Greetings Gene Clark fans and welcome to another issue of Echoes! 

Some of you may have heard rumors of a Record Store Day release from Sierra Records of Back Street Mirror. Unfortunately, this did not happen as it was not included on the final list of releases for RSD. Will we see it for November’s Record Store Day? I sure hope so, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Last month’s “5 Questions” participant, Sid Griffin, has a new pod cast featuring a song from the recently released Gene Clark: The Lost Studio Sessions 1964-1982. You can hear Sid’s podcast here.

Speaking of The Lost Studio Sessions, great reviews keep trickling in! Read the latest from Soundblab here.

Some sad news, drummer Gregg Thomas (pictured above on the far right) passed away on March 26 from complications due to Parkinson's disease. Gregg toured with Gene’s Tribute to the Byrds group during the 80s and with McGuinn, Clark and Hillman. Our condolences go out to Gregg’s family and friends.

The Gene Clark website is continues to be updated with new content. Currently in the works are a timeline and additions to the archives section. Recently posted is the booklet which was distributed at the NYC and CA Songs of Gene Clark 50th Anniversary shows. If you weren’t able to see those tribute shows and didn’t get one, you can view it online and read the wonderful piece by Thomas Sandford (better known as The Clarkophile). Also up is an article from Zigzag magazine from 1977 written by Paul Kendall, the man behind the excellent (and only) Gene Clark documentary The Byrd Who Flew Alone – The Triumphs and Tragedy of Gene Clark. Read about which albums inspired Gene while he was writing the songs for his epic No Other album and learn about some projects that were (sadly) never realized. A very interesting read if you haven’t read it before. We’ll keep adding to the archives so check back periodically. (If anyone would like to contribute something from their collection please send an email to GeneClarkWebstie@gmail.com.)

The campaign to Induct Gene Clark into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is gearing up again. We are currently only 130 signatures away from our 2,500 signature goal! If you haven’t signed – please do so. Once we reach the goal, we’ll be giving away one copy of The Byrds Video Album DVD to one lucky petition supporter. So please continue to spread the word and let’s #GetGeneIn!

This week’s 5 Questions is with singer songwriter James Talley. Gene recorded James’ beautiful song Give My Love to Marie on the Two Sides To Every Story LP (available from our friends at High Moon Records). I hope you enjoy it.

Lastly, we have a treat for you below from photographer Karl Baker. Karl has generously allowed us to share this photo he took at concert of Gene and Roger McGuinn performing at NYU on November 18, 1977 (just one day after Gene’s 33rd birthday)! 

So long until next time!

JAMES TALLEY

1. When was the first time you met Gene?

I first met Gene in the fall of 1976. We were on a tour together of some clubs in the Bay Area of California. I was a new artist on Capitol Records and I was Gene's opening act. I must say, however, that unlike many acts I opened for, Gene was very friendly and approachable. He was not aloof, but a very generous human being, just one of the band.

2 - What is your favorite Gene Clark story/memory?

Well there were several. But one funny one was when we were on tour in California, and they had these Jack in the Box fast food restaurants. After a show one night, we drove up to one that was open very late to get something to eat, and in the drive through you had to talk to this clown figure to place your order. Gene said, "I'm not gonna talk to a damn clown at this hour!" We had a good laugh over that, and of course, we had all had a few by that late hour, but for some reason I always remembered him saying that. It's still funny when I think back on it.

He also came, along with Roger McQuinn to my show in New York City one time at the Lone Star Cafe. He borrowed my guitar an sang several songs. It was a great memorable evening.

3 - What do you know about Gene that you would want his fans to know?

He was a man of deep passions, and he was very sincere. The world is not kind to young men like that. He would sometimes call my house, and once I was out on the road, and he called talked to my wife, Jan. He told her, "I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but I love your husband." They had a long conversation, as they often did when I wasn't there and he would call. There were no cell phones in those days. Gene was a very warm and personable guy, and he could talk to anyone.

Our mutual friend, Gregg Thomas, who played drums with the reconstituted Byrds, just died about a week ago. Gregg played on five of my albums, and was with Gene and Roger for a number of years. Gregg had Parkinson's for the past decade, but he thought the world of Gene.

4 - Favorite Gene Clark Song/Album?

Well, of course, I always loved the way he recorded my song, "Give My Love to Marie," on his Two Sides to Every Story album. He really outdid himself. It was an incredibly beautiful rendition of my song. He had heard the song, when we were on tour together and I performed it, and he said, "The next time I record I am going to record that song." And he did.

5 - Fill in the blank: I think Gene Clark should be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame because...

We are too fixated in inducting only those songwriters who have had massive commercial hits. Maybe they have had one our two, but to me the real songwriters are the guys like Gene, who have an outstanding body of work. There in nothing wrong with honoring the commercial hitmakers. They deserve their place, but those like Gene whose work is a large body of real art should also be honored. Art and true artistry should be honored the same as commerce. A lot of things in life are about the money, but it should not be the only criteria. Gene was a true artist in the purest sense of the word. That is greatness.