My buddy and I are sitting in the parking lot of Chastain Park (Atlanta) in late August 2006 waiting for the James Gang to start, drinking beer. After a while, I realize I'm listening to the Byrds. It's Roger Mcguinn solo acoustic and fantastic! I tell my buddy to watch the beer or come with me but we're catching the rest. It was one of the best shows of my life.
I saw McGuinn perform this song in 1974 at my college in Plattsburgh NY. I remember the 12 string guitar with the flashing lights. It was very impressive to a young 18 year old. The stage lights were taken down and all you saw were these flashing lights. I didn't see Roger live again until this year (2011) at Bethel Woods, at the site of the original Woodstock, and he still impresses.
Has to be late '73 because it's a pathetic version of EMH over what McQuinn had 8 months earlier with the Byrds. Look up The Byrds- "Eight Miles High"- 9/23/70 to hear a great performance from a bunch of guys who know how play. By '73 McQuinn's for love of coke, plus longing to get back with the old Byrds, fired drummer Gene Parsons, fired bassist Skip Battin, and left with only genius guitarist Clarence White disbanded. By July '73 Clarence was killed by a drunk driver. Call it Mcquinn's mess.
@henrynevins Okay, I prefer the earlier version, too, but calling this one "pathetic" is downright bizarre. There are much more important things in life to be angry about than the comings and goings of rock band members, y'know!?
@dantean Here McGuinn is performing Byrds songs with this new line up. Yet he was the one who in Jan '73 wanted to break up the best performing bunch of Byrds the band ever had lamenting that he wanted to get back with Crosby and the original Byrds. He then fires drummer Gene Parson, fires bass player Skip Battin, and then 6 months later forms a new band of unknowns who's talent at performing Byrds songs is whoa-fully lacking. Now that's bizzare. To McGuinn I'd say "Poop or get off the pot".
@paulj0557 Hello, I was referring to the expression "sh&t or get off the pot (toilet)", but I suppose if the latter bunch of Byrds were on pot (been stoned) they might have played a heck of a lot better...LOL. IMHO, Roger, Clarence, Skip and Gene musically connected and had their "sh&t" together. I saw them play live twice, got to speak with Clarence once, and to date was the most memorable experience of my life. The EMH - 9/23/70 video really captures what they were like live. Pure perfection.
@henrynevins I kinda figured that. Very cool you got to speak with Clarence. I got to talk with Bo Diddley once at a fast food/ donut shop I worked at in Hollywood. I was so stiff and young, but he was sincere and knew I wanted him to do all the talking. Talked about his daughter and family stuff I could tell he missed home. Another oddity was hanging out with William Cosby junior one night after a Peewee Herman's Big Adventure premier at the Chinese Theater. We ended up at Carlos Cavazo's house
@paulj0557 Neat about Bo Diddley, the man's a legend. I've noticed that people who aren't really famous will have an attitude, but legends like Bo Diddley and Clarence White will be very nice normal people. I found Clarence to be pleasant, humble, soft spoken, a true professional, a perfectionist and happy to answer anything I wanted for about ten minutes. He even handed me the pick he had been playing with, I still have it. 40 yrs later I still miss a really great guy. His fate was too cruel.
This man is so self obsessed how can anyone think they invented that Jingle Jangle sound when any one who knows owt about 60's music knows they yes THEY copied an English band called The Searchers.You can all who ha this but we know it's the truth even in McGuinn can not admit it.
@englishsandy Actually the Beatles pre-dates all of that in 1964 with the Hard Days Night Soundtrack with "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You", "Tell Me Why" and "I'll Cry Instead". Even Roger admits it was this album that inspired the sound. The Beatles did it again on the Help soundtrack in 1965 and George's jangly Rickenbacher on "Another Girl", "Ticket To Ride", "Tell Me What You See" and "I've Just Seen A Face"
I cannot understand why so many Americans like this song or other "superb" tunes such as Freebird, or bands like GF Railroad (aaahhh!!): must be a kind of collective obsession, otherwise I can't understand why so overrated. This tune is run-of-the-mill, only the bass line is remarkable.
By now, nobody needs confirmation about McGuinn's ability as a guitarist. On that instrument, he is superb. But he's never been much of a singer, and here he's barely adequate, given his scrawny, short-ranged and ill-used voice --
@hellojulie Are you kidding....it's not banned...its a relic. The drug version in all its glory had MORE of a chance being heard on the 'radio" back then..than this song hAS any CHANCE OFA AIRPLAY ON MAINSTREAM RADIO...doesny fit well between the KANYE WEST and the KATY PERRY, Music is OVER.
