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The Dillard & Clark Expedition was a country rock band formed in 1968 by Gene Clark and Doug Dillard, both of whom were already established musicians in the folk and bluegrass scenes. Gene Clark had previously been a member of the influential folk rock group The Byrds, and Doug Dillard had played banjo with his brother Rodney in the bluegrass band The Dillards. The Dillard & Clark Expedition released two albums in the late 1960s, "The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark" (1968) and "Through the Morning, Through the Night" (1969). Both albums combined elements of folk, bluegrass, country, and rock music, with Gene Clark's distinctive songwriting and vocals and Doug Dillard's virtuosic banjo playing. The band featured a rotating cast of musicians, including Chris Hillman and Michael Clarke of The Byrds, Bernie Leadon of The Flying Burrito Brothers and later The Eagles, and Sneaky Pete Kleinow of The Flying Burrito Brothers. The group's sound was characterized by tight harmonies, intricate instrumental arrangements, and a blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation. Despite critical acclaim, the Dillard & Clark Expedition never achieved significant commercial success, and the band dissolved in 1970. However, their influence can be heard in the work of later country rock artists such as Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, and the Eagles. The Dillard & Clark Expedition I (1968 - 1969)
The Dillard & Clark Expedition II (1969) (split)
Compilations: Links: "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" - by John Einarson; published by Cooper Square Press - Let me say right up front that I have been a big fan of country rock music ever since hearing the "Pickin' Up The Pieces" single from Poco's debut album. Poco has remained a favorite of mine through the years, although I always believed they were overlooked as a significant influence on popular music into the 1970s and the "new country" movement in the 1990s. Thankfully, this oversight is corrected by John Einarson in his book, "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock", which traces the history of country rock's rise in Southern California from the early days in the late 1960s up to The Eagles (unquestionably the most commercially-viable country rock band of all time). Having previously read one of Mr. Einarson's biographies on The Guess Who, I was anxious to see how he approached my favorite type of music... I was not disappointed. "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is an intricate tale of musicians struggling to be heard amidst the psychedelic and hard-rock sounds flooding the airwaves at the time...and these early country rockers did make themselves heard...The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Clarence White, The Eagles, Michael Nesmith (remember The Monkees?...Nesmith made some great country rock music after that gig was over), The Dillards, Rick Nelson and The Stone Canyon Band, The Dillard and Clark Expedition, Linda Ronstadt, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band...the list could go on and on. This book covers the early days of country rock from it's beginnings in the late 1960s to the tragic year of 1973 (when the music world lost two country rock pioneers: guitarist-extraordinaire Clarence White and Gram Parsons) and examines the influence this music has had on second-generation country rock bands such as Pure Prairie League and Firefall. In addition, the impact of these early country rockers on the "new country" music of the 1980s and the "alternative country" movement of the late-1990s and beyond is explored from a "roots" perspective. This is a tale masterfully woven by Mr. Einarson, based on more than 60 exclusive interviews with the originators and innovators of country rock. The amount of information and level of detail contained in these 288 pages is astounding, and there are 31 black and white photographs (some of which I've never seen before). The only improvement that I would recommend is the inclusion of a comprehensive index in the next edition (this would really help in finding information on specific artists). Even though I've been following country rock music for years, I learned a lot from this book. The quotes gleaned from Mr. Einarson's interviews during research for this book are particularly helpful in understanding the origin and development of country rock. "DESPERADOS: The Roots of Country Rock" is required reading for all fans of country rock or anyone interested in late-1960s to early-1970s music. Highly recommended. -GSH Back to Home Date revised: June 8, 2009 |
