The Byrd Who Flew Alone

The Triumphs and Tragedy of Gene Clark

This is the title of a wonderful documentary that is unfortunately very difficult to see. The good news is the film is largely based John Einarson’s excellent book, Mr. Tambourine Man: The Life and Legacy of The Byrds’ Gene Clark, and there is also a book on the making of the documentary, The Film That Flew Alone: An unlikely but true story, by its writer/director Paul Kendall.

While the title of the documentary references Gene’s claim to fame as a Byrd, thankfully it spends ample time on his solo flight. It balances the usual discussion of why he didn’t make it big and the things he battled in life, with commentary from his peers on just how exceptional he was. It includes pictures not seen elsewhere, like of the great Clydie King in the studio during the No Other sessions, and music not heard elsewhere like Gene’s first song “Blue Ribbons”. It concludes with a scene which the book on the film explains was made possible by Bob Dylan’s manager Jeff Rosen giving clearance for the song “I Shall Be Released”. It features Gene smiling, singing, and playing guitars with friends around a kitchen table.

The film was a passion project for its creators, and what it lacks in production value due to its limited budget, it more than makes up for with the content itself. The interviews are enlightening, the editing is good, it has a proper narrative structure, and most importantly its use of music is excellent. The Dillard & Clark song “Something’s Wrong” is featured against scenes from Gene’s youth, the lyrics matching the images, as opposed to only hearing songs in chronological order.

It is disappointing this documentary is not widely available, as it would be the perfect entry point to Gene’s solo career, and a treasure for those who are already fans. It was only available in a limited number of DVD copies, but hopefully someday it can become available on a streaming service for wide distribution.

Alternatively, perhaps we could see Gene on screen in a biopic about The Byrds! Their collective story would be perfect. It is filled with fascinating characters from the Sunset Strip, giving rise to the birth of the mid 60s counterculture. Their journey in many ways is shorthand for the various tales of stardom that encompass all that musical and cultural history.