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Is Roger McGuinn a genius?

FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
edited February 2008 in Strut Central
Or an asshole? I listened to all the Byrds records this weekend. What an amazing body of work. McGuinn seemed to be the unifying factor throughout, but at the same time, he was blamed for chasing away others.What's your verdict?

  Comments

  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    Or an asshole?



    I listened to all the Byrds records this weekend. What an amazing body of work. McGuinn seemed to be the unifying factor throughout, but at the same time, he was blamed for chasing away others.

    What's your verdict?

    Borderline genius with a wierd personality. Gene Clark deserves a lot of credit in the early years, and anyone can be forgiven for being unable to work with David Crosby.

    McGuinn gets extra credit for bringing the like of Clarence White into the fold (Dr. Byrds is my shit...)
  • SnappingSnapping 995 Posts
    Or an asshole?

    Since when were genius and asshole mutually exclusive?
  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
    What was up with him and Graham Parsons?
  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
    Or an asshole?

    Since when were genius and asshole mutually exclusive?

    Ha. Zing. In fact, they are mostly co-occurring.

    I've just read a lot about McGuinn that tries to spin him more into the asshole category.
  • funky16cornersfunky16corners 7,175 Posts
    What was up with him and Graham Parsons?


    There were rumors of discord, but I believe Parson's lead vocals were stripped from Sweetheart because he was still under contract to Lee Hazelwood.
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    What was up with him and Graham Parsons?

    He saw his leadership of the band threatened after "Sweetheart of
    the Rodeo" was in the can, and went back and re-recorded all the
    songs with his vocals instead of Parsons'.

    Sundazed LP with OG Gram vocals =
  • edith headedith head 5,106 Posts
    he kinda creeps me out on this beat club footage

  • edith headedith head 5,106 Posts

    Sundazed LP with OG Gram vocals =

    indeed. i love gram's version of "the christian life" so much more
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    By the way, I like his 1st solo LP, S/T on Columbia.

    Has this one totally spaced-out track with Crosby that shreds.
  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
    By the way, I like his 1st solo LP, S/T on Columbia.

    Has this one totally spaced-out track with Crosby that shreds.

    this one? damn. it was in the dollarbin the other day. i quickly dropped the needle and passed.

  • FatbackFatback 6,746 Posts
    he kinda creeps me out on this beat club footage


    yeah. his eyes are creepy. something about him. i sat through the whole video hoping for more Clarence White. Disappointing.
  • hcrinkhcrink 8,729 Posts
    Genius seems a bit much. I love his guitar playing, and he was a strong singer, but I'd say he was probably the weakest of the song-writing Byrds.
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    Re. Genius or Asshole depends if you are listening to the opinion of either McGuinn himself or Chris Hillman... McGuinn crafted some pretty sweet music though.
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Gene Clark is my man. Songwriting style so distinctive.

    I bought that Rose Garden LP on ATCO the other day, and
    it's like, "ho hum, this is ok, I guess ... " and then the
    2 Gene Clark songs they do come on and my ears perk up and
    suddenly I'm fully involved with the music. That is genius.
  • hcrinkhcrink 8,729 Posts
    Gene Clarke is definitely a genius.
  • The_Hook_UpThe_Hook_Up 8,182 Posts
    He was on the news the other day for this solar powered ice machine he designed and uses in his house
  • leisurebanditleisurebandit 1,006 Posts
    He was on the news the other day for this solar powered ice machine he designed and uses in his house

    genius vindicated.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    Gene Clark is my man. Songwriting style so distinctive.

    I bought that Rose Garden LP on ATCO the other day, and
    it's like, "ho hum, this is ok, I guess ... " and then the
    2 Gene Clark songs they do come on and my ears perk up and
    suddenly I'm fully involved with the music. That is genius.

    I sure hope he didn't write "Next Plane To London" (Rose Garden's only hit), because that song is too sappy for the room!!!

    As far as Gene Clark himself...I like that album he did on Columbia with the Gosdin Bros., and just a few nights ago, somebody played me a later Clark album, on A&M. I wouldn't go out of my way to get it, but it wasn't bad for 1970's singer-songwriter music.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    By the way, I like his 1st solo LP, S/T on Columbia.

    Has this one totally spaced-out track with Crosby that shreds.

    it was in the dollarbin the other day. i quickly dropped the needle and passed.


    Any opinion on the McGuinn, Clark, & Hillman album(s)?
  • 1219197712191977 323 Posts
    Fatback = Recordologist
    Give me a call, I got some cool children's records for the little Fatback that I wana give you.
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