I agree. The harmonies are missing but the essence of the song is captured - that smokey mysterious, soaring feeling and the band is decent - bass player doing some very nice work.
I think these guys were known as The Lone Star Band when they joined up with McGuinn as his back up. By 1973, McGuinn was no longer using the name The Byrds. Still it's part of McGuinn's evolution. As a solo performer today, McGuinn still rocks this song, and at age 65 (?) he still plays his 12 string Ric like no one else can.
The band is known as Thunderbyrd , bad name , band not much better. Saw Byrds 33 times, saw Thunderbyrd at Jersey Shore Club , walked out .This vid much better than they were live . Still love McGuinn. Joe Bailey
I thought Thunderbyrd came later (75?) I think the rhythm section for Thunderbyrd was Bruce Barlow & Lance Dickerson, fresh out of the Lost Planet Airmen,which didn't break up until '75. I could be wrong.
You are right :this is NOT Thunderbyrd 1 or ThunderByrd 2 :This is McGuinn with Cold Steel ,the band that recorded the McGuinn and Band album in 1975 (with Richard Bowden and Steve Lovelace)
They were not bad live....but it 's drenched in coke.
The later Byrds with Rodger McGuinn, Clarence White, Gene Parsons and Skip Batten was the best live Byrds band ever. It was those performances with Clarence White's excellence as a guitarist which took the Byrds to a higher level and developed the new Country Rock sound. I had seen them play several times, plus was fortunate to speak with Clarence White at length. Look up on YouTube "Eight Miles High 9/23/70" and see what I mean. These guys with McGuin after the Byrds broke up in Jan 73 stink.
Solo's lost the disciplined chaos of the original, but it's still interesting. The equally monumental but subtler contributions of Chris Hillman and Gene Clark are sorely missing, though.
This actually is pretty bad. I don't recognise anyone outside of Roger. This must have been close to the end of Roger's use of the name "Byrds", isn't it? Cool footage, though.
I always thought the guitar solo on this song was a bit messy. I guess it fit the mood of the song...jamming song though. These guys could play very well I just don't understand the messy playing.
bdegrande: I agree. The song loses so much without the harmonies. You can only hear the low harmony....can't hear the other voice/s at all....the song loses all its power without the beautiful blending of voices that we were accustomed to when they recorded this originally. It's a pity cause it's a beautiful song. Is there a YouTube posting where the harmonies exist as they were recorded....or at least close to it?
Nothings tops the original single versions of the Byrds however The Earring started out making a long jamseesion of the song long before the Byrds starting to jam on this song in the early 70th..
Good for you girl! The music of the late 60s and early 70s was lyrical and complex, a great difference from what came after. The Byrds were one of the great bands of the era, also listen to the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and many others. Music CAN be interesting.
Solo McGuinn! Not the Byrds as this is the lineup McGuinn toured the UK with in 73 and I was lucky enough to see them play this live. Have to say it was brilliant! A great lineup of musos which some at the time said were 'better'...'but I ain't goin' there! :)
sorry that is not Hillman on bass, its some other guy. Check the video from the 60's. You will see....and also no Crosby on guitar and back up vocals. its a new band..
I see we have mixed feelings about the Byrds...at least the Byrds live...on here.
Personally? I like two or three of their songs on CD...and back in the day. But I also saw them live in 1966...in California when they were on tour... The stunk. It was a lot like this recording except even worse... My thought that night was that they were on drugs. If I hadn't paid $12 for the tickets, we would have left!! LOL!!
They were never as good on stage as they were in small clubs and coffeehouses where they got their start. The records had a lot of over dubbing and overlays which was impossible to duplicate on stage. Also, don't forget, the audio technology at the time was primitive compared to today. The drugs didn't help either!
Thanks prepostero! I've heard a good amount of Coltrane, but never, regrettably, "India", I will check it out tonight, I didn't realize the extent of the Byrd's invention! You're right, really brilliant and advanced for the day, to be so influenced by Coltrane, who was himself so advanced for his day! Thanks again!
Does anyone know the answer to these questions: first, I heard that McGuinn was greatly influenced by Coltrane in the guitar solo, and second , that on the recording, originally it was a studio musician who played the guitar solo and McGuinn later learned it...anyone know if these are true? Thanks for the posting!
Not just the solo....the basic melody is taken from a phrase from Coltrane's "India".....listen to the live Village Vanguard version. Then the solo goes off in the bebop scale. But no less brilliant......so damn advanced for the day.....
As I was listening to this I first thought 'Oh VITO, its not like the studio recording.' Then patience confirmed what I originally suspected, that the Byrds are brilliant.
