The Byrds-"Jesus Is Just Alright"-9/23/70

[profoundhound]

One of my all time favorite bands.... pleasure of seeing them several times :-)

[gdosic]

the Byrs........Greatly talented musicians at playing this beautiful song.

Awesome!!

[superbeavo]

Bill Graham

[treatmentbound]

@superbeavo Loved that guy

[ladybluluv]

I only knew this song done by The Doobie Brothers and Love their version, but this is wonderful too. I didn't know this song went back that far. I thought it was a Doobies song.

[Ebeneezerable]

@ladybluluv me too but anymore I'm never surprised to find such things. In fact I expect it. A lot of these bands were interchangeable to an extent and I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Doobies has a strong connection to this band and/or those in it.

[thebeefdancer]

skips bass playing was very rythmic. I will never understand why he is known as the most hated member of the Byrs

[CroneGrimalkin]

@thebeefdancer Man I ALWAYS had a real "thing" for him. Saw them play in Kansas City, MO & thought he not only played great but was ultimate "hot" to boot!!

[darrenjray]

And when they played the Grand Ole Opry, they were told to "get back on the cross"!

[diatroptoff94]

i think at this point the byrds were one of the best live bands going around, i mean clarences guitar work and everything. Just outstanding.

[LavenganzadeCtulhu10]

Jesus is playin' the Bass and singin'

[fmaykall]

que buena no conocia esta version muy buena por cierto

[TheLizardKing1967]

"Someone stole my brown leather pants" Jim Morrison

[richard52402]

Music like this will NEVER happen again!

[haruspex84]

Is the audio of this performance available anywhere? All I seem to be able to find is their live performance at the Filmore west in 1969.

[brimo109]

Clarence is way more than alright.

[buffspringfield]

JESUS is alright with me too..........

[JohnAllanification]

 fucking great !!

[bettydaw1970]

i like this, and i am an atheist..

[BobbyMercy1]

this is incredible

[gsavage115]

Classic ROCK.

[MrSmokeydog]

I had no idea that the Byrds performed this song originally. I always thought this was

a doobie brothers song.

[ShipwreckTownBand]

This lineup has nothing to apologize for- just listen to Untitled. Chestnut Mare ranks among the greatest Byrds songs.

[MrRichieBoom]

I first heard this song with the Doobie Brothers, but this version's also nice... The Byrds are just alright!!!

[skeptyky]

the byrds the best sixties mais peu de renouvellement ,meme si du talent ,du melange , je preferes spencer davis group et les freres winwood , plus de basse plus de rythmique ,bien sur on peut pas comparer leurs styles different ,je critique pas les byrds ,car beaucoup aimes ce groupe qui a de l'inspiration malgré tout ,et est aimés des jeunes d'aujourd'hui encore !! maestro tambourine man yes!!

[HughJeeNJ]

Roger McGuinn has said that this version of the Byrds (Clarence White , Skip Battin, and Gene Parsons) was probably the best performing lineup. The classic first lineup included two guys who were relatively new to their instruments, Michael Clarke on drums and bass player Chris Hillman, who was a mandolin player, along with McGuinn, David Crosby, and Gene Clark.

This lineup in this video was under appreciated, and its great to see the great Clarence White, who died too young and too soon,

[billgeezeriommi]

my art teacher got me into the byrds, his favorite guitarist is clarence white, ad he burned me a cop of a live bootleg he has by the byrds

[55pogue]

the byrds

[betover68]

gene parsons defenitely kicked up the tempo in these 70's byrds songs...

[Smetch]

Doobie Bros. version is way better

[BONOBOS48]

@Smetch Their different, and i like them both but if you listen to Clarence Whites guitar part it is a cut above any live versions I have heard by the DB, and I love Skunk Baxters playing. CW was one of the greatest and most underated guitar players of his time!

[9erfandex]

One of THE best line ups of The Byrds incarnate performing the BEST version of this God Almighty great rocking tribute to the real King!

