Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting.
The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark
In 1968, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark appeared. This album was years later regarded as one of pioneers of the late country-rock. Doug Dillard, celebrated country-picker of The Dillards and Gene Clark, famous for his contribution to the first albums of the Byrds, put their heads and composing qualities together to form the core of a formation bearing both their names. With the help of some musical friends like would-be member of the Eagles Bernie Leadon, Don Beck, David Jackson, Andy Belling and Chris Hillman, the eclectic The fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark was recorded. Commercially, the album was a flop, but it also represented the first steps into the contemporary country sound. The album consists almost entirely own works, truly showing off ex Byrd member Gene Clark. The compositional contributions of Dillard are limited, which is also true for its successor Through the morning through the night, which received higher sales ratings. The band was complemented by pedal steel guitarist Sneaky Pete Kleinow, fiddler Byron Berline and former Byrds drummer Michael Clarke. Despite its excellent members and some clever songs, Through the morning, Through the night is a anything but a cohesive album. The number of own songs was reduced and the choice of cover and subjects were heavily argued. Basically, the synergy between Dillard and Clark stopped working after the first album. Shortly after the recordings, the formation one for one lost its members, starting with Gene Clark, with the exception of Dough Dillard. This unwillingly turned the The Dillard & Clark group into the birthplace of bands like The Flying burrito brothers, The Eagles and Country Gazette, who would turn countryrock into its own genre. In this broadcast, we play the entire debut album, supplemented by a selection of the second and third album.
Playlist
Dillard & Clark – The fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark – Edsel Records EDCD 192
1. Out on the side (Clark) 3.47
2. She darked the sun (Clark, Leadon) 3.08
3. Don’t come rollin’ (Dillard, Clark. Leadon) 2.49
4. Train leaves here this mornin’ (Clark, Leadon) 3.48
5. Why not your baby (Clark) 3.38
6. Lyin’ down the middle (Smith, Clark) 2.16
7. With care from someone (Dillard, Clark, Leadon) 3.46
8. The radio song (Clark, Leadon) 3.00
9. Git it on brother (git in line brother) (Flatt) 2.49
10. In the plan (Dillard, Clark, Leadon) 2.06
11. Something’s wrong (Dillard, Clark) 2.55
12. Don’t be cruel (Blackwell, Presley) 1.51
13. Through the morning, through the night (Clark) 4.03
14. So sad (Don & Phil Everly) 3.19
15. Corner street bar (Clark) 3.32
16. Kansas city southern (Clark) 3.37
17. Polly (Clark) 4.19
18. Four walls (George Campbell, Marvin Moore) 3.36