I wish McGuinn would have had a backing band when I saw him in 2003 or 2004 in Colorado. It still was good acoustic, but I would have love to hear it like this. He did Malagueña and then went into Eight Mile High. It was great.
the song's great... but this version is lame.. mcguinn didn't even do the famous riff at the beginning.. it's just him and some average session musicians.. look for the version with white and battin.
"average session musicians" ... what like Clarence White, Hal Blaine, and the whole arena of absolutely fantastic musicians who preferred to stay home and be with family. If he had his choice, even the great Randy Meisner would have chosen that route. Do not demean people who can play; or as Bette Midler once told a critic: "Get some talent, then criticize."
Man, this is just fantastic stuff. I used to be a drummer in a band in 1973 and we used to play this as part of our set - the Byrds were one of my favourites back then - thank you lednareff for bringing this to YouTube - top man!
I`m this Generation, but I found the byrds in this time, their phantastic..I know this song from Golden Earring + Hüsker Dü...they birds have nice choräle The voices together, what kind of styl is this????!
Wild Mountain Thyme, Old John Robertson, Dolphin's Smile, Don't Doubt Yourself Babe, I knew I'd want you, I see you, Mr. Spaceman, John Riley, So you want to be a rock and roll star?, Tribal Gathering, He Was a friend of mine, The times they are a changin'(Byrds version), Have you seen her face?, Triad, Goin' back, Chimes of freedom, Lady friend, Why, It happens each day, to name a few.
hickory wind, one hundred years from now, ill feel a whole lot better, truck drivin man. ceck out the double album (untitled). clarence white is amazing!
Just recently a friend sent an Ebay offering of this guitar. . the Rick Light Show. Little did I know that I'd run across this video with Roger McGuinn playing one. I believe that Ebay auction price was extremely high. Back in the 60's, "color" boxes could be purchased that hooked up to speakers. The colored light images would change with the sounds. Quite a few stoned individuals enjoyed my two in my dorm room. I'm wondering if the Rick Light Show used the same principle.
My buddy and I are sitting in the parking lot of Chastain Park (Atlanta) in late August 2006 waiting for the James Gang to start, drinking beer. After a while, I realize I'm listening to the Byrds. It's Roger Mcguinn solo acoustic and fantastic! I tell my buddy to watch the beer or come with me but we're catching the rest. It was one of the best shows of my life.
ibseric 6 months ago
I saw McGuinn perform this song in 1974 at my college in Plattsburgh NY. I remember the 12 string guitar with the flashing lights. It was very impressive to a young 18 year old. The stage lights were taken down and all you saw were these flashing lights. I didn't see Roger live again until this year (2011) at Bethel Woods, at the site of the original Woodstock, and he still impresses.
cooper57m 7 months ago
Wow, that mindblowing, creeper smile of Roger's at the beginning makes me forget the original intro completely...
karlmarx914 9 months ago
Has to be late '73 because it's a pathetic version of EMH over what McQuinn had 8 months earlier with the Byrds. Look up The Byrds- "Eight Miles High"- 9/23/70 to hear a great performance from a bunch of guys who know how play. By '73 McQuinn's for love of coke, plus longing to get back with the old Byrds, fired drummer Gene Parsons, fired bassist Skip Battin, and left with only genius guitarist Clarence White disbanded. By July '73 Clarence was killed by a drunk driver. Call it Mcquinn's mess.
henrynevins 11 months ago
@henrynevins Okay, I prefer the earlier version, too, but calling this one "pathetic" is downright bizarre. There are much more important things in life to be angry about than the comings and goings of rock band members, y'know!?
dantean 10 months ago
@dantean Here McGuinn is performing Byrds songs with this new line up. Yet he was the one who in Jan '73 wanted to break up the best performing bunch of Byrds the band ever had lamenting that he wanted to get back with Crosby and the original Byrds. He then fires drummer Gene Parson, fires bass player Skip Battin, and then 6 months later forms a new band of unknowns who's talent at performing Byrds songs is whoa-fully lacking. Now that's bizzare. To McGuinn I'd say "Poop or get off the pot".
henrynevins 10 months ago
@henrynevins Uh' with the aforementioned bunch of byrds you probably meant get 'on' the pot? Could you imagine keeping a band together in 73'? LOL!
paulj0557 9 months ago
@paulj0557 Hello, I was referring to the expression "sh&t or get off the pot (toilet)", but I suppose if the latter bunch of Byrds were on pot (been stoned) they might have played a heck of a lot better...LOL. IMHO, Roger, Clarence, Skip and Gene musically connected and had their "sh&t" together. I saw them play live twice, got to speak with Clarence once, and to date was the most memorable experience of my life. The EMH - 9/23/70 video really captures what they were like live. Pure perfection.