[henrynevins]

Does a full version of these Byrds Filmore East performance exist anywhere? Here on YouTube there's this one and Eight Miles High. I saw them live around this same time and they were phenominal. Clarence, Skip, Gene & Rodger had the Byrds down to a fine art. Most memorable show of my life.

[henrynevins]

Does a full version of these Byrds Filmore East performance exist anywhere? On video, on CD, parts thereof on YouTube? Here on YouTube there's this one and Eight Miles High. I saw them perform live around this same time and they were phenominal. Clarence, Skip, Gene & Rodger had the Byrds down to a fine art. Most memorable show of my life.

[Iaintnouser]

sheep

[telsport]

King of the Universe is all right with me, too.

God and Man in One...Uniified with The Fahter and Holy Spirit in Trinity.

Figure that out? No? Neither dcan I .take it on Faith and be rewarded !!

Tom Loughlin Jr, Utica NY

[shanehenning26]

great song

[SpocksBrain425]

FYI, this song was covered by the Byrds and was originally written and performed in 1966 by the Arthur Reynolds Singers, a gospel group. The song is on YouTube.

[Gerry50ify]

I hopelessly partial to this era of The Byrds, Smokin' version! Leaves The Doobie Brothers version in the dust.

[blacksunfish]

This version is banging! Dig McGuinn's leather pants.

[jhnstn1]

I knew the Doobies version of this was a cover but had never heard the original. Thanks for posting this. Very good.

[shoobedoowap]

Testify, brothers... and R.I.P. Clarence.

(nice to see this group getting a little more credit, finally)

[kent787]

Just alright is a phrase that expresses a sort of defensive approval. I can see why people would say, "Why not call him Wonderful"? Just alright sounds like folksy slang. Various Byrds have professed being Christian, but I don't think they became hardcore or devout to point of turning into Gospel musicians. Singing Gospel songs is just part of the folk country tradition that they came out of.

[xandercorp]

@kent787 The song makes use of the American slang term "all-right", which during the 1960s was an exuberant expression meaning cool or very good, rather than the measured, reserved meaning the phrase has today. Good try at analysis though, people should be more like you and think deeper into the music.

You're right, religion was a much more pronounced element in poplar music then. Music is about strong thought emotions, and religion qualifies. It's a pity that it's no longer fashionable.

[BerkLeeDrm]

@xandercorp dink squeeze..it still means aww rite yo im hep yo a dip

[xandercorp]

@kent787 The song makes use of the American slang term "all-right", which during the 1960s was an exuberant expression meaning cool or very good, rather than the measured, reserved meaning the phrase has today. Good try at analysis though, people should be more like you and think deeper into the music.

You're right, religion was a much more pronounced element in poplar music then. Music is about strong thought emotions, and religion qualifies. It's a pity that it's no longer fashionable.

[xandercorp]

@kent787 The song makes use of the American slang term "all-right", which during the 1960s was an exuberant expression meaning cool or very good, rather than the measured, reserved meaning the phrase has today. Good try at analysis though, people should be more like you and think deeper into the music.

You're right, religion was a much more pronounced element in poplar music then. Music is about strong thought emotions, and religion qualifies. It's a pity that it's no longer fashionable.

[BerkLeeDrm]

@kent787 another dweeb reading into crap farther than necessary

[eye777eye]

this song is as close as us lambs will ever get to being free.....almost 50 years ago...what have we become

[paul7703]

SING IT ROGER!!!!

[mphandel]

Opps,,,,,I thot this was a doobies song. Who did it first?

[andyvincentwhostube]

Hi @mphandel The Doobies did this song after the Byrds did a year or so later. Of course the Doobies version was what put them on the map....a monster hit and therefore the version most people know and love.

[DocRocz]

@andyvincentwhostube

I would have to say that viewing the performance of this song by The Doobies that the energy level is just so much higher and the musicianship much better that I can understand why the Doobies version was a hit and the Byrds version didn't fly.

