Clear Light (album)
Clear Light is the only studio album released by the 1960s Los Angeles psychedelic rock band, Clear Light released in 1967 by Elektra Records.
Clear Light | |
---|---|
Studio album by | |
Released | September 1967 |
Recorded | April – May 1967, August 1967 |
Studio | Sunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California |
Genre | |
Length | 31:59 |
Label | Elektra |
Producer | Paul A. Rothchild |
Recording
Recording commenced in April 1967 at Elektra Recording Studio in Los Angeles. The majority of the material was completed during these sessions, but the developments were postponed to replace Robbie Robison on guitar. Instead of a new guitarist, the band recruited keyboardist Ralph Schuckett, and, following a month of concerts, the band returned to recording in Sunset Sound Recorders Studios. The studios had just recently upgraded from a 4-track to an 8-track. A highlight of the recording sessions was the band's psychedelic interpretation of the Tom Paxton composition "Mr. Blue".[1]
Release and reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
The Village Voice | D–[3] |
Clear Light was released in September 1967 and peaked at number 126 on the Billboard pop albums chart. It combined elements of folk, rock, psychedelic, and classical music. It is an AMG music pick.[2] While the album was not a success at the time, it was creative, coherent and competent. The album featured the unique characteristic of including two leading drummers on their tracks.[4] The album also includes three tracks written by guitarist Bob Seal.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Black Roses" | Wolfgang Dios, Clear Light | 2:09 |
2. | "Sand" | Douglas Lubahn | 2:38 |
3. | "A Child's Smile" | Clear Light, Michael Ney | 1:37 |
4. | "Street Singer" | Greg Copeland, Steve Noonan | 3:17 |
5. | "The Ballad of Freddie and Larry" | Cliff De Young, Ralph Schuckett | 1:56 |
6. | "With All in Mind" | Bob Seal | 2:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Mr. Blue" | Tom Paxton | 6:25 |
2. | "Think Again" | Clear Light, Lubahn | 1:37 |
3. | "They Who Have Nothing" | Seal | 2:34 |
4. | "How Many Days Have Passed" | Seal | 2:24 |
5. | "Night Sounds Loud" | Lubahn | 2:26 |
The CD reissue of the album includes a bonus track, "She's Ready to Be Free", which was the B-side of the group's first single.
Personnel
Musicians
- Cliff De Young – vocals
- Bob Seal – guitar, vocals
- Douglas Lubahn – bass
- Ralph Schuckett – keyboards
- Dallas Taylor – drums
- Michael Ney – drums
Technical
- Paul A. Rothchild – production
- Bruce Botnick – engineer
- Jac Holzman – production supervisor
- Gordon Anderson – executive producer
References
- "Official Clear Light". officialclearlight.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
- Greenwald, Matthew. "Clear Light — Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- Christgau, Robert (December 20, 1976). "Christgau's Consumer Guide to 1967". The Village Voice. New York. p. 69. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- "Clear Light". therisingstorm.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.