henrynevins 9 months ago
@henrynevins I kinda figured that. Very cool you got to speak with Clarence. I got to talk with Bo Diddley once at a fast food/ donut shop I worked at in Hollywood. I was so stiff and young, but he was sincere and knew I wanted him to do all the talking. Talked about his daughter and family stuff I could tell he missed home. Another oddity was hanging out with William Cosby junior one night after a Peewee Herman's Big Adventure premier at the Chinese Theater. We ended up at Carlos Cavazo's house
paulj0557 9 months ago
@paulj0557 Neat about Bo Diddley, the man's a legend. I've noticed that people who aren't really famous will have an attitude, but legends like Bo Diddley and Clarence White will be very nice normal people. I found Clarence to be pleasant, humble, soft spoken, a true professional, a perfectionist and happy to answer anything I wanted for about ten minutes. He even handed me the pick he had been playing with, I still have it. 40 yrs later I still miss a really great guy. His fate was too cruel.
henrynevins 9 months ago
Comment removed
dennisl2008 1 year ago
Timless music. I remember me. One of my first LP's: "The Byrds". And the song is really great.
waterman472 1 year ago
still outstanding
patpongrecords 1 year ago
Some songs conjure the feeling of the 'times'. This is one of those tunes...at least for me.
noclouds111 1 year ago
I like the faster tempo
lem1968a1 1 year ago
I trip acid and hold a Kalidascope up to a black light and turn turn turn
111kitn111 1 year ago
This man is so self obsessed how can anyone think they invented that Jingle Jangle sound when any one who knows owt about 60's music knows they yes THEY copied an English band called The Searchers.You can all who ha this but we know it's the truth even in McGuinn can not admit it.
englishsandy 1 year ago
@englishsandy Actually the Beatles pre-dates all of that in 1964 with the Hard Days Night Soundtrack with "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You", "Tell Me Why" and "I'll Cry Instead". Even Roger admits it was this album that inspired the sound. The Beatles did it again on the Help soundtrack in 1965 and George's jangly Rickenbacher on "Another Girl", "Ticket To Ride", "Tell Me What You See" and "I've Just Seen A Face"
jtmichaelson 3 months ago
I cannot understand why so many Americans like this song or other "superb" tunes such as Freebird, or bands like GF Railroad (aaahhh!!): must be a kind of collective obsession, otherwise I can't understand why so overrated. This tune is run-of-the-mill, only the bass line is remarkable.
19franken95 1 year ago
By now, nobody needs confirmation about McGuinn's ability as a guitarist. On that instrument, he is superb. But he's never been much of a singer, and here he's barely adequate, given his scrawny, short-ranged and ill-used voice --
stevevandien 1 year ago
Two of the other players were singing harmony but it wasn't mixed well enough to be heard. The melody as sung here doesn't make sense by itself.
jradamo 1 year ago
@jradamo I actually kind of like the effect; it completely changes the mood of the song. (And I've always wondered how exactly the melody went.)
obeythepenguin 1 year ago
I'm guessing somebody was singing harmony but it wasn't mixed well enough to be heard. The melody as sung here doesn't make sense by itself.
jradamo 1 year ago
who is that chunky glasses wearing bearman?
ejectorerector 1 year ago
Is this Don Kirshner's old show..damn..I remember it when I was a kid..so many great bands.
davehutchinson67 1 year ago
love the 12 string what stomp box is he olaying through
fiveslots 1 year ago
is this song still banned from the radio?
hellojulie 1 year ago
@hellojulie yes all music is now
hazydavyjames 1 year ago
@hellojulie Are you kidding....it's not banned...its a relic. The drug version in all its glory had MORE of a chance being heard on the 'radio" back then..than this song hAS any CHANCE OFA AIRPLAY ON MAINSTREAM RADIO...doesny fit well between the KANYE WEST and the KATY PERRY, Music is OVER.
DavelovesRealMusic 1 year ago
the lead guitar tone was weired but i liked it also the playing, never heard of this band before but now i will check more of them.
TheDanceofjoy 1 year ago
Just a great song!!!!
lsrybnik 1 year ago
Gerry George and Mark from Fox can blow this version AWAY! Need the high harmony!
SuperSlohan 1 year ago
great song but mcguinn can't sing real well- needs david crosby harmonies..
nootaramus 2 years ago
SKY high !
