Gene Clark And Carla Olson ~ So Rebellious A Lover (1987) {Original Canadian}
Gene Clark And Carla Olson ~ So Rebellious A Lover
Vinyl rip in 24/96 & 16/44.1 | 1 LP | DR-Analysis | Artwork
Rhino ~ RNLP70832
Crank her over once again
Put your face into the wind
Find another road where you've never been
LINER NOTES
Modern music has a long line of fine male-female duos, but there's never been one like Gene Clark and Carla Olson. For starters, both have had established solo careers way before they ever laid eyes on each other. Second, and best, what these two do together is altogether new. Clark and Olson take the moving tradition of American folk music, and then mess with it. Whether they're doing their own tunes or songs by Woody Guthrie, Joe South or John Fogerty, together they create an almost mystical magic. In a time when too much popular music has turned its back on the soulful side of creation, these lucky eleven songs truly shine.
Gene Clark needs no introduction. Between his life as a Byrd and the years since he ventured out on his own, this man has become a natural vocal resource. There is a weary but warming charm when Clark sings, like an angel doing hard time for a crime he probably committed. Any doubters are directed to proceed immediately to "Gypsy Rider!".
Carla Olson is a striking Texan who's spent the last decade becoming an insider's favorite. From her earliest punk incarnation in the Austin group The Violators to the Los Angeles-based band The Textones, Olson has proven that there is still a place for a tenacious survivor. Her fans have long known what the rest of America will someday soon find out: Carla Olson is a thoughtful rocker who sings as good as she thinks. And when was the last time that combination came together, male or female?
So Rebellious A Lover really is a labor of love. When Gene Clark and Carla Olson decided to sing together, it wasn't a matter of could they do it, but more who they'd get to help them. They turned to the multi-talented producer Michael Huey to put this record in gear, and signed on the sort of musicians to make sure their vision didn't go astray.
It didn't, either. Words like integrity and honesty don't always sound at home when used to describe music, but there's not a false note on this album. The extra plus, of course, is that these songs are also exciting. And when all gets said and sung, that's the most important quality of all.
-Bill Bentley
REVIEW
An exquisite pairing of talent, the duo of Carla Olson and Gene Clark apparently came out of casual living room sessions while Clark was preparing for another project. The feeling of spontaneity and closeness of spirit engulfs all of the cuts here. Olson's strident and powerful vocals mesh beautifully with Clark's slightly world-weary, soulful performances. As for the material, both songwriters obviously put their best foot forward here. Olson's "The Drifter" and "Are We Still Making Love" are excellent country-folk outings. Clark contributes one of his finest later compositions, "Gypsy Rider," a multi-leveled song that can easily be viewed as autobiographical. Excellent support is provided by an array of backing musicians, especially Stephen McCarthy (lap steel and dobro) and guest Chris Hillman (mandolin). Chemistry is the operative word here. The only sad thing is that So Rebellious a Lover was to be the only studio effort by the duo before Clark passed away in 1991. This record is important not only for what it is, but for what it could have become. ~ Allmusic
01. The Drifter
Lyrics By – Carla Olson
Music By – Joe Read, Tom Junior Morgan
02. Gypsy Rider
Lyrics By, Music By – Gene Clark
03. Every Angel In Heaven
Lyrics By – George Callins
Music By – Carla Olson
04. Del Gato
Lyrics By, Music By – Gene Clark, Rick Clark
05. Deportee (Plane Wreck At Los Gatos)
Lyrics By – Woody Guthrie
Music By – Martin Hoffman
06. Fair And Tender Ladies
Arranged By – Gene Clark
Written-By – Traditional
07. Almost Saturday Night
Lyrics By, Music By – J.C. Fogerty
08. I'm Your Toy (Hot Burrito #1)
Lyrics By, Music By – Chris Ethridge, Gram Parsons
09. Are We Still Making Love
Lyrics By, Music By – Carla Olson
10. Why Did You Leave Me Today
Lyrics By, Music By – Gene Clark
11. Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Lyrics By, Music By – Joe South
PERSONNEL
Acoustic Guitar – Otha Young
Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals – Gene Clark
Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Vocals – Carla Olson
Banjo – Randy Fuller
Bass [Acoustic] – Roscoe Beck
Cello – Hans Christian
Drums, Percussion – Michael Huey
Flute, Piano – Tom Junior Morgan
Guitar [Lap Steel, Dobro] – Stephen McCarthy
Guitar [Pedal Steel] – Ed Black
Keyboards – Skip Edwards
Mandolin – Chris Hillman
EQUIPMENT
-VPI HW-16.5 RCM
-Clearaudio Concept w/ Verify magnetic-bearing tonearm
-Clearaudio Concept MC Cartidge
-Musical Suroundings The Phonomena II preamp
-Zoom H4n
-Audioquest interconnects