What are the best Clarence White recordings?

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 5 Apr 2006 10:38 pm

What are the best examples of Clarence White's electric guitar playing?

Thanks!

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 5 Apr 2006 10:56 pm

That's like saying what is your favorite way to collect a thousand bucks- it's all good, as long as you come away with the money. Seriously, though, I would feel like I was betraying all those other tunes if I picked one out of the pile. Clarence was just outrageous.

Dave Burr · Post by **Dave Burr** » 6 Apr 2006 5:30 am

Henry,

The following are a few of my favorites. You can't go wrong with any of theses (IMHO).

- The live album "Nashville West" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000087LP7/qid=114432 9837/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-1469470-2488937?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

- The Byrds "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002AHB/qid= 1144329982/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/102-1469470-2488937?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

- The Byrds "Untitled" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004OCEN/qid=114433 0093/sr=1-8/ref=sr_1_8/102-1469470-2488937?s=music&v=glance&n=5174

I pretty much love all of Clarence' work - electric or acoustic. These just happen to be some of my favorites.

You can also go to the Clarence White Forum to learn more about Clarence and his music. http://www.clarencewhiteforum.com/

Respectfully,
Dave Burr[This message was edited by Dave Burr on 15 May 2006 at 11:12 AM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 6 Apr 2006 5:55 am

Long before Clarence became famous, he worked as a guitar teacher in a local music school, and I was one of his students.

Before you guys turn green, I was pretty much a beginner, and he just taught me basic chords. I didn't learn any of the things he did later.

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My web site

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 6 Apr 2006 8:27 am

I would say Untitled -also Dr. Byrds and Mr Hyde, when the Stringbender was brand-new. He's not on a lot of the tracks on Sweetheart, actually, 2 or 3, I think. Everything before Dr. Byrds is conventional 6 string stuff. And everything after Untitled is also good, but the BAND aren't (IMHO.)
Nashville West album is also good but again it is the conventional 6 string.
---Lucky you got to meet him! He passed away the week I turned 18.

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 6 Apr 2006 1:13 pm

Don't overlook his acoustic work with The Kentucky Colonels and Muleskinner and The White Brothers (The Live In Sweden Rounder album is amazing!)

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Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 6 Apr 2006 5:18 pm

Thank you! And thanks for the links, Dave.
I'm pretty familiar with aome of his acoustic stuff. I even saw a video of a goofy tv show he was on, hosted by Bob Baxter. If you can track it down, check it out. It's kind of an instructional show and the guitar playing is great, but almost as fun to watch is the weird interactions between Clarence and Bob.

Stephen Gambrell · Post by **Stephen Gambrell** » 7 Apr 2006 1:36 am

There's a video going 'round, of a band put together with Clarence, Richard Greene, Peter Rowan, and I forget...
Anyway, this band was assembled to back up Bill Monroe on the west coast, but Bill couldn't make it. But the band carried on, and it's killer video!

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 12 Apr 2006 7:16 am

Muleskinner is the band with Richard Greene, Peter Rowan (both fresh from Seatrain) and Bill Keith and David Grisman.
The live video/DVD and seperate CD of the show they did for television is available through Sierra Records, as is their sole 1974 LP (rec. early 1973) which is also on CD via Sierra and Water Records with different artwork and notes for each.

All great.

The expanded version of the Byrds 'Ballad Of Easy Rider' album from 1969 is awesome, Nashville West is fantastic.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 12 Apr 2006 10:35 am

Mike P.- I turned green anyway- Clarence was one of my heroes!

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Mark

Joe Shelby · Post by **Joe Shelby** » 18 Apr 2006 9:27 pm

Yes, to try and even list some great Clarence
White for someone wanting to hear is extremely difficult-his recorded playing is
incredibly consistent. Just as hard would it be to try and list a bad Clarence recording.
His level of creativity was always on such a
high level, along with the subtle things that
he would change just on a whim...Well, you
get the idea.
That said, I would like to make a suggestion;
"Oil in My Lamp," from The Ballad of Easy Rider (already mentioned here by Jason). There are two versions of this tune, the original (more straight-ahead rock in feel),
and the second (more laid back, for lack of a better description).
The first version is the one I reccomend. Clarences' tone is really gutsy and he's way up in the mix. It will start you're heart pounding, guaranteed. He never recorded anything else with quite the same tone. He
drives that song and it's something to behold.

Joe.

Henry Nagle · Post by **Henry Nagle** » 18 Apr 2006 10:13 pm

Thanks Joe... I'll check that out.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 19 Apr 2006 4:24 am

Ballad of the Easy Rider is my favorite. Check out "Tulsa County Blue" and "Gungadin" for smooth playing.
The Byrds live 69 album has some great pickin on it as well. Its all good. His acoustic playing is amazing.
I saw the 69 Byrds tour with him, and it made an impact on me unequaled.
Lefty

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 19 Apr 2006 12:12 pm

Definitely check out the Byrds 'Live at the Fillmore' from Feb. 1969. This was only released in the last 10 years, but it is a must-have, as is 'Nashville West'.