Hemulen40 2 years ago 6
sky high is swedish <3
mentaltfladdrig 2 years ago 3
Jag vet , min vän . Det hela va ett ´inside joke . ´
Go´Jul !
Hemulen40 2 years ago 4
Jag bor ett stenkast en f.d ljudteknikersnubbe åt Sky High :D
God Jul!
mentaltfladdrig 2 years ago 2
I love Roger McGuinns work but this is missing the harmonies from the Byrds version sound and it shows. Apart from that a great performance
Promoagent 2 years ago 4
I agree. The harmonies are missing but the essence of the song is captured - that smokey mysterious, soaring feeling and the band is decent - bass player doing some very nice work.
vectortemple 2 years ago 4
henry I bow to thee.Go away haters
14pointbass 2 years ago 3
I think these guys were known as The Lone Star Band when they joined up with McGuinn as his back up. By 1973, McGuinn was no longer using the name The Byrds. Still it's part of McGuinn's evolution. As a solo performer today, McGuinn still rocks this song, and at age 65 (?) he still plays his 12 string Ric like no one else can.
richardson1nh 2 years ago 17
@richardson1nh so is this song about drugs, or is this song about the trip tour to the UK?
AlienBusDriver 1 year ago
@richardson1nh Make that 69 - and yes, he still rocks this. Saw him play it on 7-string (!) acoustic the other night and he blew my mind.
ladivina79 7 months ago
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Husker Du totally owns this song now. This is really limp.
jawillroy 2 years ago
The band is known as Thunderbyrd , bad name , band not much better. Saw Byrds 33 times, saw Thunderbyrd at Jersey Shore Club , walked out .This vid much better than they were live . Still love McGuinn. Joe Bailey
baileyj1000 2 years ago
@baileyj1000
I thought Thunderbyrd came later (75?) I think the rhythm section for Thunderbyrd was Bruce Barlow & Lance Dickerson, fresh out of the Lost Planet Airmen,which didn't break up until '75. I could be wrong.
BillMcE 2 years ago
Hi Bill Mc E
You are right :this is NOT Thunderbyrd 1 or ThunderByrd 2 :This is McGuinn with Cold Steel ,the band that recorded the McGuinn and Band album in 1975 (with Richard Bowden and Steve Lovelace)
They were not bad live....but it 's drenched in coke.
beestie666 1 year ago
Golden Earring made a cover of this song. It turned out to be the best version ever recorded. Especially the long solo's were crunching.
fightinwindmills 2 years ago
The later Byrds with Rodger McGuinn, Clarence White, Gene Parsons and Skip Batten was the best live Byrds band ever. It was those performances with Clarence White's excellence as a guitarist which took the Byrds to a higher level and developed the new Country Rock sound. I had seen them play several times, plus was fortunate to speak with Clarence White at length. Look up on YouTube "Eight Miles High 9/23/70" and see what I mean. These guys with McGuin after the Byrds broke up in Jan 73 stink.
henrynevins 2 years ago 5
Solo's lost the disciplined chaos of the original, but it's still interesting. The equally monumental but subtler contributions of Chris Hillman and Gene Clark are sorely missing, though.
echopractic 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
vocals really suck !! the guy should have stayed in bed
romie1410 2 years ago
it isn't the byrds its an imitation band none of the original members besides mcguinn are there
hockeyguy6374 2 years ago 2
Got the eight miles HIGH right
biggobbler51 2 years ago
the Byrds? outside of Mcguinn, who the hell are these guys?
dandeexxxx 2 years ago 3
This actually is pretty bad. I don't recognise anyone outside of Roger. This must have been close to the end of Roger's use of the name "Byrds", isn't it? Cool footage, though.
macaibhistin 2 years ago 2
f'n awesome!
snearson 2 years ago
this song is epic and profound...
but him showing up to perform wasted is an absolute disgrace. His performance is sloppy and slurred. Shame what a waste.
MountAthos 2 years ago
Amazing that a guy so obviously buzzed could still offer a competent performance.
problem49 2 years ago
It sounds pretty good too me...
baytownbert2 2 years ago 3
This AIN'T The Byrds folks ...just McGuinn solo
nkyvig 2 years ago
yeah he looks stoned out of his mind!!!
Cldfsn0200 2 years ago
Sounds stoned too.
xj2yzz 2 years ago
Of course they were. Everybody it seems was in the 70's.
char4him99 2 years ago
wow, that is a pretty bad solo XD
EkkuZakku 2 years ago
It's not messy at all, it's pure art.
