Kind of a minor-league version of
the Doors,
Clear Light were a West Coast phenomenon, and although they didn't last too long, were an interesting group. A very good slice of Los Angeles psychedelia,
Clear Light were a six-piece band that combined folk, rock, psychedelia, and even a touch of classical to their sound. The end result, though, is a little ponderous and pretentious, but strangely listenable. The big hit off this album (produced by
Paul Rothchild and engineered by
Bruce Botnick) was "Mr. Blue," a psychedelic folk song written by
Tom Paxton. It's over six minutes long and a bit overbaked, but it does have an odd appeal. The finer moments are guitarist
Bob Seal's psychedelic folk-rock songs, namely "With All in Mind" and "They Who Have Nothing." Singer
Cliff DeYoung went on to have a successful acting career, bass player
Doug Lubahn played on the early
Doors albums,
Dallas Taylor went on to drum for
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and
John Sebastian, and keyboardist
Ralph Schuckett became one of the more popular West Coast session players and arrangers. A lot of talent in a short-lived ensemble offering up dated but charming West Coast psychedelia. [
Ace/
Big Beat's 2016 reissue of
Clear Light adds eight bonus tracks to the original album, almost all of them unreleased. Two of these are pulled from a single released when the band was called
the Brain Train -- they're trashier and nervier, particularly "Me" -- and there's an alternate stereo mix of "She's Ready to Be Free," but the bulk of the tracks are outtakes, highlighted by "Bye Bye Boogie Man" (which does not boogie) and "Dawn Lights the Way" (which almost does).] ~ Matthew Greenwald
