Clear Light (album)

Clear Light is the only studio album by the American psychedelic rock band Clear Light, released in September 1967, by Elektra Records. The album was a moderate success.

Clear Light
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1967
RecordedApril  May 1967, August 1967
StudioSunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length31:59
LabelElektra
ProducerPaul A. Rothchild

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.[1] While the album was not a success at the time, it was considered as creative, coherent and competent. The album featured the unique characteristic of including two leading drummers on their tracks.[2] The album also includes three tracks written by guitarist Bob Seal.

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".[3]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Village VoiceD−[4]

In his 1976 review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau gave Clear Light a low rating of "D−" to an A+ to F scale.[4] Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic was more positive to the record, calling it a "very good slice of Los Angeles psychedelia."[1]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Black Roses"Wolfgang Dios, Clear Light2:09
2."Sand"Douglas Lubahn2:38
3."A Child's Smile"Clear Light, Michael Ney1:37
4."Street Singer"Greg Copeland, Steve Noonan3:17
5."The Ballad of Freddie and Larry"Cliff De Young, Ralph Schuckett1:56
6."With All in Mind"Bob Seal2:58
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Mr. Blue"Tom Paxton6:25
2."Think Again"Clear Light, Lubahn1:37
3."They Who Have Nothing"Seal2:34
4."How Many Days Have Passed"Seal2:24
5."Night Sounds Loud"Lubahn2:26

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

Technical

References

  1. Greenwald, Matthew. "Clear Light — Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. "Clear Light". therisingstorm.com. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  3. "Official Clear Light". officialclearlight.com. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. Christgau, Robert (December 20, 1976). "Christgau's Consumer Guide to 1967". The Village Voice. New York. p. 69. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
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