Enerki 2 years ago 4
lead on a twelve string. lol.
newtytan2 2 years ago
I always thought the guitar solo on this song was a bit messy. I guess it fit the mood of the song...jamming song though. These guys could play very well I just don't understand the messy playing.
viletantrum 2 years ago
I think the messy solo complements the song. No other guitarists played like that. I understand your point though.
minijimi 2 years ago
who are those guys with Roger?
LouisGodena 2 years ago
dunno ... that's not a byrds line-up i've ever read about....
psychobollox 2 years ago
Look at McGuinn at 3:43.
He's the one that's 8 miles high !!
paqwa 2 years ago 5
LOL
kodachromefilm 2 years ago
McGuinn at 3:43 is one of those bobbly heads for the dashboard of your car.
kodachromefilm 2 years ago
watchu mean wats wrong with his voice you can look an tell he's fucked up great song though
lootsmash 2 years ago
his singing is wobbling. Otherwise, this is an interesting rendition.
aimtrue45 2 years ago
What the hell is wrong with his voice?
no disrespect
thesnazz 2 years ago
It's the same vocal he always sings. On the Byrds' recordings, the high harmony vocals are much louder, here they are nearly inaudible.
bdegrande 2 years ago
bdegrande: I agree. The song loses so much without the harmonies. You can only hear the low harmony....can't hear the other voice/s at all....the song loses all its power without the beautiful blending of voices that we were accustomed to when they recorded this originally. It's a pity cause it's a beautiful song. Is there a YouTube posting where the harmonies exist as they were recorded....or at least close to it?
violetrod 2 years ago
HUSKER DU!!!!!!
xorx12 2 years ago 3
McGuinn's voice sounds shot on this version
jimbailey69 2 years ago
Well, this is the original but I like the Golden Earring version much more...
SpiritofSteele 2 years ago
Nothings tops the original single versions of the Byrds however The Earring started out making a long jamseesion of the song long before the Byrds starting to jam on this song in the early 70th..
Gooseberry51 2 years ago
Anything you have to say here or presumably elsewhere is worthless. Don't do it again.
cccustard 2 years ago
I am part of the new generation of hippies! I am only 13 and I love the Byrds. They are amazing.
Rockaholicgrl 2 years ago 3
Good for you girl! The music of the late 60s and early 70s was lyrical and complex, a great difference from what came after. The Byrds were one of the great bands of the era, also listen to the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and many others. Music CAN be interesting.
Brucewmcl 2 years ago
it gets great at 3:00 in yessssssssssss !!!!!!!!!!!
clemzzz 2 years ago
it´s hard to hear guitar players improvising when they are not able to do so
anonymusum 2 years ago
The original Song is much better den my coverversion. Thank you.
rockakustikkeyboard1 2 years ago
Solo McGuinn! Not the Byrds as this is the lineup McGuinn toured the UK with in 73 and I was lucky enough to see them play this live. Have to say it was brilliant! A great lineup of musos which some at the time said were 'better'...'but I ain't goin' there! :)
GeoStratocaster 2 years ago
Still sounds beautiful to my ears. Reliving my youth here! :)
GeoStratocaster 2 years ago
I like the SG.
striprman 2 years ago
Man that's a cool Ric guitar!
Byrds1967 2 years ago
Wow that's a Rickenbacker 331 "Lightshow" !!
MagellanOfBass 2 years ago 2
Love that Rickenbacker Lightshow!!!!
gnd567 2 years ago
A diez kilómetros de altura, todo es posible.
risterion 2 years ago
sorry that is not Hillman on bass, its some other guy. Check the video from the 60's. You will see....and also no Crosby on guitar and back up vocals. its a new band..
sandstone98 2 years ago
That is Stephen Love on bass. He went on to play with the NRPS.
zapple100 2 years ago
Is that Stephen Love on bass?
zapple100 2 years ago
no it chris hillman
Cloud1377 2 years ago
Movingon is right- it's not the Byrds but Roger Mcguinn and Band- there's no Clarence White or Skip Battin here- still it's ok.
gibb253 3 years ago
a pretty good live recording from the byrds is live in stockholm 67.
better than most of the other stuff.
OropherThranduil 3 years ago
AWESOME !!!! Great vid deserves five stars !!!!Lightshow Ric is awesome !!
jhatchjr11466 3 years ago
midem in canne france cote d'azur 1973 very very tripp the best * chapiteaux miousik live*
bluemiousik 3 years ago
tacky guitar great song
Lobelia Sound
manaledo 3 years ago
The first time I ever saw footage of a Rickenbacker light show model used live.
