jc-osms I really didn't know much about the life and times of Gene Clark other than that he wrote some of the Byrds' best early songs until he left the group in 1966. After that I confess to knowing next to nothing about his subsequent music, evidenced and parallelled I guess by the lack of commercial success of really any of his following projects, but for me, this only attracted me the more to this documentary.With very little film footage of Clark talking, his story is told in time-honoured back-to-front fashion with narrative commentary and interview insertions by family, friends and fellow-musicians. The story they tell of this maverick, who as one commentator says at one point, with a self- destructive quality which would metaphorically see him put out on a boat after the fleet had already gone, is certainly intriguing, his mystique added to by his rebellious personality, addictions to drink and drugs, plus of course his songwriting talent.To be honest though, I'm no fan myself of country music, especially the hillbilly bluegrass type (I hate "Sweetheart Of The Radio" and "Nashville Skyline") so I'll not be looking to download his expeditions with Doug Dillard anytime soon, but the film certainly made me curious about his 70's work, wayward as it sometimes seems to have been. I was sorry his marriage broke down, although his ex-wife and children still seem to remember him with affection and then of course he surrendered to the ever-available drink and drugs which probably contributed to his early death in his 40's. Clark comes across as a complex man, talented but shy, ill-served by record-label owners and producers looking only for the next big hit. Like I said earlier it would have been nice to see more footage of the man himself, especially in conversation but he clearly touched the lives of those around him, if the reactions of band-mates McGuinn, Hillman and especially a mordant David Crosby are anything to go by.This well put-together biography has already got me fishing out my early Byrds CD's and I'm looking forward to getting to know more of the man's solo music.

thobrien-917-707 This is a wonderful account of a great artist who l will remain forever one of the true inspirations for the progress of modern music. I am 71 years of age, and can remember the spine tingling impact that Mr Tambourine Man, the album had on me back in 1965. For this fan Gene's solo album "No Other" is my favourite, it wasn't a huge commercial success, but boy, It has stood the test of time, the track '"Silver Raven" transports me to a wonderful time in my life when the world was a much more kind and gentle place, like the great man himself. Gene still soars far above the darkened waters, far above the troubled sky! This DVD is a must-have for any music fan.

bakerbyrd Lovingly produced documentary about the brilliant Gene Clark, who was a prolific singer/songwriter, first with The Byrds and then with a solo career. Gene was grossly under appreciated during his lifetime, but this documentary has sparked a resurgence of interest about his music. Recently, four indie bands performed several tribute shows, highlighting Gene's ignored masterpiece, No Other, which was released in 1974. It exposed his brilliance to a new generation of listeners. Portions of this awesome documentary were shown at each performance with the young audience sitting in rapt attention. My only complaint, which is not the fault of the producers, is that there is precious little concert footage of Gene. But it is a fascinating story to those unfamiliar with him and an emotional experience for old fans, like me.

conroyshawnr If anyone has read Einarson's biography of Gene Clark, Mr. Tambourine Man, this movie will tell a familiar tail but what is wonderful is hearing those stories from the musicians and friends that were there when it all went down. David Crosby, who is not known for humility, seems in awe of Clark at times and The Byrds in their original lineup. McGuinn is matter-of-fact but Hillman seems like the warmest of the bunch, the only Byrd who also smiles and laughs in his segments. This also reminded me of Be Here to Love Me, the wonderful film about Townes Van Zandt, in that is does not deify its subject but rather portrays them for the talented but trouble person that they are; the talent is celebrated but you feel the pain that they caused their family, friends and band mates. Enough detail for the casual Clark or Byrds fan, but an abundance of clips and audio to satisfy the die-hards. Well done indeed.