The Byrds & Flying Burrito Brothers
1970-09-19
Whisky A Go Go, Los Angeles, CA
Soundboard recording, very good quality
mp3@320 kbps
Artwork Included
Here is a rare gem of a recording that superbly documents a unique live event, the merging of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers into a one big jam session at the Whisky A Go Go in fall 1970, and with very good sound quality, too. This is another recording I recently obtained from Rocking-Byrd (Much Thanks!), and apparently it has only recently surfaced. It is such a delight I just had to share it here, too. This is a great pairing, and features what is arguably the best lineups from each band regarding their live shows (with Byrds featuring McGuinn and Clarence White and FBB featuring Hillman, Bernie Leadon, and newcomer Rick Roberts). I've already talked somewhat about the entwined histories of these bands, and the various lineups over the years, so I'll just put in here an excerpt from the review that came along with this recording that more fully explains this event (Full extended review included with download).
"...In 1970, Just three days after the release of
Untitled, The Byrds new double album (featuring both live and studio recordings), both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers were booked for a series of six shows over three nights at the Whisky A Go-Go in their home town of Los Angeles. This run would also be Rick Roberts' debut with The Burritos, who were still yet to recognize the extent of his talent. The Whisky only held several hundred people and The Byrds hadn't performed there since October of 1968, so tickets were a hot commodity. Surrounded by family and friends (in addition to having a common fanbase), this run guaranteed a three-night party, playing to packed houses for every show.
Logistically, these shows were challenging as The Byrds' P.A. system was designed for much larger venues and because, between the two groups, there was a lot of equipment. Strict time constraints required the downtime to be minimal, so all equipment from both bands (including two drum kits) needed to be squeezed onto the tiny Whisky A Go-Go stage. To accommodate the Byrds' P.A., cabinets were wired to multiple locations around the room. Each 90-minute show was structured with the FBBs performing a 45-minute opening set, immediately followed by a 45-minute set by The Byrds. This basic format continued throughout the run until the final night, when the two groups hatched a plan for the late show. For this final show of the run, the FBBs would begin their set as usual, but after several songs, they invited The Byrds out for an informal jam session. The rest of the night would feature both bands performing together for the very first time." [Ed. Note: Actually, not the first time, as both bands, with somewhat different lineups, also performed together a year and a half earlier, on 2/23/69, their final night together in a series of Boston Tea Party shows. Unfortunately, a recording from this previous event, although rumored to exist, has never become available.]
"Until now, this event has been relegated to the stuff of legend, but presented here are the complete recordings of that very set, recorded by Byrds' sound engineer Dinky Dawson. Despite the challenging circumstances of such a tiny room, Dawson's soundboard cassette masters manage to capture a great deal, with all of the instruments and vocals audible. The balance is not perfect, but in this instance, the good far outweighs the bad. Surprisingly, the recording is also in stereo, with McGuinn and Hillman's vocals panned to opposite channels, allowing listeners to clearly enjoy each individually, as they sing together for the first time in years. The setlist is a Byrds-lover's dream, containing material from both
Sweethearts Of The Rodeo and
The Notorious Byrd Brothers albums, in addition to classic early material. Despite the unrehearsed and somewhat intoxicated nature of these performances, it is obvious these musicians are having an awful lot of fun together. Seemingly eager to dig in to every song, downtime is kept to a minimum, as The FBBs and The Byrds collaborate on stage for the first [make that second] time ever." (Alan Bershaw - text obtained from Rocking-Byrd's site).
tracklist:
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1. The Train Song (1:14)
2. Payday (4:45)
3. Wake Up Little Suzie (4:46)
4. Colorado (4:48)
5. Break My Mind (2:32)
6. Trying To Reach My Goal (3:50)
The Byrds & The Flying Burrito Brothers together
7. Roll Over Beethoven (2:53)
8. You Don't Miss Your Water (4:06)
9. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better (2:29)
10. Hickory Wind (3:49)
11. So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star (2:36)
12. Bells Of Rhymney (3:44)
13. Close Up The Honky Tonks (2:47)
14. Time Between (2:28)
15. Mr Spaceman (3:30)
16. Turn Turn Turn (2:04)
17. Mr Tambourine Man (2:12)
18. Eight Miles High (15:49)
19. Wasn't Born To Follow (1:58)
20. Chimes Of Freedom (3:20)
21. You Ain't Going Nowhere (3:19)
22. Hold It (1:28)
The Flying Burrito Brothers :
Chris Hillman - vocals, bass, guitar, mandolin
Bernie Leadon - vocals, guitar
Rick Roberts - vocals, guitar
"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow - pedal steel guitar
Michael Clarke - drums, percussion
The Byrds :
Roger McGuinn - vocals, guitar
Clarence White - vocals, guitar
Gene Parsons - drums, percussion, vocals
Skip Battin - bass, vocals
Jim Seiter - percussion
New Link! (08/27/21):
Byrds__Flying_Burrito_Brothers_Whisky-A-Go_1970-09-19.rar.html