WouterJ 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
please gimme husker du
Murrline 3 years ago
This is not any McGuinn badged "Byrds",
it's McGuinn's solo era band, circa '73.
movingon4ever 3 years ago
I see we have mixed feelings about the Byrds...at least the Byrds live...on here.
Personally? I like two or three of their songs on CD...and back in the day. But I also saw them live in 1966...in California when they were on tour... The stunk. It was a lot like this recording except even worse... My thought that night was that they were on drugs. If I hadn't paid $12 for the tickets, we would have left!! LOL!!
PaulDePace 3 years ago
They were never as good on stage as they were in small clubs and coffeehouses where they got their start. The records had a lot of over dubbing and overlays which was impossible to duplicate on stage. Also, don't forget, the audio technology at the time was primitive compared to today. The drugs didn't help either!
Bullettube 3 years ago 2
you musta got dinner with that ticket... i saw zeppelin; mc5 and johnny winter at the boston garden in '69 for $ 5.50... you are full of shit !!
spbudzo 3 years ago 3
Maybe the tickets were $6 each?
He says 'tickets' plural, rather than 'ticket' singular, and he said 'we would have left', rather than 'I would have left'.
I'm always willing to give a guy the benefit of the doubt! :)
conversely123 3 years ago
Thanks prepostero! I've heard a good amount of Coltrane, but never, regrettably, "India", I will check it out tonight, I didn't realize the extent of the Byrd's invention! You're right, really brilliant and advanced for the day, to be so influenced by Coltrane, who was himself so advanced for his day! Thanks again!
nicodagger 3 years ago
Does anyone know the answer to these questions: first, I heard that McGuinn was greatly influenced by Coltrane in the guitar solo, and second , that on the recording, originally it was a studio musician who played the guitar solo and McGuinn later learned it...anyone know if these are true? Thanks for the posting!
nicodagger 3 years ago
Not just the solo....the basic melody is taken from a phrase from Coltrane's "India".....listen to the live Village Vanguard version. Then the solo goes off in the bebop scale. But no less brilliant......so damn advanced for the day.....
prepostero 3 years ago
As I was listening to this I first thought 'Oh VITO, its not like the studio recording.' Then patience confirmed what I originally suspected, that the Byrds are brilliant.
tsamuel2 3 years ago
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This sucks!
uotter1 3 years ago
w/out Crosby they SUCK!!! ed
gaae2000 3 years ago
For real.
GetBackJack123 3 years ago
I wish McGuinn would have had a backing band when I saw him in 2003 or 2004 in Colorado. It still was good acoustic, but I would have love to hear it like this. He did Malagueña and then went into Eight Mile High. It was great.
fatcatbuzz 3 years ago
73 duffass anyway interesting conglomeration of byrds hi roger and or jim
beefheart67 3 years ago
Yes. This is NOT The Byrds. McGuinn and backing band. Sounds good, but again, NOT The Byrds.
oysterblack 3 years ago
Can't hear the damn harmonies!
ironbuttermilk 3 years ago
Looks like from 1974 or '75, the "McGuinn & Band" period. Roger only used the light-up guitar for a short time, around then.
sodakmonk 3 years ago
SO it's a McGuinn solo performance, but it might have been billed as a Byrds show by the television program.
sodakmonk 3 years ago
My guess is that this is not a "Byrds" show, but a McGuinn show from 1974 or maybe even 1975 with his backing band, but I can't name the members.
penguin90254 3 years ago
Very good!
zaaritha 3 years ago
did anybody notice the completly rare "lightshow" RIC he is playing?....try and find one...and if you do?....you better put the house up
mikmaz777 3 years ago
They had one on Antiques Roadshow not long ago....
casadyrocks 3 years ago
Does anybody the names of the musicians playing with McGuinn here?
brilliantcolors7 3 years ago
I think the guy playing the SG is Richard Bowden. known more from playing w/ Pinkard & Bowden...But I could be wrong.
captaindecency 3 years ago
yes it´s richard bowden
hoppe5147 3 years ago
Roger McGuinn is the only "Byrd" in this band.
canoedan 3 years ago 2
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AzNMiKaY 3 years ago
The rhythm guitarist has got the Rich Williams look going on. :)
pdrake074 3 years ago
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mcguinn sounds like shit!!!!!
blabblab1212 3 years ago
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maybe he was 8 miles high? Haaaaa
flyodish 3 years ago
the song's great... but this version is lame.. mcguinn didn't even do the famous riff at the beginning.. it's just him and some average session musicians.. look for the version with white and battin.
acardozo 3 years ago
"average session musicians" ... what like Clarence White, Hal Blaine, and the whole arena of absolutely fantastic musicians who preferred to stay home and be with family. If he had his choice, even the great Randy Meisner would have chosen that route. Do not demean people who can play; or as Bette Midler once told a critic: "Get some talent, then criticize."
phddddd 3 years ago
Canción soberbia.
risterion 3 years ago
Check out the Husker Du cover here on YouTube. Killer!
rovibe 3 years ago
NOT THE BYRDS
hironoodles 3 years ago
I think this is actually a McGuinn solo performance after the breakup of the Byrds.