Big Beat did a nice Clarence compilation called 'Tuff and Stringy' and reissued the Gosdin Brothers' 'Sounds of Goodbye' with a ton of Clarence (mostly on flatpicked dobro).

Also check out his session work. Randy Newman's '12 Songs', Linda Ronstadt's 'Hand Sown', Johnny Darrell's 'California Stop-over' and more. There's also singles like the Everly Brothers' "I'm On My Way Home Again" and Arlo Guthrie's "Coming Into Los Angeles".

Clarence played for a bunch of folks from Wynn Stewart to Ricky Nelson to Pat Boone.

[This message was edited by scott murray on 19 April 2006 at 01:13 PM.]

Joe Shelby · Post by **Joe Shelby** » 19 Apr 2006 3:30 pm

Scott--"I'm On My Home Again."
YESSS!
I've mentioned previously that IMHO this is one of the finest "country rock" singles ever
released. It probably sold the least as well.

The Everlys' were troopers in the recording
studio even years after their glory days on
the charts had passed long into history.
Still, I contend their vocals on this record
are unusually inspired and Clarence's guitar
work sets you up for a solo that never fails
to raise your adrenalin level.

Better than any OTC, prescription, or recreational drug available...

Joe.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 19 Apr 2006 7:59 pm

Buy the "Sweetheart" Deluxe Extended Edition........on the outtakes CD you can hear him, plain as day, tuning between takes while the other guys work out arrangements. It's very cool. IMO, this is required listening for Clarence White fans.........and you get to hear Lloyd and Jay Dee while you're at it. Now that's a nice bonus.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 19 Apr 2006 11:58 pm

Everly's "I'm On My Home Again."

Some time around late May there's a tentative release date for a new Ace comp, COUNTRY & WEST COAST: The Birth Of Country Rock, that awesome Everly's song will be included.

Ace's previous releases include Gib Guilbeau & Gene Parsons, Clarence White, the Gosdins Brothers, Bakersfield Rebels, etc as part of their country and country rock releases on Ace/Big Beat.

The new comp will have tracks by Mike Nesmith with the First National Band, Byrds, Dillard & Clark, unissued Gosdin Brothers, a really rare Corvettes song (Chris Darrow, Bernie Leadon), Poco, Pure Prairie League, the Dillards, Dillard & Clark, Blackburn & Snow, Gram Parsons, the International Submarine Band, the Spencers, the Lovin' Spoonful, Jerry Jeff Walker, 'Papa' John Phillips, the Youngbloods, Johnny Darrell, Gene Clark, Clarence White, Ian & Sylvia, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Guilbeau & Parsons.
Should be a nice one all right.

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 15 May 2006 7:01 am

I just want to add, additionally, that there's two other CD's with Clarence's electric work which may interest you. One is "Tuff & Stringy- Sessins 1966-68" comprised of session work Clarence did in Bakersfield for the Bakersfield International label- some very interesting stuff on this- also, there's Arlo Guthrie's
"Running Down the Road" (the "Coming Into Los Angeles record". If you like Clarence then ths should be a another mouthful for you to sink your teeth into.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 15 May 2006 7:26 am

What John McGann said!

And sweet heart is a fine album.
With Jay Dee and Lloyd too.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 15 May 2006 12:16 pm

Also, I believe the Byrds snuck Clarence in the back door on "Younger Than Yesterday". Listen to "Time Between" for example. Sure sounds like Clarence. No credits back then were put on the album, and also he was snuck in because record companies had a ban on their artist going over and recording with another company. Big no-no back then.

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 16 May 2006 2:46 am

No probs with Clarence sessioning with the Byrds in 1966 (Time Between, issued in '67) as he wasn't signed as an artist.. the deal with Bakersfield International was in 1967 and he was a union session picker by then anyway.
His previous recording efforts were mostly Bluegrass, and most of the labels signed his band for one-off deals, definately no need to sneak him in on Byrds dates and he's on pics I've seen on the session paperwork anyway. I'm only mentioning that as some dudes didn't always get a credit due to the Byrds habit of re-cuting and overdubbing so much in the 1966-67 period.

Clarence appears on a lot of cool records, most of them have ben mentioned, a couple of my faves are the Gosdin Brothers '68 LP (reish by Ace), Gene Clark's 1967 set 'Gene Clark & The Gosdin Brothers' although he's only really obvious on a couple of songs.
As mentioned he did a lot of Wynn Stewart sessions, we're talking 1968-69, you have to listen through a lot of material to find signature stuff though.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 17 May 2006 6:47 am

Thanks for clarifying that, Jason. My mistake.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 22 May 2006 10:55 am

Hank, I sent you an email.....JH in Va.

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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 22 May 2006 2:26 pm

The Byrds "Untitled"
The Kentucky Colonels "Appalchian Swing"

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Drew Howard - website - Fessenden guitars, 70's Fender Twin, etc.

[This message was edited by Drew Howard on 22 May 2006 at 03:28 PM.]

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 25 May 2006 8:53 am

Hey Chip, the thing with those 60s records is that the labels didn't want people to know that session guys were used at all, the Doors utilised bass players on their albums, the first Byrds and Love albums all had session guys in some capacity.