Silhouetted in Light

by Bruce Eder Recorded barely more than a year before Gene Clark's death, this live performance captures him in concert with Carla Olson, their voices harmonizing beautifully and their guitars -- joined by Duane Jarvis on guitar and mandolin and David Provost on bass -- meshing as one. The selection of songs ranges across Clark's whole history, from the early '60s right through to his work with Olson (who is also represented by two originals), but, additionally, encompasses the music of John Fogerty, John Prine, and Tom Paxton. Clark had clearly seen better days as a performer, but even at this point in his life and career, in tandem with Olson he found a sound that worked every bit as well as those he'd forged with the Byrds, Dillard & Clark, or any of the other combos he'd worked in. That's one reason why even in the company of some of his very best material from the past, the highlight of this CD is arguably his and Olson's rendition of her "Number One Is to Survive."