Peacenik1965 3 years ago 2
Clarence White on guitar isnt it? and Skip Batten on Bass?
PappyHab 3 years ago
Clarence White? Skip Battin.... er quite definitely NOT. This is the McGuinn band, I saw the same lineup at Hyde Park in 1973.
Podbender 3 years ago 2
thanks, White was definitely a better guitarist than that guy.
Gotta get to know my Byrds better.
PappyHab 3 years ago
who were the other two members in the front?
sfrohn 3 years ago
That fat bloke playing the SG is just horrid. Also, McGuinns vocals are terrible.
infoim 3 years ago
I await seeing YOU do better. What a laugh.
itzjoeymac 3 years ago 2
country slo rock, nice though
gyggedy 3 years ago
I prefer the original version.
desoxido 3 years ago
i can't describe the feeling this song give me but this is very good :)
JFguitar22 3 years ago
I love Roger's cracky voice! It just works.
itzjoeymac 3 years ago
odd, i find this better than the album version
wingerwanger 3 years ago
i like it too
Billykid514 3 years ago
Man, this is just fantastic stuff. I used to be a drummer in a band in 1973 and we used to play this as part of our set - the Byrds were one of my favourites back then - thank you lednareff for bringing this to YouTube - top man!
Kuanyin123456 3 years ago
I`m this Generation, but I found the byrds in this time, their phantastic..I know this song from Golden Earring + Hüsker Dü...they birds have nice choräle The voices together, what kind of styl is this????!
:)
littleheaven11 3 years ago
Byrds=folk rock
denniswilsonfan 3 years ago
PSYCHEDELIC ROCK ROOOAAAARRR !!!!
BodyCount1992 3 years ago
jw
i know this is "psych rock", but aside from that guitar solo, what makes this psych rock?
wingerwanger 3 years ago
thank you very much!
JFguitar22 3 years ago
can someone tell me good songs from byrds without eight mile high and turn turn turn ???? no cover!......i want to know more about them !
JFguitar22 3 years ago
Wild Mountain Thyme, Old John Robertson, Dolphin's Smile, Don't Doubt Yourself Babe, I knew I'd want you, I see you, Mr. Spaceman, John Riley, So you want to be a rock and roll star?, Tribal Gathering, He Was a friend of mine, The times they are a changin'(Byrds version), Have you seen her face?, Triad, Goin' back, Chimes of freedom, Lady friend, Why, It happens each day, to name a few.
Hope this helps!
bixbyglaser 3 years ago 3
hickory wind, one hundred years from now, ill feel a whole lot better, truck drivin man. ceck out the double album (untitled). clarence white is amazing!
gramhound86 3 years ago
Check out the Leo Kottke version; awesome guitarist.
tomvar53 3 years ago
Ps.. Bass kicks ass on this huh!?
steelcitystrings 3 years ago
Just recently a friend sent an Ebay offering of this guitar. . the Rick Light Show. Little did I know that I'd run across this video with Roger McGuinn playing one. I believe that Ebay auction price was extremely high. Back in the 60's, "color" boxes could be purchased that hooked up to speakers. The colored light images would change with the sounds. Quite a few stoned individuals enjoyed my two in my dorm room. I'm wondering if the Rick Light Show used the same principle.
mwolf49 3 years ago
Actually Roger's guitar playing is quite good in this...Those are Coltrane riffs and he's doing what he did on the original and more.
This is interesting because it isn't the Byrd's, it's McGuinn's first solo band --
and he's taking the whoile solo w/o Clarnece White
This somewhere around the time Clarence White was killed
It is a Rickenbacker 12 Electric Guitar.
dino335 3 years ago 3
Was Roger too stone to play the arpeggios?
;)
mantra3000 3 years ago
whats instrument is it???
:)
littleheaven11 3 years ago
I like the Roxy Music version too!!
:)
gmansi 3 years ago
I don`t know a cover from
Roxy Musik
of which LP??!
I favorisiere the cover from Golden Earring (NL) 25 Min. best :)
littleheaven11 3 years ago
# Roxy Music on Flesh And Blood, 1980
:)
gmansi 3 years ago