Excellent film length 'Rockumentary' about this original and key member of The Byrds, precursor/inventor of Country-Rock and Americana, early singer-songwriter...you get the picture - he was ahead of his time. I'm not going to give you a history lesson, the film does that very well, but incase you don't know here's a track from one of the great unsung albums of the 70's...well, all time.
OK? Right. and here's a B side from 1968
So a genius. No more music here, the film is stuffed full of it and those are his triumphs. The themes are a man torn between two worlds, but a man who could go to other worlds as well. The first theme is that Gene loved being a rock star in LA (No Other), but also had a completely seperate idyllic 'fantasy' life with his wife and kids in Mendocino (White Light). He spends most of the film travelling between these extremes. He writes great songs; makes wonderful albums in LA that he is satisfied with artistically; but then cannot deal with the resulting pressures and music business shenanigans (he was terrified of flying and didn't want to tour to promote his work!) and returns to Mendocino, while his 'product' and contracts nosedive. He never settles. And this brings us to theme two. There are several eyewitness accounts of his songwriting process where he appears to astral-project in front of people and return with these incredible songs. "He never read a book" and yet his lyrics are superb! He was part native-american indian so you can join those dots. His wife Carlie also explains that when drunk his native-american indian self was looking down on him, in his mind. It's mystical poet time and they deal with this element really well: vast alcohol and drug problems/inexplicably complex and beautiful music.
Almost all of the key-players are interviewed and are uniformly moving, humorous, passionate, compassionate. Crosby, Gene's brother and Gene's wife Carlie Clark are particularly gripping. Just watch that point when Carlie is talking about a particularly upsetting time and starts frantically stroking her dog - very moving body-language that they pan out slightly to catch.
Beautiful shots of his America. There are also a lot of great stories - Gene's totally justified attempt to beat the buffoon Joe Cocker to death is absolutely hilarious.
Highly recommended and available here (with a load of DVD extras) http://foursunsproductions.com/Shop/
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