This Founding Byrds Member's '70s Album Flopped Before Becoming A Cult Classic

The risk any musician takes when becoming part of a widely successful band is that they won't be able to sustain a career outside of it. For some, such as Gene Clark of the iconic '60s folk rock band the Byrds, the moment they gain individual recognition may come a few decades too late.

The Byrds' first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts may have been a cover of this Bob Dylan song in 1965, but the rest of their discography proves that Clark was a prolific songwriter in his own right. In addition to being a prominent vocalist on the tracks, he wrote or co-wrote hits such as "Eight Miles High," "The World Turns All Around Her," and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better." However, aside from the political turmoil surrounding the band's other members, Clark's reportedly higher royalties from their music only fanned the flames of dysfunction further, leading to his departure from the group in 1966. His first attempt at a solo career, "Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers," was thwarted by the same-day debut as the Byrds' "Younger Than Yesterday" album, beginning almost a decade of Clark dipping in and out of the band's failed reunions.

By 1974, Clark had signed with a new record company, Asylum, which put close to $100,000 into his newest album, "No Other." Although he intended to release it as a double LP, Asylum refused, ignoring the project and refusing to promote it further, ultimately dooming it to flop. Following Clark's tragic death from a heart attack in May of 1991, he never lived to see it get the recognition it deserved.

The Byrds transformed the careers of several artists throughout their tumultuous years together, but their individual legacies (aside from that of David Crosby) struggled to remain distinguished. Gene Clark reportedly put everything he had into 1974's "No Other," and the commercial failure of his magnum opus was a massive blow.

However, fans of the Byrds gradually stumbled upon "No Other" over the decades, turning it into a cult classic. It was reissued as a CD in Europe in 2003, and in tandem with the evolving palates of music lovers, found a more fitting audience who appreciated its production and genre fusions. Among them was Alex Scally, member of beloved indie rock band Beach House, who organized his own "No Other" tour with other popular groups in 2014. This exposure, amplified by The New York Times article covering the tour, inspired record company 4AD to reissue the album in November of 2019. 

It was reportedly remastered at the famed Abbey Road Studios, bringing Clark's masterpiece into the home of one of his greatest inspirations, the Beatles. 4AD's box set also included director Paul Kendall's 2013 documentary about the star, "The Byrd Who Flew Alone: The Triumph and Tragedy of Gene Clark," which certainly added to the mythos and appreciation of the songwriter two decades after his death. The record company released a 50th anniversary version of "No Other" in 2024, continuing to celebrate and honor his legacy.

Maybe Clark was making music for the future, but we're eternally grateful that he had the musical ingenuity and foresight to do so.