The Byrds - Live At Monterey: So You Wanna Be A Rock Star

[blitzshriek999]

this is rocknroll-i love the mistakes aka realness. the greatest live album ever made, the who live at leeds, was chock full of em, but u only know that cuz the who said so

[ShockDoc]

where's the fuc*ing FIRE??

[m06een00]

No wonder McGuinn got rid of Dave Crosby. Did he ever learn to shut up? The man was clueless.

[Amplei14]

I can't understand why nobody really likes the Byrds earlier live stuff? (the actual live gigs, not the mimed earlier ones) I mean I think the Clarence White work is amazing don't get me wrong. But for some reason I really enjoy the rough choppy sound they had here... They sound almost like more of an early garage punk band here :)

[AstorreHerrera]

@Amplei14 Totally Agree.

[hotfudgemoney]

@Amplei14 I feel that way about a lot of mid 60's live material. Stones too..

[justhavingmydinner]

the voice at the start sounds like Wild Man Fischer

[Anglynn74]

I suggest the Monterey Pop b ox set to anyone wanting the basics in rock & roll. Should be taught in music class in all schools. Great piece of work even though a lot of bands were omitted from it.

[MrBruceBarham]

@HIghFlyinByrd I can agree with that

[vistacruiser67]

I always heard this song was written about the Monkees.  Dont forget Peter Tork bought David Crosby a boat with that Monkee money and let Stephen Stills run his GTO up and down Laurel Canyon.

[maxinedal]

hey you dont think they might have been a little methed up on this song i mean isnt it a little speedy or maybe like the beatles they played it fast so they could get it over with and get back to the drugs!

[cutis1000]

Must concur with highflyinbird. Whatever you think of Crosby's politics, at least he's an engaging personality and musician. McGuinn is about as wooden as they come for a live performer. He's just not charismatic at all. Crosby is! So stop bashing Crosby!

[rosmia2]

Don't musicians know that people don't want to hear them talk, talk, talk?

[MrBruceBarham]

@rosmia2 well thres a time to talk, and a time to tune....i think crosby was filling in some banter while jim was tunning

[wakarusarat]

CROSBY: talented, but so damn annoying

[MrTimmyz1989]

Mr. Tambourine Man is the only track to have members playing that wasn't in the byrds. Roger played guitar and lead vocals and David did harmony. There's even interviews of them talking about that.

[alicenc]

But the bassline is freaking flawless for the most part...even though they are playing very fast!

[hiwayjack]

At least in this song you can sort hear Chris Hillman singing (shouting) unlike the other songs from this concert.

[nhoner]

What performance by ANYBODY at this 1967 concert sounded as good as the studio? I love the raw energy here, which for me compensates for the poor intonation and shouted vocals. As to being too fast, it's live, they're excited, it's R&R!

[jmb92555]

Toooooooo fast ;)

[Villagejonesy]

@jmb92555 IMO, better too fast than too slow, for this song. See under Why Tom Petty's Version Doesn't Quite Do It... :D

[jmb92555]

@Villagejonesy

Good point and as another poster mentioned, there are no retakes on stage. On the other hand a lot of artists have had great success by slowing the tempo just a bit when performing live. Anyway these guys were great :)

[Villagejonesy]

@jmb92555 They were indeed!! :D

[TubeNumber1]

There are 2 good reasons why The Byrds sounded better on vinyl: Bruce Johnston & Terry Melcher.

[spacepatrolman]

@TubeNumber1 what did bruce johnston have to do with them? melcher produced the first few albums them it was usher

[lebarosky]

the Hollies did (good live vocals) without breaking a sweat. Unfortunately these guys are just not that good, and had brilliant production. Except of course for the guitar work which is wonderful.

[xrxs1020]

I'm still struck by the disconnect between their pristine studio vocals and their almost always unimpressive in-person vocals. I ascribe it to perhaps an attitude that they had it down on tape perfectly, so why worry about it? Plus, it's really damn hard to combine sensitive, quality vocals to LOUD RR MUSIC. Sensitive singing and LOUD PLAYING don't go hand-in-hand. I love the Byrds, but I enjoy them most from their brilliant recordings, not their live performances. Just my opinion.

[dljone9]

some folks may think it's not a disconnect, as record are made to 'sell product' & live gigs try to 'ignite' in a different way. the label wants smooth sounding stuff to market, the band wants to put soul into live shows. the byrds were not the only band whose vocal approach was different live...this driving, sped-up arrangement accomplishes what it intended. edgy, rough, rock & roll energy...explosive and volatile. some folks are disappointed if the live shows too closely resemble studio takes.

[xrxs1020]

You make some fair points, dljone9. I'd say that what happened with the Byrds was a combination of what you suggest, plus the fact that smooth, sensitive vocals are virtually impossible in the context of extremely loud amplification. Crosby achieved his creamy head voice by letting the microphone do the work while he just kissed the note, producing that pleasing sound. But for live playing, he was forced to shout, hence preventing that creamy quality he had in the studio.

[dljone9]

i hear you - intelligent people can see things a bit differently. thanks for a well stated opinion & not getting hostile, you sound like a gentleman...rare find on youtube

[THEScottCampbell]

Where is the video for this? The theatrical movie had Lou Rawls in it and no Byrds! THIS should have been in the movie! What I'd give to get my hands on whoever is responsible...

