GENE CLARK, Roadmaster (1973 Dutch) (BYRDS)

	£		65
	$		86

ARTIST: GENE CLARK

TITLE: ‘ROADMASTER’

FORMAT: VINYL LP

YEAR OF 1ST RELEASE: 1973

PRESSING: 1ST DUTCH

LABEL: A&M

CAT. NO: 87 584

MATRIX NO. SIDE A: 87584 A

MATRIX NO. SIDE B: 87584 B

RECORD CONDITION: EXCELLENT

The fact that this album only ever surfaced in Holland, where Gene Clark had a large fanbase following the ‘White Light’ album being voted the album of the year for 1971 by many of Hollands top rock critics, aptly demonstrates the lack of due praise Clark received in his life. This record was issued in 1973 after Gene had left A&M and the sessions that the tracklisting mainly draws from were never actually completed. What we have though, is a compilation record of stunning country-rock that is a vital cog in the story of the Byrds, Clark’s former band, in the early seventies. The opening three tracks were recorded in 1970/71, the first two feature backing from all four original Byrds members and was once intended as a single. The exciting thing about this pair is the classic Byrds sound they adopt, chiming Rickenbacker and luscious harmonies et all! The remaining eight tracks come from 1972 sessions and feature the guitar genius of the late ex-Byrd Clarence White as well as Sneaky Pete Kleinows’ pedal steel and the Byrds Michael Clarke on drums. An early, and infinitely better, version of ‘Full Circle Song’ is featured here, a tune that would be a highlight of the Byrds ill-fated official 1973 re-union album. Gene Clark was without a doubt the under championed songwriting master in the original Byrds camp, it’s highly apparent on this scarce record where amongst the nine Clark originals there isn’t one duff track.

The appearance of this disc is that of a new piece of vinyl, it is so clean looking, bright and glossy that it really does look never played. A close inspection of the spindle wear doesn’t actually provide much evidence, it all looks very unblemished around here but I’m certain this disc has had one or two plays. A closer inspection of the vinyl too only shows that this really is a very clean record, with only a couple of small light paper scuffs and brushes. There are no bad marks or scratches; the sound in the run-in grooves is near silent, the most I have to report is the very occasional moment of light crackle and the odd isolated pop or click.

COVER CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This is a record sleeve that displays no serious signs of age or abuse, it’s fully intact without any un-sticking and it doesn’t have any bad marks or blemishes. The whole piece, both front and back, has bright clean and un-faded colours printed on an undamaged surface that has nothing more than one or two of the faintest kind of small creases. Likewise, the top and bottom edges are in good shape apart from a little of the lightest, early stage, scuffing effect and the spine remains firm with legible text, there’s only a couple of small scuff marks here. This sleeve does not have any ring-wear, just the faintest circular impression of a record that becomes visible when held to light. Overall, it’s an album cover still in a very useable shape and one that has not been over handled.

ANY OTHER DETAILS: STEREO

TRACKLISTING:

Side One

‘She’s The Kind Of Girl’

‘One In A Hundred’

‘Here Tonight’

‘Full Circle Song’

‘In A Misty Morning’

‘Rough And Rocky’

Side Two

‘Roadmaster’

‘I Really Don’t Want To Know’

‘I Remember The Railroad’

‘She Don’t Care About Time’

‘Shooting Star’

Postage & Packing is UK £2.00 / Europe £3.00 / US £5.50 / rest of world £6.00. Payment is by Paypal, cheques or postal orders payable in UK Sterling only, well concealed cash in UK Sterling only or International Money Order payable in UK Sterling only.

I specialise in selling rare, collectable and hard to find vinyl. All of our ebay listings are play graded, when buying rare records over the internet I suggest that you settle for nothing less. I have been a collector of records and a trader for over 20 years and, as such, I use the experience I have gained in this area to grade & describe the records as accurately as possible. Good luck!