Gene Clark 2020 Tribute by Kai Clark--"Silver Raven" LP track by track

This brilliant new recording was shared recently by Clarkophile, I felt it warranted a compete thread featuring a track by track appreciation.

Available from Kai Clark's home page.
NEWS | kaiclarkmusic



Silver Raven by Kai Clark


NEW! Kai Clark interview with "The Clarkophile"
"Raven 'bout Gene: Kai Clark talks about his new tribute album, Silver Raven."
Roughly coinciding with 4AD's mammoth reevaluation of Gene Clark's 1974 masterpiece No Other (released last week) and what would have been Gene's 75th birthday on November 17th, son Kai Clark is poised to release Silver Raven, an 11-song tribute album that traces his father's career in music. Suffice it to say each of the handpicked tracks—popular classics, Byrds-era favourites, under-heard gems—hold special significance for Kai. With guest performances from his dad's former colleagues Carla Olson and Byron Berline, and spirited backing from the members of the Kai Clark Band, the album is both a loving celebration of his dad's accomplishments and a welcome opportunity to introduce Gene Clark's music to a new generation of fans.

Read the full interview with Tom Sandford, a.k.a. "The Clarkophile" HERE

 

Carla Olson appears on the album...contributing a beautiful harmony on Your Fire burning.

 

NEW RELEASE: THE KAI CLARK BAND
SILVER RAVEN
Songs synonymous with the legendary singer-songwriter Gene Clark are brought full circle by his son Kai, and reintroduced to a new generation...with the help of some very special guests!

NEWS | kaiclarkmusic

KAI CLARK, the son of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gene Clark (The Byrds), is set to release a new album entitled Silver Raven between November 17th to December 15th.



Conceived as a loving tribute to his father’s rich musical legacy, and titled after one of his best-loved compositions (from the legendary No Other LP—itself the subject of a comprehensive new box-set on 4AD), the 11 songs on Silver Raven feature The Kai Clark Band’s soulful reinterpretations of classic material from The Byrds and Dillard & Clark, as well as hand-picked favorites from Gene Clark’s solo work from the 1960s to the 1980s.



The celebration of Gene Clark’s life in music is brought full circle by the presence of some of his past collaborators and associates, including:

• Byron Berline Fiddler extraordinaire; former member of Dillard & Clark; over the course of his career, has also recorded with: The Band / The Byrds / The Eagles / The Rolling Stones / Bob Dylan / John Denver / Elton John
  
• Carla Olson Leader and one of the founding members of seminal LA roots-rockers The Textones, Carla recorded the critically acclaimed duet album So Rebellious a Lover album with Gene in the late 1980s. She’s also worked alongside ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor / Ry Cooder / ex-Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan / CCR’s John Fogerty, and many others
  
• Henry Diltz Born in Missouri like Gene, Henry also made a name for himself in LA as a member of the Modern Folk Quartet. A gifted photographer who is responsible for some of the most iconic album-cover shots of the rock era (including The Doors’ Morrison Hotel; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Gene Clark’s Roadmaster)
  

Whether singing popular fan-favorites, connoisseur-approved deep cuts, or songs that hold deeply personal significance for him, Silver Raven stands as further evidence of Gene Clark’s poetic/melodic genius—and Kai’s stunning emergence as a formidable talent in his own right.

 

Kai Clark recently spoke to 'Echoes' the Gene Clark newsletter about his forthcoming album:

"Most musicians would bristle at the idea of recording an album of songs originally written and sung by the legendary Gene Clark—and who could blame them? But what if that musician is his son, Kai Clark? Talk about intimidating.

But Kai doesn’t see it that way. He views his forthcoming album as an opportunity to retrace his father’s steps, and simultaneously forge a musical path all his own.

Featuring guest appearances by esteemed colleagues from his father’s distinguished career, including Carla Olson, John York (The Byrds), Byron Berline (Dillard and Clark), and many other surprise guests, the most enticing aspect of this Clark-sings-Clark release may be Kai’s stated intention to make this album the first in a projected series."
To read an excerpt from the interview, click HERE.

 

track 1) I Found You

This is quite stunning and so eerily like his pop's original (from With The Gosdin Bros), it is uncanny!
And the backing harmonies rival the originals by the Gosdin brothers.

Stunning!



Well I knew at the moment when I saw you
I could feel you close to me across the room
Last night, oh all right
I found you
What went down there I knew could never leave me
It was that feeling, girl, I got from you
Last night, oh all right
I found you

It's been much too easy to remember sometimes
How empty handed loneliness can be
But when you were there to ease my mind
There was so much of something that I need
All the changes in the places at the time when
You were there and then at once I was with you
Last night, oh all right
I found you

Last night, I said, all right
I found you

 

We'll do a track a day...wouldn't want to rush a masterpiece.

 

Some accolades for Kai and his band and some live videos...in the meantime.

