Eight Miles High--Gene's version (by Gene Clark live solo in Liberty, NY 10/8/1988)

[@mariamcnally3624]

Gene was The Soul of The Byrds so many of the songs he has written over the years are like Prayers Sung To God. Also so often his Native American Spirit comes through chords and strings and a lovely Vocal kind of Chant

[@Saftbloke]

The Godlike genius of Gene Clark.

[@SkipWay]

ah, a fellow fan!

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

Hearing this song in it's original form, how it was actually intended to be, really shows how stunningly poetic "Eight Miles High" is. It's an extraordinary piece of writing. Gene Clark was truly like no other. He was gifted in every way a musician can be. His spirit lives on through the music he created 🎸💖

[@SkipWay]

I agree, Sophie!

[@SophieLovesSunsets]

@@SkipWay 🙂

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

WOW! Just. Wow!! I've heard a lot of people attempt this song, and they rarely succeed in even coming close to the intensity of The Byrds' original, but this...this is the _REAL_ original! Only the composer of this anthem for an entire generation could give it this much heart...this kind of soul. The truth is, I've always thought that Gene was the soul of The Five Byrds. Now I'm saying it out loud, in front of God and everybody: *No one else could have done as much justice to this song as the man who created it.*

[@SkipWay]

Glad you liked it, Vito.

[@watkinsharp8756]

I agree, Gene was pure soul and talent

[@emmettmckenna4565]

Did you know the insufferable creep David Crosby put his name first in the writing credits on later Byrd compilations? The original credits read Clark-McGuinn-Crosby. Now they read Crosby-McGuinn-Clark!!!

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

@@emmettmckenna4565 - I have long been a fan of Crosby's music, starting with his enormous contributions to The Byrds' music...BUT, I have read Johnny Rogan's biography of The Byrds, which makes it clear that Mr. Crosby was the flaming asshole of the band. He was a real piece of shit when it came to the way he treated Gene. A real dickhead. He seemed to have mellowed somewhat near the end, but I'm not sure he ever made his peace with Gene. If not, it's to his eternal discredit.

[@RockinAllDay]

Usually, the order doesn't matter.​@@emmettmckenna4565

[@russcohen3779]

Gene is the man

[@garyshook5922]

This performance is beautifully haunting. His soul was on display whenever he stood before a microphone with a guitar in his hand.

[@SkipWay]

He wore his soul on his sleeve, so to speak.

[@philippastore2228]

@@SkipWay His beautiful pre-reflective poetic mind is alive with me as an audience and among others ,as well, sharing his feelings about the uncomfortably troubling essence of human existence. What a magical life he wanted to share with all of us.Its so sad the way his life ended.ALONE....and...with the very pain that he sought to assuage with song.So sad???

[@philippastore2228]

@@SkipWay Also, I would rank Gene Clark on the same high plane of poetry as Bob Dylan; yet it seems that Gene Clark never attained widespread unanimous recognition because Dylan commanded a more commercially dominant media favored presence,although not of his own making. Dylan coyly won center stage by sleight of hand of the Media Focus as a favorite son with his mid60's music amplifying the civil rights and antiwar movements ; underscoring his revolutionary Folk appeal as the Idealized Counter to the Upstart British new wave rock splash of the coeval Beatles; and continues to reap it's residual rewards as a Nobel Laureate. However, an artist of Gene's equally high Calibre was short changed by the critics and the silent but discerning public as well, possibly ascribable to his self-effacing, though ingratiating , shyness and seemingly deceptive passivity, characteristic of the proverbial Andy Warhol-esque withdrawn poet in hiding ; BUT capturing the essence of ALL there is outside of the SELF. In short, Dylan might have caught on with subliminal Sex Appeal by sounding the temptingly alluring wrongful message from the otherside... of the off beaten tracks. Also...THANKS for YOUR EFFORT to educate us with your CARE about GENE'S life .He is deserving of the new wave of posthumous popularity that his re-released revivalist music is engendering .

