Live at the Fillmore West: February 1969 [Live]

The Byrds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: February 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004OCE7
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,211 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Recorded at Bill Graham's legendary San Francisco concert hall during two shows in February 1969, this disc sounds like a practice session recorded in the morning after a particularly long, rough night. The vocals fall flat too often and rhythmic cohesion is always one measure away--too many noodly, irrelevant notes are slathered atop every song. Some of this can be explained by the absence of one former Byrd. In turning the band towards their country-rock bent and then splitting after less than a year, Gram Parsons left a hole that could never really be filled, not even by the nimble-fingered Clarence White. Their take on the Louvin Brothers' classic "Christian Life," for instance, is ragged, but not right. But the CD certainly has merit for more than just archivists and obsessives: the straight-ahead folk-rock material does shine with the "Nashville West" flavorings. There's a fiery "King Apathy III"; a revelatory, subtle version of "Bad Night at the Whiskey"; and a truly emotional take of "He Was a Friend of Mine," especially poignant a year after the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars - DR. ROCKING BYRDS MEETS MR. COUNTRY HYDE BYRDS, May 20, 2000

By 

Alan Rockman (Upland, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at the Fillmore West: February 1969 (Audio CD)

When Chris Hillman left the Byrds in October 1968 to join Gram Parsons in forming the Flying Burrito Brothers, Byrd leader Roger McGuinn was the only original Byrd left. McGuinn did consider disbanding the Byrds - but after a rich folk, rock and even jazz legacy McGuinn opted to continue with a formula one-half country and one-half rock and roll.

With the brilliant guitarist Clarence White and his cohort, steady drummer Gene Parsons already on board, McGuinn hired the young John York to replace Hillman on bass and vocals. This was an inspired choice for York's harmonies were adaptable to those of David Crosby, Gene Clark and McGuinn himself. And remember, as brilliant as White was on guitar - he was certainly no Gram Parsons or Hillman in the vocal department.

But the Country guitarist White wanted to play more rocking guitar, just as the Folk-Rocking McGuinn wanted to sing more country vocals - definitely a Dr.Byrds meets Mr. Hyde mix!

After several months of recording and live shows, the new Byrds ventured north to 'Frisco to play Bill Graham's venerable Fillmore in February 1969. The result is this album - a nice, great, yet not grand blend of psychedelic rock and down home country riffs n' tunes.

The hard right towards country which began with "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" continued with White and even after the departures of Hillman and Parsons - and the country tunes featured on "Fillmore" are the best of the live album. There are several neat treats - a kicking version of "You're Still On My Mind" with a nice harmony by York and stellar stringbender by the ace himself - White; the hilarious "Drugstore Truck Driving Man" - replete with sardonic McGuinn vocals - a fine country solo by White (though his solo on the "boston tea party" recording is much finer) and high harmony by York - where this New York boy definitely sounds like a cowboy.

McGuinn also shines on Hillman's "Time Between" and the Louvin Brothers' "The Christian Life" proving he could hold his own with that down home boy Gram.

But a major highlight of this Byrds country set didn't even feature a McGuinn vocal - nor was it even written by the Byrds - it is Clarence White's hats off tribute to his Bakersfield friend Buck Owens in the clanging instrumental "Buckaroo" ( ironically enough John Beland of the current Flying Burrito Bros. also did homage to Owens (who played rhythm guitar) on a recent version of "Buckaroo" similar to White in style and on the FBB "California Jukebox" album - but that's another story...)

Some, though not all of the favorites are here as well - a medley featuring "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Eight Miles High", "He Was A Friend of Mine" and "So You Want To Be A Rock and Roll Star" and well as the psycho-rock of Dylan's "This Wheel's On Fire" - the versatility of White comes through loud and clear here - straightforward blistering fuzzbox guitar that would even make White's contemporary Jimi Hendrix sit up and take notice - no twangy country stuff here.

One mustn't neglect the steady drumming contributions of Gene Parsons here, either - though Parsons - one of Country Rock's greatest drummers does sound missing in the mix.

Which leads me to the glaring weaknesses department.

Much of John York's high harmonies were erased from this recording - why, I don't - or do know. He can be heard on "You're Still On My Mind", "Drugstore", and on a couple of the familiar ones, but just barely. The album was basically a showcase for Roger McGuinn and the late Clarence White.

