On September 14, 1970, The
Byrds published what would be their last great album: "Untitled",
with only one of its founding members: Roger McGuinn. A double album that not only
reflected the fruit of the recording sessions in the studio, but also of their
recent tour.An album that left from the
aborted project of "Gene Tryp" to that of "Phoenix" and a
reading error left it without title.
The version that I will bring you, will be a
double CD with an alternative and reconstructed version of the live disc, plus
the studio record "Phoenix", with unknow tracks in real stereo.
Ok!.., Here it is.
How “Gene Trip”, Roger´s project, it did not work; at
the beginning of 1970, the producer Terry Melcher said to McGuinn that the band
should release a double album, featuring an LP of concert recordings and other
with new material from studio, which would retail for the same price as a
regular single album. Something that had become fashionable, as “Cream” had
done in 1968.
The first record was recorded in two concerts in New
York City at the Colden Center Auditorium, Queens College. on Saturday, Feb.28
1970 and other the next day March 1 at Felt Forum. The studio lp was recorded
at Columbia Studios, Hollywood, CA. between May 26 and June 11.1970. These
studio tracks mostly consisted of newly material written and composed by band
leader Roger McGuinn and Broadway theatre director Jacques Levy for a planned
country rock musical under the title of “Gene Tryp”. Presumably of the twenty-six
songs that were written for the musical, four appeared in the album's final
running order: “Lover Of The Bayou” (live version); “Chesnut Mare”; “All The
Things”; and “Just a Season”. Five in this reconstruction: "Kathleen's
Song”.
The original title from this new work was “Phoenix” to
express the artistic rebirth of the band, after John Taylor will quit “The
Byrds” late 1969. Moment in which Roger McGuinn would rethink whether or not to
dissolve the group definitively and start his solo career; but when the
producer Terry Melcher had to submit paperwork to the record company, put
'Untitled', and due to a misunderstanding at the pressing plant, “Untitled”
became the album's official title.Bit.ly/70Bpx5 That's why we should call it
actually “Phoenix” because the original title was never changed. I think that
should have been changed in later editions or have not used that
cover. Anyway.., it doesn´t matter. This reconstruction follow the
original concept. First disc: live outtakes placed in the same order as were
played in concert.
Side One: (In concert). (19:34)
1.You Ain´t Going Nowhere. (2:55) (*)
2.Old Blue. (3:24) (*)
3.My Back Pages. (2:41) (*)
4.Take A Whiff On Me. (2:38) (+)
5.The Ballad Of Easy Rider. (2:48) (*)
6.This Wheel´s On Fire. (5:05) (`)
Side Two: (In Concert). (19:00)
1.Jesus Is Just Alright. (3:11) (+)
2.Eight Miles High / Tag. (15:49) (`)
(`)Live Colden Center Auditorium, Queens
College, N.Y.C Feb.28.1970
(*) live at Felt Forum. N.Y.C March
1.1970.
(+) live Fillmore East. N.Y.C.
Sept.23.1970.
Side Three: (Studio recordings). (19:10)
1.Amazing Grace. (0:58)
2.Well Come Back Home / White's Lightning
(I & II). (7:54) (Unreleased version)
3.Chestnut Mare. (6:22) (Unreleased - Full
length version).
4.Truck Stop Girl. (3:54) (Unreleased
version)
Side Four:: (Studio recordings). (19:06)
1.All The Things. (4:58) (Alternate
version)
2.Kathleen's Song. (2:37) (Alternate
version #1)
3.Lover Of The Bayou. (5:14) (Alternate
studio version)
4.Just A Season. (2:43) (Unreleased edit
version)
5.Willin´. (3:32) (Alternate studio
version)
Side C & D from Columbia
Studios, Hollywood, CA
(May 26 - June 11.1970)
The second, studio recordings; presented here
following an alternative order that was finally rejected for the album.
“Amazing Grace” it was a link track between the end of side B and the start of
Side C. this song it was used to close the concerts.
Next: “White´s Lightning”, It was a “Jam” by Roger
McGuinn and Clarence White, of something more than 15 minutes, it was edited to
5 minutes as alternative ending or “coda” of “Welcome Back Home”. After be
rejected that possibility, “White's Lightning” was edited again in two parts;
later issued on “The Byrds box set” and “(Untitled)/(Unissued)”, Here is the
unreleased alternative version from this song. As unpublished is also the two
that follows: “Chestnut Mare” & “Truck Stop Girl” unedited. The last side
brings more alternate version, some known, except “Just a Seaon”, edited to be
included in the first single.
Finally, the cover it´s an alternate photo, later used
on cassette and eight track tapes from “untitled”. Backcover: from the single
“Chesnut Mare” “Just a Season".
Ok, that´s all. I hope you like it and enjoy it.
