BYRDS, THE - Some Standing Alone (Sealed) (2CD)

The turn of the 1970s marked the point at which The Byrds, the great chameleon of 60s rock, became one of the world s greatest touring bands. Having stumbled through the Folk Rock period of David Crosby and Gene Clark, the Country Rock era led by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, and the arguments, breakdowns, departures and tireless musical invention that accompanied them, Roger McGuinn had finally managed to assemble the most stable, and proficient, incarnation of his group. Although 1969 s Ballad of Easy Rider had restored The Byrds commercial fortunes, the personnel issues that had rumbled since the mid-60s continued to dog the band. Shortly before the release of the album bassist John York was fired, replaced by the veteran session player Skip Battin. This move was the final personnel change for almost three years and the start of what would be the longest-lived configuration of The Byrds. Battin s recruitment not only brought stability, it introduced a seasoned musician who could match the virtuoso playing of Clarence White on guitar and Gene Parsons on drums; the line-up of McGuinn-White-Parsons-Battin quickly established a reputation as the best live incarnation of The Byrds. That reputation was battle-tested over a three-year period of relentless touring, and it naturally focused minds on the potential of a live album. When (Untitled) came in September 1970 it was a breakout success, a double album comprising an LP of live material alongside new studio work. The lead single was Chesnut Mare, a song written by McGuinn and Jacques Levy as part of the aborted stage show Gene Tryp. McGuinn had been composing songs intended for Gene Tryp since the late 60s, and that material had become an increasingly heavy presence in Byrds live shows. On the 7th of July, a few months after the concerts for Untitled, the band performed at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Included in the set are the Gene Tryp numbers prior to their release on record (Chestnut Mare would not be issued as a single until October) as well as barnstormers that showcased the best of the Clarence White era (Jesus Is Just Alright, This Wheel's On Fire) and a number of standards performed by the best set of players ever assembled under the rubric of The Byrds (Mr. Tambourine Man, Turn! Turn! Turn!, Eight Miles High, So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star). A stunning double-album, Some Standing Alone showcases the quintessential live line-up of The Byrds at its absolute best. TRACK LISTING CD1 01. You Ain't Going Nowhere 02. Lover Of The Bayou 03. Old Blue 04. Well Come Back Home 05. My Back Pages/Baby What You Want Me To Do 06. He Was A Friend Of Mine 07. Willin' 08. Black Mountain Rag 09. Take A Whiff On Me 10. This Wheel's On Fire 11. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) 12. Jesus Is Just Alright 13. All The Things 14. Buckaroo/Nashville West 15. Turn! Turn! Turn! 16. Mr. Tambourine Man CD2 01. Eight Miles High 02. Hold It 03. So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star 04. Positively 4th Street 05. Mr. Spaceman 06. You Don't Miss Your Water 07. Chestnut Mare 08. Chimes Of Freedom 09. Amazing Grace