Kai Clark
Kai Clark
LA Times 2011




2011 Nominee – Country Artist of the Year (Chris P. Ellis Award) – 21st Annual LA Music Awards

2011 Nominee – Country Single of the Year – 21st Annual LA Music Awards “Hope You Understand”

2011 Nominee – Country Album of the Year – 21st Annual LA Music Awards – Self Titled

2011 was a great year for the Kai Clark Band. Nominated for Country Single and Country Album of the year by the LA Music Awards for their debut self titled album “Kai Clark”. The band is quickly gaining the admiration of fans and critic’s alike. Combining the influences of his father (Gene Clark) and the sounds of past and present. Kai Clark has given the world of music something warm and familiar yet fresh and unique.
With an arsenal of great original tunes like “Sunlight” and “Hope You Understand” and a extensive list of Gene Clarks timeless hits. The Kai Clark Band is considered one of the best up and coming live performances on the west coast.
Their music is influenced by Alternative Country, Classic Country, Americana Roots, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Blues, Accoustic, Folk, Folk Rock and more.

 

Marylou

 

track 2) Mr. Tambourine Man

The long version (the Byrd's cut a verse); this by Kai is the way Gene reimagined the track for his Firebyrd LP (on Takoma).
Gene's was a mellow piano driven reading. Kai makes it a harder rocking number,
and Kai's pop would have been proud.



Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
I'm not sleepy and there is no place I'm going to.
Hey! Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me,
In the jingle jangle morning I'll come followin' you.

Though I know that evenin's empire has returned into sand,
Vanished from my hand,
Left me blindly here to stand but still not sleeping.
My weariness amazes me, I'm branded on my feet,
I have no one to meet
And the ancient empty street's too dead for dreaming.

Take me on a trip upon your magic swirlin' ship,
My senses have been stripped, my hands can't feel to grip,
My toes too numb to step, wait only for my boot heels
To be wanderin'.
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way,
I promise to go under it.

Though you might hear laughin', spinnin', swingin' madly across the sun,
It's not aimed at anyone, it's just escapin' on the run
And but for the sky there are no fences facin'.
And if you hear vague traces of skippin' reels of rhyme
To your tambourine in time, it's just a ragged clown behind,
I wouldn't pay it any mind, it's just a shadow you're
Seein' that he's chasing.

Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind,
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves,
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach,
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow.
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.

 

track 3) Train Leaves Here This Morning

Wonderful long version of the Dillard & Clark classic tune...
with a bluesy cosmic Americana country vibe....nice peddle steel.



I lost ten points just for being
In the right place at exactly the wrong time
I looked right at the facts there,
But I may as well have been completely blind

So, if you see me walking all alone
Don't look back, I'm just on my way back home

There's a train leaves here this morning,
I don't know what I might be on

She signed me to a contract,
Baby said it would all be so life-long
I looked around then for a reason
When there wasn't something more to blame it on

But if time makes a difference while we're gone
Tell me now, and I won't be hanging on

There's a train leaves here this morning
I don't know, what I might be on

1320 North Columbus was the address
That I wrote down on my sleeve
I don't know just what she wanted
Might have been that it was getting time to leave

And I watched as the smoker passed it on
And I laughed when the joker said, "Lead on."

'Cause there's a train leaves here this morning
I don't know what I might be on

There's a train leaves here this morning
I don't know what I might be on

 

With each listen, this long player by Kai gets better and better.

A must have in the Gene Clark canon...

 

Off topic a bit but Kelly Clark ,Genes other son passed away in San Francisco a week ago.

 

Terrible terrible news. I half feel like I know Kelly & Kai from reading Einarson's Gene Clark bio...condolences to the Clark family.

 

Not sure about causes yet. My good friend told me who used to live in the same building with him in SF’s Mission district.

 

track 4) Here Without You

Beautifully covered by Kai...in another universe we might believe it is Gene & latter day Byrds. Jangling 12 string too.

Beautiful, Kai. This alone makes it a must have. This sounds so much like Kai's pop!




Daytime just makes me feel lonely
At night I can only dream about you
Girl, you're on my mind
Nearly all of the time
It's so hard being here without you

Words in my head keep repeating
Things that you said when I was with you
And I wonder, is it true?
Do you feel the same way too?
It's so hard being here without you
Being here
Without you

Though I know it won't last
I'll see you someday
It seems as though that day
Will come never
But there's one thing I'll swear
Though you're far away
I'll be thinking about you forever

Streets that I walk on depress me
Ones that were happy when I was with you
Still with all the friends I know
And with all the things I do
It's so hard being here without you
Being here
Without you

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Gene Clark

 

track 5) Silver Raven

Stunning cover...of one of my favorite Gene Clark tracks.
Rocks the cosmic country a bit more.




Have you seen the silver raven?
She has wings and she can fly
Far above the darkened waters
Far above the troubled sky

Have you seen the changing rivers?
Now they wait their turn to die
But they turn their tide upon you
When the sea begins to cry

Have you seen the changing windows
Of the sea beyond the stars?
And the sky beyond the sunbeams
And the world beyond your dreams

Have you seen the old world dying
Which was once what new world seem?
Have you seen the silver raven?
She has wings that barely gleam

They barely gleam, they barely glimmer
As she circles past the sun
And she tries to tell her sister
That her trials have just begun

​

Have you seen the silver raven?
She has wings and she can fly
Far above the darkened waters
Far above the troubled sky

Have you seen the changing rivers?
Now they wait their turn to die
But they turn their tide upon you
When the sea begins to cry

 

track 6) Kansas City Southern

Rocks so sweet & hard ...pop would love this one!



