The Byrds – Dayton 1972
Dayton University or Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio – November 2, 1972
Roger McGuinn - guitar/vocals
Clarence White - guitar/vocals
Skip Battin - bass/vocals
John Guerin- drums
Audience Recording
1. Lover Of The Bayou (3:54)
2. Bugler (3:36)
3. America's Great National Pastime (3:38)
4. Chimes of Freedom (3:42)
5. I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician (2:26)
6. My Back Pages (false start) (0:16)
7. The Water Is Wide (3:22)
8. My Back Pages (2:24)
9. Baby What You Want Me To Do (4:14)
10. Mr Tambourine Man (2:49)
11. Take A Whiff (On Me) (2:45)
12. You Ain't Going Nowhere (2:58)
13. Well Come Back Home (7:12)
14. Wheels On Fire (4:25)
15. Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms (3:27)
16. So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star (4:24)
17. Mr Spaceman (3:24)
18. Chestnut Mare (5:21)
19. Eight Miles High (17:23)
20. Hold It (1:16)
Artwork Included
2 comments:
This is a band on its last legs, but you'd never know it listening to this concert. The replacement of Gene Parsons by John Guerin was major surgery, as Parsons sang high harmony, wrote songs, and could play banjo besides. Guerin doesn't even sing, much less play banjo. But the difference in the band is notable. Guerin was a top drummer, and adds exciting new percussion to the Byrds without having to be 'busy', like Gene often was. He even manages to blend in with Skip on the drums-bass duet in 8 Miles High, which is no mean feat for someone who hadn't been in the group very long. McGuinn decides to make the Ric more out front as well, and puts it through a phase shifter, like he did his first 4 solo albums. I like the sound, and feel that McGuinn had finally achieved a signature sound with this group--just when it was about to break up. The Water is Wide is a fine song, and how ironic that a song played by the last Byrds lineup should be recorded with a member of the original group on McGuinn's first solo album. The songs here are played with enthusiasm and even some creativity--they don't sound like the previous concerts posted. Even Well Come Back Home is more listenable, thanks to the 'raga'rock' guitars during the instrumental break. Chestnut Mare is a highlight, and the enthusiastic audience response was well-earned. Clarence was at the height of his powers at this time; too bad I never saw him play after 1969, and too bad he was killed the following year. All in all, one gets the impression of a group about to enter a new musical direction, but cut off by factors beyond anyone's control. This is an exciting, professional concert by a Byrds lineup which more than justified its existence through the quality of its live shows, even towards the end. The only negative thing in this concert is an apparent problem with the sound system, which caused some voices to fade out at times. I have a scratchy tape of Jelly Roll Morton playing live, so I don't mind these little problems. On the contrary, I'm grateful to R--B for giving me so much listening pleasure. I wish a few other people would give their opinions on these concerts, however. That's part of the fun.
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