[@philippastore2228]

@@SkipWay Correct me if I am wrong but it seems that Gene Clark went from being the poetic writer of the Byrds songbook and it's lead vocalist to relinquishing his guitar to Crosby to being forced out by that VULTURE Jim McGuinn??? ...VICTIM!!!...It seems that the trajectory of the wing-less , rudderless Byrds sans-Clark bottomed out after a death spiral into NOTHINGNESS...if not music with empty meaning. With that as a given ,then it's a tribute to Gene's greatness that he OVERLOOKED it all and rejoined McGuinn in the 80's to partially revive their act. Is his story about not being affected as the victim that he was.......or is this further evidence that he was not about EGO but about being a Christ-like martyr in the pursuit of finding an ego for himself through musically gathering a crowd and thusly finding a collective ego of a lost generation together .

[@SkipWay]

@@philippastore2228 Crosby was the one that forced Gene to give up the guitar in the Byrds because he claimed that Gene couldn't keep time. McGuinn always wanted Gene in the group.

[@750drums]

One of Gene's greatest compositions

[@SkipWay]

Perhaps so, but it's not one of my favorites to listen to. Thanks for the comment, David.

[@davidmurray2539]

Greatest creative achievement in rock in the back half of the sixties easily. Glimpses of London throughout. Co-written by Brian Jones according to Gene. This is such a heartfelt rendition by a true musical genius!

[@professorhamamoto]

Thank you! Gene Clark: An incredible talent in every way.

[@vidiot9006]

First time hearing this original rendered version of ~ Eight Miles High ~ by the amazing talent of Gene Clark... It is even more eatherial, other worldy, real, and impactful than the wonderful, but perhaps more pop Byrds version. The more I hear Gene Clarks individual work, the more it shows what a true original talent he was and how sad it is he never got the fulfillment & acclaim of his art during his lifetime.

[@SkipWay]

I agree wuth you!

[@vidiot9006]

@@SkipWay I find myself thinking how well Gene Clark might have stood on his own, without being overshadowed by the Byrds pop hype. A singer songwriter alone with his guitar, center stage, singing HIS songs...

[@benkleschinsky]

I know many will agree with this following statement. Gene Clark was the Byrds.

[@SkipWay]

He was the soul of the Byrds and their best songwriter, but McGuinn crafted the sound with his Rickenbacker 12-string.

[@bst6791]

I wouldn't go that far. Gene was the best songwriter, although Crosby,McGuin and Hillman aren't to shabby themselves. Gene's unique voice added to the sound but Crosby was the best singer of the bunch. But in all honesty it was Jim's 12 string Ric that made the Byrds. Gave them their distinctive sound. Just my opinion.

[@benkleschinsky]

In better words, I don't feel they could have continued on without Gene. Without Gene there are no Byrds. He played a huge understated role.

[@Vito_Tuxedo]

I agree that Gene's contribution was enormous. What The Byrds lost when he left was irreplaceable. But it's a huge and in my view unjustifiable stretch to discount the phenomenal, unique, and innovative work The Byrds continued to do after Gene's departure. I wish he hadn't quit The Byrds, but they were and they still remain a huge influence on generations of musicans, both with and without the superb talents of Gene Clark.

[@SkipWay]

@@bst6791 I think Gene was the best singer. David was a great harmony singer. Jim's 12 string was of course a vital component of their sound. Chris blossomed as a singer and songwriter on The Notorious Byrd Brothers and went on to great things with the FBB and other bands.

[@argon6548]

This is gorgeous, just heard this version for the first time.

[@SkipWay]

This seems to be the go to solo acoustic version by Gene. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@fedex727rj]

If this doesn't give you goosebumps I don't know what will......

[@ccryder6605]

💯

[@susanmillard3761]

Gene Clark came in about five years after Bob Dylan became well known. Sadly Gene Clark was in a band and it seemed his time to shine did not come in his life time. He is a beautiful artist.

