Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971

The Byrds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sundazed Music Inc.
• ASIN: B0016GLX4O
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,393 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From their earliest days as 12-string-wielding folk-rockers, to the thrilling psychedelic excursions of their raga-rock period to their 1968 birthing of country-rock, the Byrds were always accorded a hero's welcome in England. What better place to record founding Byrds member/guitarist/singer Roger McGuinn's new version of the band--featuring fretboard ace Clarence White, bassist Skip Battin and drummer Gene Parsons--than London's Royal Albert Hall!

Rescued from a tape that had sat forgotten in McGuinn's climatized garage for decades, this stellar 1971 set, featuring live versions of the current band's studio faves ("Lover of the Bayou," "Chestnut Mare") as well as adventurous reworkings of Byrds classics ("Mr. Tambourine Man," "My Back Pages," "Eight Miles High," "So You Want to Be a Rock `n' Roll Star") might be the most accurate and stirring live performance yet of the legendary Los Angeles combo. By 1971, the guitar interplay of McGuinn and White had become a jaw-dropping highlight of their live performances, as had their stripped-down, acoustic mini-set and peerless four-part vocal harmonies. As McGuinn, in typically understated fashion, says of this new Sundazed release, available now on both compact disc and as a high-definition vinyl, double-gatefold LP: "It was a great night, so I'm happy there's a record of it!"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now You Have The Evidence, June 18, 2008

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 (Audio CD)

For 37 years now the only official document of The Byrds live has been the 1970 recording: "Untitled", {recently expanded to: Untitled/Unissued}. As "Untitled" only hints at the might & majesty that surrounds this version of musicians called: The Byrds, many of us have emptied our wallets on high-priced bootlegs such as: "Live In Amsterdam 1970" and "Two Tea For Two" {"Boston Tea Party, Feb 1969"}. The reason that poor-quality recordings of this edition of The Byrds have been so popular for close to 40 years now, is simple...This band was known around the world as one of the greatest live bands of their time {1969-1972}. Now, because of nothing more than a: "Chance-in-a-Million" and 37 years on, we can Listen and judge for ourselves.

Sound quality is not stellar here, and some postings are on the attack over that issue. But, by the cold hard digital standards of 2008, this tape of variable quality improves as the show unfolds and the mix is corrected in the concert hall on the soundboard by the only way possible in 1971, with the soundman's own two hands. Sundazed Records, must really worked on this tape to get it to sound this good, {they are known as true Byrds fans there} and I thank them for their work on this recording.

What about the music? Well, this track listing looks like all the usual suspects are present: "Mr. Tambourine Man", "Eight Miles High" & "My Back Pages", but be prepared to be a little surprised with a fresh acoustic take on "Tambourine Man" and the longest and finest captured version of: "Eight Miles High", where it all sounds 'On' at long last! {sorry "Untitled" fans, this one has a better flow and soars above the Felt Forum version from 1970}.

Why is this considered the best live bunch of: "Byrdmen"? Well, Roger McGuinn and Clarence White get much {and they have earned it!}praise for the meshing of their guitar playing styles{Folk-Rock meets Bluegrass-Country}, but the real secret weapons of this CD are found in the bass playing of Skip Batton and the percussion of Gene Parsons. This is a tight rhythm section that holds this all together and always plays interesting passages that entertain but never bore. The jam on "Eight Miles High is focused and stands the test of mulitple plays because these guys know WHAT to play and they know WHAT NOT to play. Like the best jazz musicians these Byrds can Fly, and they Fly high on this night in London.

There is a lot of musical history covered here in these 19 Songs. From the traditional a cappella rendition of: "Amazing Grace", just like it would have sounded in a small church 150 Years ago, on to the space/country of: "Mr. Spaceman" that takes such an refreshing take on this 1966 hit that it's almost like a brand new tune. The album tracks: "I Trust" and "Truck Stop Girl" blow their studio cousins right outta the water and sound so good here. It has been a while since a live album has been this great from start to finish {with the exception of the live CD by Gene Clark: "Silverado 75", released in May of this year}.

The Byrds were amazing to me when I was listening to: "Younger Than Yesterday" way back in 1968, and now in 2008 they are amazing once more.
You can live with the sound quality, this is a fantastic CD...
FIVE STARS !!!

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want to be rocked....., June 20, 2008

By 

feralduck "Opinions reasonably priced!" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 (Audio CD)

A fine compare and contrast to the live sides on Untitled. There are song duplications between that set and this, but the arrangements are by no means static. A nice little acoustic set in the middle, tunes from MTM through Byrdmaniax, and another opportunity to hear the stellar Clarence White work out.
The Battin/Parsons rhythm section propel the two guitarists in a fine manner; Gene Parsons has long been an underrated drummer. For a recording that was originally meant just as a band reference tape, the sound is fine; many live recordings from this era sound no better than this. I saw the Byrds live around the time of Untitled, and the sound was no more or less clear inside the concert hall itself.
A great addition to this band's catalog; buy without reservations.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What species of ears hast thou?, June 18, 2008

By 

Philip Graham (Urbana, Illinois) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 (Audio CD)

I'm a bit confused by the comments of the two reviewers so far. Yes, Clarence White's guitar IS down in the mix of the first song, "Lover of the Bayou," but it's not inaudible, and this minor problem vanishes for the rest of the CD and Mr. White's liquid fingers remain in your face throughout.

Way back in the way, way back, I must have seen this particular incarnation of the Byrds (give or take a John York or Skip Battin) at least ten times, and I have to say that this performance, even with a ragged corner or two, captures the energy and pizzazz of the band as I remember it live better than any other released live versions. If anything, the occasional lack of audio polish reflects wonderfully the rough 'n' ready glory of the band.

Another fine feature is having live versions of "Lover of the Bayou," "Truck Stop Girl," and Chestnut Mare" with background vocals (which were inexplicably absent from previous studio or live versions). In fact, the Byrds are in fine vocal mettle throughout this concert, particularly in the the songs just mentioned as well as the lovely "I Trust" and a red-hot "Jesus is Just Alright."

When I first heard of this CD, I'd initially sighed, thinking, Yet another scraping from the lower levels of the barrel? even as I knew that I would of course have to order it. Well, I couldn't be more pleased (it's playing a second time as I write this) that finally a record of the autumnal Byrds at their live and lively best is finally available for all--this will add to their reputation.