There are also no non-McGuinn lead vocals - and no surprises unless one considers "Buckaroo" and "You're Still On My Mind" as pleasant surprises.York did do a strongly emotive vocal on his version of Odetta's "Long Black Veil" (a song that he still occasionally sings in concert) at about this time - which featured a mournful, though on-point solo by White - which still hasn't seen the light of day on this or on any other Byrds "legit" recordings. And White - Gram Parson's replacement - is vocally non-existant here.

Still this is a gem from arguably the best live, if not studio Byrds around, and quite essential in any Byrds' fans collection, especially in casting light and sound on a little-known episode of the legendary history of the Byrds.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Let's hear it for Clarence White!, March 10, 2000

By 

Jules (Birmingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at the Fillmore West: February 1969 (Audio CD)

Without Clarence White, the latter period Byrds would have been a much duller beast. One can only wonder what would have happened if he'd prized daring over guaranteed cash and taken up the offer to form a Parsons-Hillman-White-Parsons lineup of The Flying Burrito Bros!

But he didn't, he stayed with The Byrds. Here he comes now, all sinewy stringbending stood-stock-still showmanship - listen to the way he plays the instrumentals "Nashville West" and "Buckaroo" here, and weep with joy and envy.

I disagree with the Amazon staff reviewer. It may not be the best ever Byrds mk II concert, but it's noticeably better than the live sections of the new expanded (UNTITLED)/(UNISSUED). And nor do I feel that they're missing Gram Parsons here - he certainly wasn't known for his way with a pitch-perfect lead or harmony vocal! I actually miss Chris Hillman's bass and singing more, especially on "Time Between".

But, hey, they do an energetic banjo-fuelled "Pretty Boy Floyd" and the Medley, far from being a typical let's-get-the-hits-over-with exercise is truly exciting - McGuinn's on fine form (but where's John York when you need him doing the David Crosby harmony parts! ). Similarly upbeat is the version of "Rock 'n' Roll Star".

Also present is a cool live take of "Bad Night at the Whiskey" (the single released from the contemporary DR BYRDS AND MR HYDE LP) which outclasses the muddy studio original. In fact the DR BYRDS album gets my vote for the worst ever Byrds LP - it's not helped by its ill-judged production sound, and must have lead many (I'd have been amongst them) to write the group off as a dead dodo. This concert would have helped restore the balance had it been released in '69 and Byrds fans and/or Clarence White fans shouldn't have too much hesitation about snapping up a copy.

In fact, there's a neat box available here in the UK (I don't know whether you guys have it too) which includes this CD along with the upgraded (UNTITLED), BYRDMANIAX and FARTHER ALONG with room for the previous 8 albums, plus a Pete Frame family tree poster and a set of 4 color cards.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Newly Hatched Byrds Take Flight, March 9, 2000

By 

Joseph A. Kengor (Somewhereville, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at the Fillmore West: February 1969 (Audio CD)

Remember, this is a live recording of a newly formed band. Roger Mcguinn (guitar, vocals) remained the only original member, and the recent recruitment of Clarence White (guitar), Gene Parsons (drums) and John York (bass), meant this band was just starting out, attempting to encompass their newly written material with the legacy of the earlier, popular, trend-setting, group. I forgive these musicians the rawness on some of the tracks. For BYRDS fans, this is a MUST HAVE recording. It is an historic snapshot of the Byrds lineup that became the hard-working band that earned the reputation of great live performers, as witnessed on the UNTITLED album. The sound is not bad, considering the year (Feb '69). Mcguinn's vocals emanate cool energy, and the song selection is eclectic. Every prior album is represented (except NOTORIOUS). Their performance peaked in the middle (cuts #10, 11, and 12) with a series of their newly-recorded songs: King Apathy III, Bad Night at the Whiskey, and This Wheels on Fire; songs that were identified with this lineup. Also included were a mix of old country and folk songs, by writers such as Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, the Louvin brothers, Bob Dylan, and Woody Guthrie. As a card carrying BYRDS fan, I endorse this disc as ESSENTIAL for all BYRDS followers. For country rock fans, this is a live recording of the first band that popularized the genre.( To enjoy the BYRDS country rock studio masterpiece, buy SWEETHEARTS OF THE RODEO.) This disc is also a fine showcase for Clarence White's underrated lead guitar playing; few examples exist. At times, the guitar interplay between Mcguinn and White is just ear candy.