When I was a young boy evening sun went down
Stand off by the railroad tracks and I'd listen for the sound
Of that Kansas City Southern
Man that's a lonesome sound
Oh I'd sit and watch those trains go by
And wish that I was outward bound

Well I'd dream about big cities And the pleasures I would keep
Long about twelve-thirty thru phase of my sleep
I'd hear that Kansas City Southern
Man that's a lonesome sound
Oh I'd sit and watch those trains go by
And wish that I was outward bound

Well now I've been in a couple of places, seen a couple of things
Whenever I think back in time my memory rings
With that Kansas City Southern
Man that's a lonesome sound
Oh I'd sit and watch those trains go by
And wish that I was homeward bound

Don't you know how the whistle blows?
Don't you know how the whistle blows?
Don't you know how the whistle blows?
Don't you know how the whistle blows?

© songwriter: Gene Clark

 

7) Gypsy Rider

A stunning cover by Kai of a favorite Gene tune. This is Gene's voice, as perfectly sung so naturally by Kai.



Crank her over once again
Put your face into the wind
Find another road where you're never been.
Sing that two-wheeled melody
The highway symphony
You know she'll never understand.

Gypsy Rider sing
Your who-wheeled symphony
You know there's nothing to explain.
She should have known by now
You're just a vagabond
You may never pass this way again.

All the writings on the wall
The paper all must fall
You're only as good as your word remains
You can take it out if you
Decide to follow through
Just take what you earn and leave what remains.

Gypsy Rider sing
Your two-wheeled symphony
You know there's nothing to explain.
She should have known by now
You're just a vagabond
You may never pass this way again.

 

This is as different from stunning original by The Byrds, and yet, well done indeed!

track 8) Turn Turn Turn



To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late

 

track 9) Polly

Perfectly done. With a slightly different, rockier, but perfect new vibe, vocals lovely with the 12 string.
It still amazes me how Kai has a certain something in his voice, the way he ends a note
or something that is so like his father. Goosebumps.



If the wild bird could speak
She'd tell of places you had been
She's been in my dreams
And she knows all the ways of the wind

Polly, come home again
Spread your wings to the wind
I felt much of the pain
As it begins

Dreams cover much time
Still they leave blind
The will to begin
I searched for you there
And now look for you from within

Polly, come home again
Spread your wings to the wind
I felt much of the pain
As it begins

 

track 10) Your fire Burning

I've always loved this one by Gene and Carla, and this is just wonderful...a tear filled reading. Just wonderful.
With Kai and the lovely Carla. As close to Gene's voice as one could imagine...almost ghostly in its beauty.

Carla has said that for many years she couldn't hear a Gene Clark song without crying;
I can't imagine what she felt singing this with Kai...this most beautiful of Gene's many beautiful songs.



Now your hearts on the ground
I'm trying hard to be fair
Someone out of control
Someone who doesn't care

As you pick up your pride
Put your head in the air
You find it hard to believe
That, that someone would leave

Till it was over
And all I want is you to believe in me
I am your fire burning here
And someday you'll find out

That you can be free
And break the chains of their despair
Meanwhile your fire is burning here
I can never replace

The time that I didn't know
You were trying to love
Someone out of control
With your life in my hand
And your in my heart in my soul
Hope that you'll understand
That my love can't just be and then be over
And all I want is you to believe in me
I am your fire burning here

Someday you'll fly away and you'll be free
And let them go in their despair
Meanwhile your fire is burning, darling
Meanwhile your fire is burning, leave it burning
Meanwhile your fire is burning here

I hope that I do ascend
The pain of losing you when
You were in the control
Of someone out of control

Some where deep in the night
I saw you finding your way
Silhouetted in light
And never having to say,
Say that it's over

So all I want is you to believe in me
I'm the fire burning here
And someday you'll find out
That you can be free
And break the chains of their despair

Meanwhile you're fire is burning, keep it burning
Meanwhile you're fire is burning, darling
Meanwhile you're fire is burning here

 

track 11) Eight Miles Higher (Clark, McGuinn, Crosby)

Perfectly done...just as Gene might have reimagined it. Fantastic fuzz guitar.





Eight miles high and when you touch down
You'll find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street that say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own

Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain gray town known for its sound
In places small faces unbound

Round the squares huddled in storms
Some laughing some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living, some standing alone




Gene (radio interview):

"I actually wrote that song and then presented the song to
McGuinn and Crosby on tour. The melody and lyrics I wrote myself
in a hotel room with Brian Jones in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania."

(McGuinn added the Coltrane inspired guitar break suggested
by Chip or Croz, and Gene related that Croz suggested one line for the
lyrics, so McGuinn taking the lead in the subsequent song credits after Gene's passing is just so wrong
...and cowardly.)​