Gene Clark (1973) Here Tonight - LOST70sGEMS

Here Tonight is one of the late great Gene Clark's great hits, from his exquisite solo album Roadmaster it contains some of his 60s baroque style of  bittersweet songwriting. Starting with some aches of lap steel and some incongruous doowop vocals before Gene and his backing singers sing a lilting lovely melody that floats over the locked in acoustic rhythms; the sashaying beat similar to many a Byrds tune reminds us that a lot of Gene's material was dance-able and far more accessible than his country and folk peers. The bright harmonies are so damn catchy and the beautiful pedal steel work keep this short tune ticking over while Clark's use of multiple singers to convey his defeated lyricism is wise as it captures his melancholic delivery without bringing you too far down. If only he produced more upbeat arrangements later on in the 70s he could have staged more of a comeback; though having said that he did write a gospel song on his next album called Life's Greatest Fool :P