Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Clear Light
Company: Elektra
Catalog: EKS-74011
Year: 1969
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring and edge wear; writing on LP label
Available: 2
Price: $25.00
Produced by Rothchild, 1968's "Clear Light" was fairly entertaining. With four of the members contributing material the set was varied, including stabs at Byrds-styled folk-rock ("Black Roses"), "Lady Jane"-styled baroque ballads ("Sand"), psychedelia (a cover of Tom Paxton's weird "Mr. Blue" and "A Child's Smile") and early country-rock ("With All In Mind"). De Young was a decent vocalist, occasionally displaying an uncanny resemblance to Jim Morrison. The two drummer line up was also unique for the time. This may sound weird, but to our ears "Sand" and "Street Singer" sounded like something out of XTC's late-'70s catalog. Among the few major criticisms; none of the nine tracks sported a truly memorable melody. Supported by favorable reviews and a brief appearance in the film The President's Analyst, the collection was a modest seller, hitting #126.
"Clear Light" track listing:
1.) Black Roses (Dios - Clear Light) - 2:08
2.) Sand (Douglas Lubahn) - 2:37
3.) A Child's Smile (Michael Ney - Clear Light) -1:33
4.) Street Singer (Noonan - Coepland) - 3:15
5.) The Ballad of Freddie & Larry (Cliff De Young - Ralph Schuckett) - 2:00
6.) With All In Mind (Bob Seal) - 3:00
7.) Mr. Blue (Tom Paxton) - 6:24
8.) Think Again (Douglas Lubahn) - 1:37
9.) They Who Have Nothing (Bob Seal) - 2:33
Shortly after the album was released Seal quit in order to join The Peanut Butter Conspiracy. He was briefly replaced by Danny Korthcmar. Unfortunately, the band broke up before they could release a follow-up. Ney and Kortchmar subsequently reappeared in The City (with Carole King), while the mid-'70s saw De Young reappear as a solo act. (see separate entries).