[@SkipWay]

Bob's first [self-named] album was released in 1962, but his 2nd, 1963's The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, was the one that made him well known. His fifth album, which had Mr. Tambourine Man on it, and his sixth both came out in 1965, the year that the 2 albums Gene was on came out. So, really only 2 years. The key year for the birth of folk rock led by Bob and the Byrds was 1965! Both Bob and Jim [later Roger] were folkies, so they were tracking Bob's early albums and the Greenwich Village folk scene where he emerged. Bob was one of Gene's most important influences. 'o)

[@charlesflett2818]

Yes M you’re right. He was the soul of the byrds.

[@larrymiller4]

This puts flesh and blood on the song. Powerful, haunting, moving, troubling, thought-provoking -- Gene Clark was an extremely rare talent.

[@SkipWay]

I agree, Larry. It is ridiculous that he is not in The Songwriters Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, some of his best songs never made it on to albums. And, sadly, he was often his gwn worst enemy.

[@gianvittoredeboni1647]

Simply beautiful and moving! Thanks Gene!!

[@Celtokee]

Very glad to hear this unimbellished, uninterpreted, primal voicing of one the greatest songs ever written.

[@MrSheiling]

Stunning - so lovely. What a beautiful voice.

[@gustavmarie]

My favorite song of all time. Hands down. Regardless of version. The Byrds or Husker Du's interpretation..and this beautiful performance

[@SkipWay]

Glad you enjoyed it, Ian.

[@josephlemko3027]

Gene Clark was an amazing talent. It truly comes through in this performance. R.I.P.

[@mradnanchowdhury]

we love gene

[@mjmooney]

Ohhhh... "Rain grey town KNOWN FOR ITS SOUND" For years I've always thought it was "no foreign sound"!

[@M1000-y8b]

That’s the one line Crosby contributed

[@tomdulle1707]

@@M1000-y8b that was Brian Jones of the Stones contributed that I thought.

[@THEScottCampbell]

He kept Crosby's lyric contributions, which were no more than four lines, and the Eight", which was McGuinn's suggestion over "Six Miles High", Gene's original lyric.

[@miguelsancho6297]

Bernie Leadon remembered that Gene was very generous with lyric contributions, just a suggestion, a couple of lines or a chord and he was putting you as a co-writer of his songs.

[@451hist]

Wonderful performance. Thank you so much for sharing. One of my all-time favorite songs.

[@SkipWay]

my pleasure!

[@geraintroberts565]

First time hearing this, absolutely blown away! Bought the Byrds, when it came out but this!!!!😀😀😀😀😀

[@SkipWay]

Glad you liked it, Geraint. This seems to be the best acoustic post of Gene's original version of his song.

[@sleekfast11]

TIME is the essence of life as we can comprehend it while we travail on this rock. It seems Gene's music was his way of enduring and enjoying his time while here, but he got lost in the maze of celebrity, and didn't have the necessary resolution to discard everything and everyone in its pursuit, not that he didn't try to do so. Just that he failed miserably because his inner voice condemned him for it, and he was sensitive enough to hear it, when he wasn't trying to self-medicate it away. And yet his talent was also undeniable, if not fully recognized in his time. NO OTHER. RIP.

[@patricias5122]

Drugs ruined his life.

[@abigailcaraballo2623]

Well said - thank you.

[@davidedmundson8402]

I love this version.

[@SkipWay]

A lot of people do, David. Thanks for the comment.

[@michaelrosenbaum6122]

Oh Boy.Heard this the first time on KZbin 02.10.2024.Extraordinarily beautiful.I wish it were on on record so I could record to USB.

[@SkipWay]

Michael, I could send you the mp3 if you can send me an address to send it to. Are you on Fqcebook? -- Skip

[@georgefelton669]

A slow, sad song, like so many of Gene's great ones. I doubt most people know 8MH is really his song. Cool what McGuinn and the Byrds did with it, though.

[@SkipWay]

Gene comments on that at the beginning of the video. The Byrds had a big hit with their version. Gene got a share of the royalties.

