Echoes

Though he is far from the most famous member of the Byrds — Roger Mcguinn, David Crosby, and of course Gram Parsons all cut more distinctive public profiles — Gene Clark’s startlingly beautiful melodic instincts and unerring songwriting skills provided the backbone to many of the Byrds’ most memorable songs. Echoes is a re-titled re-release of Gene Clark’s first solo effort, Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers, and it features some of the most authentic efforts at fusing country with rock ‘n’ roll ever to grace a vinyl record. Though it was largely overlooked upon its release, fans of Gram Parsons, and mid-period Stones will find themselves instinctively drawn to Clark’s elegant, country-tinged compositions. The fantastic “Tried So Hard,” with its cascading guitars and multi-layered country harmonies is undoubtedly the set’s centerpiece, but nearly every song here is a gem worthy of admiration. Country-rock fanatics would do well to familiarize themselves with Clark’s work, as his groundbreaking albums would have a significant influence on the development of the genre.