Version City #59 - Velvet Crush sing Dillard & Clark

Gene Clark released a steady stream of great music throughout his post-Byrds career, sometimes in cahoots with one of a succession of collaborators. At the tail-end of the 1960's, Clark teamed up with Doug Dillard to produce two albums, 'The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark' in 1968 and 'Through the Morning, Through the Night' the following year. Sandwiched between these long players was the non-album single 'Why Not Your Baby', a beautiful song written by Clark, with as an emotionally devastating a lyric as you'll ever hear.

Gene Clark died in 1991 at the tragically young age of 46. Three years later, Velvet Crush, produced by Mitch Easter, paid a fine tribute to the man with a cover of 'Why Not Your Baby' on their 'Teenage Symphonies To God' LP, released through Creation Records.

She wore a blue dress when she walked in the room

And in her eyes the look I saw was filled with gloom

Is this the question I would answer all too soon

Come tell your friend what's wrong with you

Why don't you call me your baby anymore

Am I so changed from some strange love that went before

Is this the change of mind that I've been designed for

Why not your baby anymore

Those words we spoke they only seemed to block our way

The truth rang out when you called me and called my name

I don't know what I can do or I can say

Your good friends also find a way

Why don't you call me your baby anymore

Am I so changed from some strange love that went before

Is this the change of mind that I've been designed for

Why not your baby anymore

Dillard & Clark - Why Not Your Baby

Velvet Crush - Why Not Your Baby

Version City #11 - Mark Lanegan sings Gene Clark

A tweet from the venerable Sid Griffin, reminds me that May 24th 2013 was not only the 72nd birthday of Bob Dylan, but also the 22nd anniversary of Gene Clark's death. In his tweet, Sid also mentions 'Some Misunderstanding', a sublime song from Gene's masterpiece, 1974's 'No Other', which in turn got me thinking about a terrific interpretation of that song by Soulsavers, fronted by Mark Lanegan. Soulsavers have released four long-players to date, two of which feature Lanegan extensively - 2007's 'It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land' and 2009's 'Broken', from where this version is taken.