Pete Mancini & Rich Lanahan: “Silent Troubadour: The Songs Of Gene Clark” (2023) CD Review

Gene Clark was a founding member of The Byrds, and a well-respected songwriter whose style and material, both with The Byrds and in his solo career, are still influential. Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan pay tribute to him on their new album, Silent Troubadour: The Songs Of Gene Clark. Here they cover songs from throughout his career, and also include one original composition, that being a song about Gene Clark. Pete Mancini plays acoustic guitar, bass, dobro and mandolin; Rich Lanahan plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar and mandolin. Both sing on these tracks. They are joined by Bill Herman on drums, Eleanor Whitmore on fiddle and vocals, and Chris Masterson on pedal steel. Bill Herman also played drums on Pete Mancini’s Foothill Freeway and Alive In Patchogue albums, and is co-owner of Paradiddle Records. The album was produced by Bill Herman, Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan.

In late 1972, the original members of The Byrds reformed for one album, a self-titled record that was released in early 1973. Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan choose to open this tribute album with a song from that record, “Changing Heart,” and they do a beautiful job with it. “But when you’re singing from the soul/They’ll fail to see the final goal.” It feels that these guys are not only singing from the soul, but they’ve put their hearts into it too, delivering a moving rendition. They follow that with a song from late in Gene Clark’s career, “Gypsy Rider,” which was included on the 1987 record that he did with Carla Olson, So Rebellious A Lover (which, by the way, was re-issued on blue vinyl earlier this year). This is a gorgeous rendition, featuring some powerful work on fiddle, as well as another heartfelt vocal performance. As a side note, Carla Olson joined Rob Waller (from I See Hawks In L.A.) to record another great rendition of this song, the video of which was released just a few days ago (the album comes out later this month). This track was chosen as this tribute’s first single, released in late September, and it is certainly one of the album’s highlights. “Put your face into the wind/Find another road you’ve never been.” Lines like those are always so appealing. And speaking of the wind, from Gene Clark’s 1977 album Two Sides To Every Story, Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan choose “Hear The Wind.” They deliver a strong rendition, featuring some nice harmonies and good work on pedal steel.

From The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, one of two albums Gene Clark recorded with banjo player Douglas Dillard in the late 1960s, Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan select two songs. The first is “Train Leaves Here This Morning,” a song Gene Clark wrote with Bernie Leadon. Here we get even more into the country realm. They give us a sweet rendition, with more great harmonies and some nice stuff on dobro. There is a wonderful instrumental section in the second half of the track. This is another of the disc’s highlights. The second of The Byrds songs chosen for this tribute is “She Don’t Care About Time,” this one from much earlier in the band’s career. It was released as a single in 1965, and this version by Pete Mancini and Rich Lanahan has that great Byrds sound, both in the guitar work and in the vocal work. That’s followed by another Byrds song, “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better,” this one probably the most well-known of all the songs chosen to cover on this album. It was also released on a single in 1965, and included on the band’s first LP, Mr. Tambourine Man, and on the Greatest Hits collection. These guys do a wonderful job with it, delivering a faithful rendition. They clearly have a strong love for the material. “Out On The Side” is the second song chosen from The Fantastic Expedition Of Dillard & Clark. This one is less a country number than “Train Leaves Here This Morning,” and more in the folk-rock world. “I’ve watched your thoughts stray into dreams/When you’re not satisfied.”

From Gene Clark’s first solo album, Gene Clark With The Gosdin Brothers, released in 1967, they play “Tried So Hard.” This one has a strong Byrds vibe, the vocal work again a large part of this track’s appeal. This is another of my favorites. It’s followed by “Full Circle.” This song is from Gene Clark’s Roadmaster album, which was released in 1973, just a little before that Byrds reunion album. On Roadmaster, it was originally titled “Full Circle Song.” This is another strong track, featuring some excellent work on guitar and a passionate vocal performance. This tribute album concludes with its sole original number, “Silent Troubadour,” a song about Gene Clark, written by Pete Mancini. It contains some biographical information, but it’s more about his influence and the way his music makes us feel. It contains pretty work on fiddle, and the lyrics refer to “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better.” “Your songs live in the hearts and minds of those who know the score.” And of course this album itself proves that very point. Gene Clark’s songs will live on.

CD Track List

1. Changing Heart
2. Gypsy Rider
3. Hear The Wind
4. Train Leaves Here This Morning
5. She Don’t Care About Time
6. I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better
7. Out On The Side
8. Tried So Hard
9. Full Circle
10. Silent Troubadour

Silent Troubadour: The Songs Of Gene Clark is scheduled to be released on November 17, 2023 on Paradiddle Records.