[Tycho114]

@mphandel The Byrds did it before the Doobies (on their 1970 album Ballad of Easy Rider), but as someone else points out here, it was originally a gospel number.

[EmmaBorowy]

Does any one know anything about the byrds spritual beliefs? I am just curious because of this song.

[andyvincentwhostube]

Hi @EmmaBorowy

I know Roger Mcguinn is born again Christian today

[DodgerFan1988]

Don't forget Allah, Shiva, Buddha and the Great Spirit.

[EmmaBorowy]

Hello @DodgerFan1988

Thanks for the info! :)

It still confuses me though with the lyrics

'Jesus is just alright with me'?

Why just alright? :/

[BerkLeeDrm]

@EmmaBorowy another one.....how bout...you kinda suck superficial sausalito palm tree fuck

[reissue]

Clarence is and was the man.

[taariqtaariq]

this line up of the BYRDS was the  best LIVE

[gittahfiend]

@taariqtaariq this line up was the best PERIOD

[puccipie1]

@taariqtaariq agree best take ever of this song by the byrds!

[mullah06]

I DON'T CARE and MOHAMMED IS A DEAD SERVANT OF SATAN!!!!!!!!!!all you muzzzards ca go straight to HELL!!!!

[pappysmp]

Respect the beliefs of other people ,they dont attack you or something

[gypsysunerainbow]

jesus is just my cock

[iorioriorio]

no shit...thought the doobies did this first! Silly me...w.t.f.

[oldtones]

THE GREAT CLARENCE  WHITE R>N >P

[whiteguy1090]

The Byrds are just all jews

[comicstew]

@whiteguy1090

McGuinn And McGuire?...Whiteguy1090 is just all idiot.

[cooks95]

This shows these guys were very good players- really tight and well done

[talerdudansk]

The Byrds are just Alright.

[darkknight91]

I never knew they did this originally. Thought it was always a Doobie Brothers song.

[H4rryF]

Thanks for this. I read mcguinn say that after "the notorious byrds brothers" album, the band should've changed its name.

[talerdudansk]

They are just totally alright in 2009 and beyond.

[TOBERT001]

Absolutely fantastic.

I think the latterday Byrds were inevitably and unfortunately compared to the earlier Byrds......Both bands produced magnificent music. The four individuals on stage here are musicians at the top of their game but that is no way taking anything whatsoever away from the work of Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, John York etc.

Tell you what though. That Clarence White was one of hell of a guitar player !! So sad about what happened to him.

[timjmoran]

Ya know, this version of the Byrds seems to be much -maligned.... that perhaps they weren't as good as the 1st version, etc...but on the basis of this clip, I'd say they were pretty damned good.Compare this to the live Byrds at Monterey.. and clearly this band is a better performing unit. Certainly Clarence White was an INCREDible Country-Rock player- really groundbreaking in his use of the B-Bender. Can't really blame McGuinn for wanting to keep it going after all the other

cats bailed.

[BillMcE]

McGuinn has said that this incarnation of the Byrds was musically the best.

[timjmoran]

BILL Mc E.. yes.. I don't doubt that these guys were much better players than Clark, Hillman & Croz.. BUT I don't think any group post- the classic early line -up ( 1st 3-4 records) ever

got NEAR the vocal magic or songwriting ability of that early configuration. Have to say Clarence White was a certifiable GENIUS, tho...

[BillMcE]

Agree on all counts.

[spacepatrolman]

@timjmoran This version is better than the first version clarence white plays guitar better than crosby gene parsons plays drums better than mike clarke look what happened when they had the byrds reunion record with crosby and clarke it wasnt as good as this

[timjmoran]

@spacepatrolman welll... Comparing Crosby to Clarence White is ... like saying a Volkswagen isn't as good

as a Ferrari !! Kinda silly, really !! White was a pioneering, ground-breaking virtuoso country-rock picker- whereas Crosby pretty much played Rhythm guitar in the Byrds( tho he IS a pretty fair acoustic picker)

Mike Clarke could barely play when the Byrds first began( studio cats like Hal Blaine took his place on the

1st Byrds record).Bottom line- they were REALLY different bands!