[@georgefelton669]

Thanks, skipwaytube. Yes, I know that Gene was in the Byrds when he wrote it, but most people, I'll bet, think the song was written by McGuinn, Crosby, and Clark since that was the credit line on it. That Gene wrote it by himself isn't well known. (I've read that Crosby's sole contribution was a line or two of the lyrics.) Obviously, the band developed the tune quite a bit, especially McGuinn, with his Rickenbacker.

[@SkipWay]

Roger's guitar turned it psychedelic!

[@gianvittoredeboni1647]

This Is a gene Clark s Song i love David not so much Roger..sh...how can you write..leader..presenting the Byrds on a record. I would have kicked him in the ass honestly...

[@kw5839]

Love this!

[@annyfenton1]

So atmospheric

[@c.chelseathedog7987]

Great version ! Thanks for this beautiful moment,Skip . Cheers From deep south of France 🥖🍷🧀, 🖐😎🦊 🍄💥 ⚡️⚡️🌈🌞🐲⚡️⚡️ ☮️

[@SkipWay]

Thanks. It is probably the best solo version by Gene on KZbin.

[@1FriendlyNeighbour]

I heard David Crosby tell an audience that he wanted the Byrds to get back together and that it would be good because Crosby knew how to be McGuinn's wing-man. I think that the truth is that Gene Clark was the leader. My theory is that McGuinn could tolerate Crosby if Gene Clark was there, but without Gene, David Crosby was too much stress. McGuinn and Gene Clark were the nucleus.

[@gustavmarie]

It's sad Gene never got to play with Clarence White when he was in the later version of The Byrds. The two might have complemented each other beautifully

[@1FriendlyNeighbour]

Exactly! It’s all about chemistry!

[@Mandrake591]

Fortunately Clarence can be heard on some tracks on Gene’s “Roadmaster” album, which is excellent. I highly recommend it, maybe you’ve heard it already………

[@MrPhilfridge]

@@gustavmarie Clarence did play with Gene , hes on the Gosdin bros album and Roadmaster

[@mauricioochoa4179]

That’s Clarence playing lead guitar on Gene’s “Tried So Hard” in his first solo album. One of Gene’s best songs

[@ABDOSPIANO]

Part of Genes Legacy….the Byrds greatest song!!

[@jaquesax995]

Gino = genius I played with Kansas cats who knew him.... what a artist!

[@SkipWay]

Amen!

[@theyrekrnations8990]

Clark had a lot of song writer credits and was driving fancy cars when the rest were driving beat up chevys or whatever, and yhey where envious of him which could explain why he gave them some credit on the song. and let the band. I dunno

[@billhdowne2382]

Would like to cover this but cant understand the words in the breaks and at the end. Anyone? Thanks.

[@SkipWay]

Eight miles high, and when you touch down You'll find that it's stranger than known Signs in the street, that say where you're going Are somewhere just being their own Nowhere is there warmth to be found Among those afraid of losing their ground Rain gray town, known for its sound In places, small faces unbound Round the squares, huddled in storms Some laughing, some just shapeless forms Sidewalk scenes, and black limousines Some living, some standing alone

[@roelandlamers2343]

Great

[@barron975]

Legend says Song originally written in a Pgh.pa. hotel by Gene Clark and the Rolling Stones Brian Jones.. Verses later contributed and added..A lot of claims by Byrd members have been put out ..but neither one from hotel room is alive to set record straight! Powerful song..

[@SkipWay]

Gene says that he got some ideas from Brian but he wrote it on the plane coming back from the UK tour. Crosby tweaked a lyric, and McGuinn added the "Coltrane" Indian sounding musical arrangement.

[@johngilmartin333]

Listened to this song last night and as a love song I thought would Charlie Daniels ever have written El Cabillo de Diablo. For me the quiet mare or the raging stallion are rarely tamed. But any time with them is worth the pain.....

[@mcashnv]

It's no legend--there is a video on KZbin where Gene explicitly states this and he considered giving Brian writing credits, but that Brian didn't seem to care about it.

