Reviewed by Tom Mott
Released: January 1980 Roger McGuinn - Chris Hillman - Featuring Gene Clark City Genre: Post-Byrds Rating: 3.3 out of 5 Highlights: Won't Let You Down Let Me Down Easy Some of these songs sounding like mediocre Tom Petty is a good example of The Pizza Effect (Google it). But whenever Gene Clark is involved, it's worth a listen.[*] SIDEBAR: Take a moment to pop over to YouTube and find "McGuinn Clark Hillman: Mr Tambourine Man [After Dark]" from their Australian tour. McGuinn does a decent first verse. Hillman does a decent second verse. And then comes Gene Clark. "I actually cried listening to him singing his part here." "The moment Gene Clark starts the third verse, time stops." "Best version I've ever heard espc. Clark's beautiful rendering of the third verse." "Gene Clark's part is mesmerizing." "Man , Gene's voice .... just a thing of beauty." "Gene Clark's part so haunting, aching." "Gene Clark NAILS it." So, yeah. Sadly, Clark only contributes two songs here. "Won't Let You Down" elevates the album. Instead of Petty adjacent, it stands with peak Byrds. And Clark did let them down--quitting the tour, dropping out of the album--so there's an extra layer of 20/20 pathos. His second contribution, "Painted Fire" is rollicking piano stuff. I give it a pass knowing it's Clark. For better or worse it sounds like it could've been on the Bugsy Malone soundtrack or Jamming with Edward, but after a couple follow-up skims through the rest of the album, I found myself lingering on it each time though. The rest of the album? It's pleasant. Hillman's contributions are laidback Tequila Sunrise affairs. McGuinn tails Petty and mostly succeeds with City. Fans won't be too disappointed. --------------------------- *Who else falls into that category? Ronnie Lane, Eno. Link Wray? Emmylou Harris?
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