[talerdudansk]

Super!! Love the Byrds.. Can do no wrong..Rock..

[beschermengel]

maybe the second Byrds had to be remaned to: Second Byrds or something..

This is confusing!

[knk95775]

It wasn't confusing to the crowd at the Fillmore East then so what is your confusion now?

Check out the Byrds at Monterey in 1967 on You Tube if you want to see the 1967 Byrds  attempt to play live rock. Ouch!

[slightlyperturbedmax]

Skip can fucking play!

[timjmoran]

The rap on this version of the Byrds was that

they were not as good as the original band, couldn't really play- this vid shows all that to be a lie...these guys ROCKED!!Great harmonies,killin riddim section, the GREAT Clarence White spraying his killer B-bender licks all over the place. WOW! Great stuff!!

[2satta2]

Whoever said that this version of the band couldn't play was talking bollocks man. It was the original line up that had issues playing, the first album was played by session musos or so the story goes as the band were lousy. Michael Clark was draughted in because he looked like Brian Jones, not for his drumming skills! This is great, Clarence White is godlike :-)

[slightlyperturbedmax]

Actually only the first single was played by session men because they were a young, unknown band and that was common practice. McGuinn and Hillman were great instrumentalists though with a lot of experience. The band played the rest of their own backing tracks.

I think the Hillman/Clarke/Crosby/Clark/Mc­Guinn version did great, but I've never heard of anyone saying this version were inferior musicians! Singers or songwriters, maybe.

I love all versions of The Byrds.

[2satta2]

Yup, good point. I had the good fortune to see Hillman and Herb Pederson live a few years ago. Hillman is a stunning mandolin player and a pivotal figure in country rock. Not so keen on Roger McGuinn though. And one can't overlook Gene Clark. I guess I was drunk when I posted that last comment, just as I am now, but I can see the error of my ways! :-)

[knovinski]

It's worth noting that Gene Clark started playing guitar when he was 9, started writing songs at 13, and was gigging with The New Christy Minstrels at 18. I doubt he was anywhere near as good a guitarist as Clarence White but I'm sure he wasn't as inept as slightlyperturbedmax would have you think. I'm sure he could hold his own. But, like you, I love all versions of the Byrds. If any of them were bad Roger McGuinn wouldn't have them in the band! This partisanship and comparing is childish.

[slightlyperturbedmax]

Where are you getting this crap from? Where did I say anything, good or bad, about Gene Clark's guitar playing? When did I say he was inept? Crosby and McGuinn didn't think he was a good guitarist, but I didn't even mention that! What partisanship? Did you realize that the Gene Clark Byrds are my favourite lineup and I consider him the greatest Byrd bar none? What did I say contrary to that? It's only childish to put words in someone else's mouth.

[knovinski]

slightlyperturbedmax: I made a mistake. I wrote the post while sleep deprived and wrote your name instead of 2satta2. I was actually directing my comment to you and agreeing with you and condeming what 2satta2 said about early versions of the Byrds being inept musicians. Just substitute "2satta2" where I wrote "slightlyperturbedmax" and you'll see what I mean. Then my comment will actually make sense. Again, you have my apologies and all I can say was that I was sleep deprived when I wrote it.

[dantean]

There was a rap against this lineup that they COULDN'T PLAY? That's amazing! Not to be insulting to the originals, but White and Parsons blow Kelley and Crosby away purely as players. Harmonizing-wise, though--not so much: notice also how much lower a register they sing this song in. This is why they're more or less a jam band during this period--and an excellent one, no?

[slightlyperturbedmax]

I like the low register!

[mcd220]

I wish!! :-(

Christian

[peaceonearth777]

Wish what?

[richard52402]

sweet...do you have the rest of the concert???