[@Phantompfart]

This is probably the closest that Brian ever came to writing a song. While he could play every instrument from dulcimer to sitar, Brian "could not write a song if his life depended on it", according to Keith Richards.

[@MrPhilfridge]

@@SkipWay Glad to see this video's host , has got it right ! Crosby added one line ';rain grey town , known for its sound' McGuinn arranged it (superbly ) but the lyric and melody were essentially Gene's

[@dodgedandle8311]

MEGA: that he done this version, You can tell it was his song about arriving in London in the 60s the thing is it was a great place then even if the weather was bad, but if only Gene could see London now, it’s a really Sad Sad Town, I don’t think he would like London now, Let alone then it’s a Horrible place now, he was a visionary 😢😢😔

[@SkipWay]

sorry to hear that about London. Glad you liked this.

[@georgefelton2975]

Interesting comparison between Gene Clark and Gram Parsons by Chris Hillman: "Gene was the better songwriter. Gram could have been a great songwriter, but he lacked discipline. Everybody’s going on about Gram, but you should listen to Gene. Here was a guy who was not well read, but he could write lyrics that would make your hair stand on end.”

[@WelshKnight1066]

In the 1980s, Clark used this exact melody for his song "Fire Burning."

[@SkipWay]

I don't listen to 8 miles much anymore. I will listen to both to see if I agree with you,

[@WelshKnight1066]

@SkipWay It's either "Fire Burning" or "Back in My Life Again." It's been a while since I listened to them, but I'm confident it's one of them.

[@SkipWay]

@@WelshKnight1066 Gene wrote a ton of songs. He probably reused melodies many times.

[@WelshKnight1066]

@@SkipWay I don't doubt it. Either way, he's my favorite of all time.

[@munimathbypeterfelton6251]

Rather than The Byrds doing a Dylan song, this more acutely resembles Dylan doing a Byrds song!

[@SkipWay]

I agree, but Gene wrote this, not Bob.

[@semidav1]

What about Roger?

[@barron975]

For the record Gene Clark it seems would give writing credits to buy peace from a flock of jealous Byrds that were always at him for the flow of writing credits money he was getting..I don,t know who would be such a mean sob in that band. David Crosby who was later booted from the byrds nest has put the Byrds to rest as he has the rights to the Byrds in his back pocket.. Revenge is mine said the Rhythm player to the Front man in the band who wrote hundreds of songs that are still being played on thee airways..David why he almost cut his hair..it was getting kinda long..

[@dougreed2257]

It always peed me off that David crosby not acknowledging that gene wrote the majority, if not all of this gem, yes they added to it of course, rest of byrds, but it genes baby, like david's music, but what an ego!!!!

[@SkipWay]

Roger has acknowledged it.

[@russcohen3779]

Genewas and is the Byrds

[@semprini77]

This has a strong REM vibe, to my ear anyway. I know REM were strongly influenced by The Byrds, wonder if Gene may have been influenced by REM at this point in time. Beautiful performance, regardless.

[@SkipWay]

Not sure about REM. I've never reard about Gene listeninyg to them. I don't think REM existed whene Gene wrote it.

[@semprini77]

This song predates REM by a good 15 years, but they had already released five albums before this particular performance was recorded. Can’t really say if he was influenced, but he certainly would have heard them by this time. Anyway, thanks for posting this - the more I dig, the more great Gene Clark material I find.✌️

[@SkipWay]

@@semprini77 I knew of the Byrds and McGuinn from his folk music days, but I was in SF where there a lot of great bands. I didn't get into Gene until Dillard and Clark, the first grea t country rock band.

[@semprini77]

@@SkipWay There was a revival of interest in The Byrds in the early 80s thanks to bands like REM and the “Paisley Underground” bands in LA at the time. I’ve been a big fan of REM for 40-plus years, but just started diving deeper into The Byrds and Gene’s later work recently. Robert Plant and Allison Krauss have covered a few of his songs, really nice versions. Would be nice if even more people picked up on his work.

