listen to country music in, but if I am in the mood, this album would be a great one to reach for.

How can I sun this up?? It’s what would happen if Bob Dylan sang over Jimmy Buffet music…. I liked this album. I’m afraid though that Gene Clark will get lost in my mind before I really dig deep into his life’s collection but what a fun first ride. Maybe you’ll feel the same but you have to like acoustic almost protesty sounding songs. Choice cut: White Light

A sweet melodic album for the most part. Easy listening and smooth.

The Dylan-esque songwriting is quietly captivating on record that is full of warmth and depth. It's lack of hooks and energy may be off-putting and the production is sparse but this album showcases superb vocals and musical arrangements that gives each song a little bit of flavour (but not too much).

Another surprise from the list! Mellow almost country feel.

Gene Clark's *No Other* has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now. So obviously, I was looking forward to discovering this earlier solo album from the former Byrds frontman. This is a collection of very pretty songs, performed in an obviously more understated fashion compared to the compositions on Clark's magnum opus (which was so unfairly underrated at the time). The chord changes look simple, but that's a very deceptive first impression, since quite a few of them actually go to interesting places on a harmonic level. *White Light*'s highlights are opener "The Virgin", delicate "With Tomorrow", bluesy "One In A Hundred", fully acoustic and harmonica'-laden "For A Spanish Guitar", the cover of Bob Dylan's "Tears of Rage" (where Clark translates the song into his own streamlined-yet-fully-effective folk grammar), and also closer "1975", another bluesy cut propelled by a nice bassline that sounds both laidback and bouncy. And the rest of the tracklist is more than decent, even if neither stellar nor groundbreaking. As usual, Gene's vocals might sound a little too polite (and even quaint) for some ears, but with this particular singer, this is how the artist can convey his touching vulnerability to the listener, as long as the latter is perceptive and sensitive enough to listen to the whole thing as a genuine example of a singer-songwriter pouring his soul into his art. *White Light*'s straightforward qualities actually pave the way to the grand ambitions of *No Other*. If the two records sound very different, they're still two sides of the same coin. Even if, admittedly, one of those sides shines far brighter today. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential album, rounded up to 4. 8.5/10 for more gneral purposes (5+3.5) Number of albums left to review: 150 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 366 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 216 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 272

White Light, aka Gene Clark, is the second solo album by Gene Clark, originally released in 1971. Gene Clark was probably best known for his stint with the Byrds, where he was a founding member until his departure in 1966. He either wrote or co-wrote many of the band's biggest hits, and losing him was quite the blow. Clark had a lesser known solo career where he turned to more of a country rock/singer-songwriter sound. This really leaves room for him to flex his songwriting chops. This record is very intimate and mellow, with extremely poetic lyrics accompanying Clark's acoustic guitar and Jesse Ed Davis' slide guitar. It's a wonder why this didn't gain notoriety upon release given the popularity of the singer-songwriter scene in the early 70s. It really shows that Clark was doing this for the love of the music, as he refused to take part in the promotion of the record. This was also coupled with the fact that he had an intense fear of flying which severely limited his touring capacity. I think this is a solid offering from Clark. It features highlights such as "For A Spanish Guitar", "Where My Love Lies Asleep", and a great version of "Tears of Rage". Its cosmic country sound would prove influential for modern artists such as Beachwood Sparks and Tim Hill.

Nowhere near as good as his work with The Byrds, but that is a high bar to clear. Country tinged American folk is a genre I have a soft spot for, and this is a pretty good example. Interesting choice of cover (actually covers, on the linked expanded version) helps elevate just that 1/4 point higher meaning it rounds to 4!

heavy influence on the future of Americana

8/10. You need the right mindset going in, but very good. Some nostalgia here for me. White Light (3rd track) started to pull it altogether for me. Ended up putting about half the songs on the 5 star playlist. Big fan of the harmonica per usual from me.

This was great! The songs are the real stars, pushed to the front in the production and allowed the space to dominate. The minimal use of the Hammond organ adds a little variety. It doesn't grab you by the balls and say LISTEN TO ME. The quality spoke for itself. So good I played it twice.

Man these guys really like the Byrds and mad does Gene Clark like Bob Dylan. I enjoyed this album and its laidback vibe. Jesse Ed Davis’ guitar parts were great. It certainly has the most unique cover of “stand by me” I’ve ever heard.

Fín plata. Eitthvað við þessa angurværð sem heillar.

the virgin isch sehr sehr simpel aber mags no, sochli country folk wo gschichte verzellt. with tomorrow chli lahm? aso sehr schön aber chli lahm. white light isch wieder mit meh energie. cute song. because of you het mi etz nöd mitgnoh. one in a hundred au nice. slide gitarre cool. aaah geil mer hend e briiidge. for a spanish guitar au cute aber d harmonika gohtmer langsam chli uf de sack. where my love lies asleep weisnüme tears of rage sehr schön 1975 au meega schön hammer gitarre cooli chords. uuuh stand by me vom benn E king (we always respect that) ship of the lord wieder seeehr simpel aber cute? opening day wieder meeega schöni lead gitarre und d chooords im prechorus? chorus? huere schön. schönste song bis jetz. winter in erinneret mi anen beatles song? glichi chords. seeehr schön.

first listen it's really good

Un superbe album folk, doux et tendre

1/1 folksy hero

4.5

Although not as baroque or original as No Other , a fine and early post Byrds document.

This sounded better to me than most Byrds albums, and I like those OK. I was very pleasantly surprised, never having listened to solo Clark stuff. I'd welcome a return to this any old day. At times the songs are a bit too similar to each other, but in general I found this quite impressive and really nice to listen to. Wikipedia tells me this album only did well in the Netherlands. Well, Gene Clark, I'm happy to have you as my Dutch baby.

Although I was afraid it would go too country for my taste, this is a decent folk "rock" album. This makes for an easy listen, and I see how this can be representative of the era. Songs are way too similar, so it can get tiresome by the end.

Rather liked this one. Shocked that it didn't register much with audiences at the time. Just a smooth, easy listen with a great vibe. 4/5

Tää toimi yllättävän hyvin, vaikka aika tavanomaista. Sointukulut vaan iski. En tiedä, oliko auringonpaisteen syytä. 4-/5

Can‘t out this differently: a real grower.

This wasn’t my usual, but it was good enough that I just let it keep going. Not bad.

This was an enjoyable album. I had never listened to Gene Clark before. I learned the term "jangle pop" by looking up the artist.

Skemmtileg plata, fínt fólkrokk.

I liked it, chill

Country isn’t my usual forte, but this is very good. The mood, the writing, the vocals, the instrumentation - it’s all very serene and harmonic. This is one of those records that reminds me why I’m doing this project.

Everything here is extremely pleasant to listen to. Even the Stand By Me cover was great.

Really liked it.

A pretty awesome folk find. Similar to James Taylor. A shame Clark’s solo career didn’t take off.

I really enjoyed this. There was nothing really memorable, but I would certainly listen again.

Interesting album. Between 3 and 4, but I imagine I would listen again, so 4.