[joemgeek]

What the hell is going on with the vocals on this...sounds likethe Cros is just shouting!

[hotapplepie2009]

Huh?

[hotapplepie2009]

dantean... why would you spend the time to get all sanctimonious about "get a life people"... Go 'F' yourself. If you don't like it or "approve", then 'F' off! That's what these discussion boards are for. Some people have passions about certain things others have keen observations, who the fuck are you to come on here and patronize everybody? I'm so sick of dicks like you.... "Oh how seriously you guys take this crap?" I think you should get a life : ) ........

....... Dick Face

[dantean]

You still seem way serious about this. Have considered any of the following?:

Sailing?

Basket weaving?

Masturbation?

Not sounding like an angry loser living in his mom's basement and angrily yelling at anyone who suggests there's a real world out there far more worth expending one's passions on than what you think of people you've never--& WILL NEVER--meet b/c you're an angry loser living in mom's basement apartment?

Yogurt?

I'd almost forgoteen about this thread. Good luck.

[6749er]

I aways liked the The Byrds out of LA

but the SF Bandsdidn't Yak they always let their playing do the talk'en.

[tenorismo]

David Crosby is such a hippie dick.

[StoneFredFlint]

Yeah! A really Great Garage Band!

[jeffkahl]

"if you missed Bloomfield's group you're really out of it man!" does he realize the irony of the statement?

[2write2sing2dance]

Oh how I love them. My goodness <3 So friggin awesome.

[dantean]

I love how seriously you guys take this crap. You like / don't like the song? Great! You like / don't like a particular live performance of the song? Fine! But for God's sakes don't you two think it's "get a life" time? Life is for living, not examining every unflushed turd of those who did.

[bethoveen3]

get a fucking lofe you too

[hotapplepie2009]

why dont' You relax...

[gibb253]

"So you wanna" was not making fun of the Monkees, but commenting on the avaricious nature of the music biz. Only a non musician would be capable of not recognising the distinctive styles of Hillman and McGuinn in particular on both studio and live performances.

[liontone]

I think the Byrds were pure product. They made fun of the Monkees in this song originally. WHAT THEY DON"T TELL IS...Other than McGuinn..

...They didn't play on their own albums either... HAHAHA. Losers..

[Byrds1967]

You're wrong. The Wrecking Crew and McGuinn played on "Mr. Tambourine Man" only. Everything after that was actually the Byrds playing.

[RedAce8003]

Obviously, you haven't bothered to read any liner notes from either of their boxed sets, or anything on the web about The Byrds. Go to McGuinn's own website, and to The Byrds FAQ's. It has the original contract posted for who was to play what on "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "I Knew I'd Want You", and you'll see a "James McGuinn" listed as a guitarist. I've actually done some research, and play a pretty decent 12-string myself. BTW, they played all their own instruments thereafter.

[axewulf]

How could McGuinn get a word in edgewise over super egoist big mouth Crosby? Just listen and it gets worse. I am amazed they didn't can him earlier and he cuts down on their musical stage time - though I agree his high harmony and rythem guitar would be missed. In the meantime McGuinn's charisma is musical not verbal - yes he does not lecture an audience with hip supercilious jive (thank God).

[klaw56]

Anything Byrds is interesting to watch and listen to also. A lot of their stuff was/is mediocre music but Gene and Roger created something new; when they were good they were something special.

It is certainly better when undereducated, hippie David Crosby shuts up and sings. His 60's, hip, progressive proselytizing is as well-reasoned as his regrettable lifestyle.

The Hullaballoo version of Feel A Whole Lot Better is a tremendous piece of Americana.

[dmynott]

Best live version I've ever heard, but who the hell mixed Hugh's trumpet out of the recording? It's barely audible. Great performance, otherwise.

[tfmuch]

When you hear these vocals with Crosby singing, it shows how why versions with other line-ups didn't work so well. Fast, tight and very on-the-edge for a Byrds performance.

[dmynott]

David Crosby was a miraculous harmonizer par excellence, but his personality was obnoxious at that time (when he was high anyway, which he clearly was here). But they should've at least finished the album 'NNB' before they booted him. His input was sorely missed thereafter.

[tfmuch]

Sort of. He refused to sing on the second version of Goin' Back. According to McGuinn, he just sat there because he wanted Triad on the album instead. It didn't matter either way. Alot of Byrds material was pretty average, Triad included. It was their treatment of songs that was exceptional and, like you say, Crosby's harmonies were a big part of that. I still sing along, putting harmonies on Younger than Yesterday after 40 years!

[stretch54]

The original studio release is a perfect two minutes of 60's R&R but the live version on "Untitled" is pretty good and the vocals take some interesting turns. You really miss Hillmans bass part on it though. Battins version just doesn't cut it. He should have just learned Hillmans part. No shame in that....it was the perfect bass line to Rogers guitar line.

[titostacos]

Yeah, Crosby. The annoying hippie. That's so funny, Sallygal7! "Almost cut my hair..."

[zerominusminus]

This version is played soooo fast, the drums are awesome and the vocals are very different...very cool.

[byrdsss]

Man the mix has Crosby's vocals way out front.