[@SkipWay]

@@semprini77 You are preaching to the choir on Gene, my man. I have all of his albums an the Byrds albums he was on, the MCH albums and every posthumous release worth having. Also I have a bunch of his bootleg concerts from of which I've made a lot of videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLv_oJ0molekUi5uVeY_w5OIrctC-Wj1e0

[@pauldisspain4049]

In Paul Trynka's biography of Brian Jones, he maintains BJ contributed to Eight Miles High. Take that claim as you find it.

[@SkipWay]

hadn't heard tha. interesting if true.

[@mauricioochoa4179]

Brian and Gene were hanging out in a hotel room in Pittsburgh when Gene started to write the song on napkins. That’s what Gene said himself

[@marks.3303]

They were having dinner and Gene wrote some lyrics on a napkin. I'm not sure Brian contributed anything other than company.

[@JeffaHensley]

@@marks.3303 You of course were there with them, so you know what you’re talking about? 🙄

[@theyrekrnations8990]

@@JeffaHensley it was a hotel room. Gene clearly says that Brian contributed to the song, but it is unclear exactly what

[@plrndl]

I love Gene's music, and have all his recordings, but IMHO there is no other GC song that sounds in any way similar to the Byrds' classic single version of this song. The intro is very similar to Crosby's intro to "Why", which is the original B-side. McGuinn & Croz clearly had substantial input into the creation of the song, and its recording. The original credit tells the truth. The GC / Brian Jones nonsense is on a par with the "Gram Parsons wrote Wild Horses" BS.

[@SkipWay]

I agree with you. Roger and Croz turned Gene's melancholy folk song into a psychedelic anthem of angst. I don't think a folk-rock version would have been a big hit. It was Roger's solo that Gene called his Coltrane solo that ignited the songinto a smash hit.

[@paulw6057]

I don't take it at face value; it's probably an approximation only of his original intentions for the song. The precise details of his original arrangement were probably lost in the 23 or so years between him writing the song and this performance.

[@SkipWay]

It is pretty close, I think. Roger and David onlymade a couple of changes.

[@thomasrobinson182]

A real shame he was encumbered with those untalented people who stole his sunshine... McGuinn, Crosby and the rest.

[@denniskwahl]

Sorry Clark fans , but this version has no driving rhythm whereas the released hit does.

[@SkipWay]

This is just Gene and his guitar, and as he says, this is how he presented it to the band . His lyrics and Roger's "Coltrane" guitar are what drove its popularity. I think it is of interest to true Gene fans--which is why it has over 10,000 views.

[@theyrekrnations8990]

@@SkipWay Definetely the band improved it. There are two versions. The one we are familiar with was the second version .Their record label had them redo the song because the first version which the band liked better was done in a competitors studio, I forget which ones though. here is the alternate- kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXqQg4GboZh2hLM

[@theyrekrnations8990]

Agreed, it is played at too slow of a tempo. The drums always add so much. The entire band took this and really went to town on it

[@SkipWay]

@@theyrekrnations8990 It was RCA's studio. Gene version was a demo which he performed here. It's really not fair to compare them, because it was meant to be performed by the band.

[@theyrekrnations8990]

@@SkipWay ur right . No disrespect meant. I've written songs and they tend to sound better with more instruments and voices. This was the first time I ever heard Gene by himself. Thanks for putting it up. I preferred the Byrds with Gene Clark

[@lamper2]

WAY INFERIOR to the released version. this is fine if you're sitting in a coffeehouse in 1960

[@jeffl.8489]

Please, child.

[@ccryder6605]

Just no to that.

[@gustavmarie]

Its a bootleg halfhead

[@andrewf2]

That lovely melody is retained and there isn't a thing wrong with this. At the same time, the studio release that we all love is just so fucking good and part of that is Michael Clarke driving the song. His playing on this was just fantastic.

[@SkipWay]

Gene's melody and enigmatic lyrics and Roger's raga-Coltrane guitar were the main factors that made this a big hit. But Michael's seamless drumming, the harmonizing with Chris stepping up to replace Gene were factors too.